#I also tend to wander and die :’)

[cardinal-crossing]

Started playing with @evtraininguniversity and @may-tine , and it’s been super fun!

This doodle is of EVTU!

Also bonus comic under the cut featuring EVTU, Ma-Tine, and myself!

[szczylpierdolony]

the actually worst part of doing things alone is getting other people to not want to go with you

[arolesbianism]

Wendy and Abby fuck me up so bad just like in general but what keeps coming back to haunt me is wondering how long they had to go through it all just them two. How many times did Wendy die, how many times did Abby watch the light fading from the eyes of her twin. How many times was it slow, how many times was it in a split moment, how many times were they together when it happened, how many times did Wendy die completely alone. It's just like god damn no wonder Wendy talks Like That not only did Abby die but poor kid has been forced to become accustomed with death in a much more direct way than even adults are built to handle

[the-cooler-king]

Characters that definitely, unequivocally are rose brides: vash the stampede, livio the double fang, vergil dmc, kratos

[sungchanarcade]

aftercare w/ riize

this is my first post yayyy!! i'm marina and welcome to my blog! i'm happy ur here :)

shotaro

he would help with cleaning up, but only like… the bare minimum😭

if he was rough with you then he wouldn’t let you get out of bed and instead he’d bring back a towel and some water so you don’t have to move

whether it was intense or not though, he would always be so gentle when cleaning you up. has at least 12 different ways to ask “are you okay?” and you bet he uses all of them every time. he hates the idea of accidentally hurting you without realizing so he always checks in with you

speaking of checking in, he’s definitely asking for feedback after😭 but it’s always in the form of teasing. “you sounded so pretty screaming my name, do i really make you feel that good?” (he also asks questions just to fuel his ego)

has a thing for kissing your shoulder once he’s done and he needs to kiss your bare skin before getting you a clean shirt (that definitely belongs to him) or he’ll get pouty—once, you’d gotten dressed before he could get his kiss and he made you take off your shirt again😐

but despite all his sweetness, that is the extent of his cleanup. would rather die than change the sheets. if they’re actually unusable, he’s taking them off, covering his mattress with a blanket, and leaving everything else to deal with when you two wake up

euseok

SUCH a gentleman oh my god, he’d be a dream

probably rougher during sex but the second you’re finished it’s like a switch flips, suddenly he exists only to care for you and is prepared to travel to the ends of the earth to make you as comfortable as possible

if you shower, you won’t have to lift a finger, he’ll wash your hair for you and massage your shoulders. if you don’t, he’ll clean you up with a towel and rub lotion into your skin (it’s calming enough to send you to sleep more than once)

he feels like he can’t rest until he knows you’re feeling good, even if that means fighting his own tiredness to do so, which is both a blessing and a curse because he never lets you give him the same treatment unless you like… fight him over it (you’ve only won 2 times, once after he’d come back from traveling for two weeks so he was clingy and tired, and again on his birthday)

but he’s similar to shotaro in the sense that he is so so gentle when he touches you. i think he’d love to just constantly let his hands wander, fingertips brushing over your bare skin like he’s saying “i love you” with his hands

sungchan

this mf is passed the fuck out as soon as you’re done 😭

but i think it mostly comes from the fact that he tends to accidentally overexert himself during sex without realizing. poor baby doesn’t realize his stamina isn’t as high as he thinks it is

he likes making you cum at least twice every time, even if it means denying his own release until you’ve already finished, so he unintentionally overstimulates himself every time

crying in bed is probably common with him tbh (the thought of him feeling so good he’s literally in tears actually drives me insane)

cums so much. like so much. orgasm denial + massive cock (we all know it) = so so messy. cleaning up would probably be a nightmare, especially since he’ll be too fucked out to move, much less help, so sometimes you make him wear a condom for the sole reason that you don’t feel like putting yourself through cleaning him up by yourself

on the rare occasions when he doesn’t immediately fall asleep he would still be super tired after. the two of you would take a shower together and you’d have to wash his hair for him while he just holds you in his arms and tries not to fall asleep on your shoulder. he’d also be really clingy, but that’s a thought for another day

wonbin

pillow princess will be a pillow princess… this man is NOT moving

he would also want you to be the one to clean him off (princess treatment) but he won’t fall asleep. he likes to watch you and he always has so much love in his eyes that it almost makes it worth it to be in charge of cleaning up by yourself (almost)

but if you have to change the sheets after—he definitely loves messy sex—he will help you with that, you just have to give him at least 15 minutes before he even considers getting out of bed

he wouldn’t be exhausted after like sungchan, i think he’d recover after a bit of a break and then have enough energy to strip the sheets and start laundry, sometimes even make a snack or meal for the two of you, he just needs some time to regain energy

sometimes he’d cook something or take a bath together, but his favorite thing to do is always just getting back in bed and cuddling. the conversations y’all would have during late hours… he always makes sure you feel safe with him and is a very attentive listener, no matter how unimportant the topic of conversation might seem

seunghan

likes to care for you, but wants to be done as soon as possible

he falls somewhere between shotaro and eunseok when it comes to how much effort he’s putting in. he loves making you happy—he loves loving you—but he’s going to do just the necessary steps because he wants to lay back down with you as quickly as he can

another big post-sex cuddler, it’s necessary to him. he’s a very touchy person all the time, he’s always got an arm around you or hugging you from behind, and that energy amplifies whenever you two are alone so he can’t keep his hands off you for too long

totally gets distracted at least 4 times because “just one kiss” always leads to ending up back in bed tangled up in each other until you remind him that you still need to change the sheets. without that reminder he for sure would forget entirely and probably fall asleep

sohee

to him, aftercare is a two person event. but he sees it as less of a task to be completed and more as an extension of sex, like it’s a part of the whole experience for him

he gets very giggly, a lot of big smiles and cheek kisses. he loves washing your hair for you and gets so so happy when you return the favor. 

after your shower you always do each other’s skincare and it takes twice as long because he keeps stopping to kiss you (“your chapstick tastes better than mine”)he sees aftercare as something just as intimate as sex, just in a different atmosphere, so all his tender touches and soft words are just as special and give just as much effort (and boy does he deliver every. time.)

anton

another one who will take on all the work so you won’t have to move. any complaints will be silenced with a kiss (but just as you start getting into it he breaks away with a cheeky smile)

he really likes holding you

 he’ll hug you into his chest while you wait for the shower to warm up

he’ll stand behind you and wrap his arms around your waist to rest his chin on your shoulder while watching you comb your hair

once you’re both back in bed best believe he is not letting you out of his arms and will start whining if you even try pulling away

i feel like he’d mess up your hair (just a little) when you’re in the middle of combing it out just to get a reaction out of you, but every time he’ll just cup your face and his smile is SO big and then it’s impossible to be mad anymore

[writing-fanics]

silly little love affair [part iii.five of vi]

Lucifer Morningstar x F!Reader [Adam’s Sister]

[side chapter] this entire chapter takes place around two-three years before the show during the time Lilith and Lucifer divorced

[summary: y/n tells Lucifer everything about her past and her struggles this takes place when they were friends]

[warning: angst: depictions/implications of self-harm: mentions of depression: mentions of loneliness: adam being a jerk]

[a/n: hopefully I did justice of writing readers struggles with loneliness and depression, it doesn’t stem from being apart from Lucifer but something she’s dealt with since the beginning of time also there will be an eventual smut poorly written like in the last chapter]

previous part > next part

[Once again this takes place in the past]

Sera looked down at [Y/n] who stood before her sheepishly, “What is it, Y/n?” asked Sera, looking down at the human who fiddled with her fingers nervously.

“I-I, was wonder c-can I maybe have a partner as well?” She asked, nervously biting her lip. Sera looked at her raising her eyebrow, “You come to ask me now of all times?”

Her eyes widened, “I-I didnt mean?!” She stammered, looking at her. Sera looked down at her, “Lucifer Morningstar, has just corrupted the world with his concept of free will. Bringing evil into the world we created.” said Sera, and furrowed her brows at the human.

“You’ve come to ask me for a partner?” She growled. [Y/n] looked down and her body seemed to shrink, as tears brimmed her eyes feeling embarrassed.

“I-I was just feeling lonely.” Y/n said, sadly. She’d been jealous of Adam, he’d gotten everything he wanted served to him on a silver platter. His sister was an after thought, made up of whatever was left over. She wanted a partner someone who would love her and never leave her side, who would cherish her and value her.

Sera sighed and stared at the human, “I don’t have time for such a foolish request, Y/n.” said Sera, turning away from the human. [Y/n] lowered her head and frowned, slowly turning to leave tears brimming her eyes.

She sat alone at the creek staring into the water, at her reflection. Hugging her knees to her chest, sniffling as she cried. Was it too much to ask for? A simple request for a partner?

Is she being selfish for asking for something? She hasn’t asked for anything before, she thought that they would give her a partner. Someone to love and cherish her but maybe, she wasn’t deserving of such a thing.

What purpose did she have then, being here in paradise? To Wander around aimlessly, tending to the countless flora and fauna. She wanted a partner a family with kids of their own, was she going to die alone?

The thought scared her and shook her to her core, she hated being alone. The only thing keeping her company, the small amount of animal creatures in the garden. That would sleep beside her whenever she felt down, or would curl up on her lap. As she petted their fur.

Alone in the garden of Eden, sitting alone underneath a willow tree. Her rabbit friend curled up on her lap, as she stared at the dawn, the beginning of a new day. A lonely day, how she craved a human partner.

She sighed, leaning her head against the tree.“I-I just want someone to love me.” She said, scratching the top of the rabbits head.

“Yeah, and who would love you?!” A voice said, interrupting her thoughts causing her to sigh and groan.

Adam revealed himself from behind the bush, the rabbit on her lap scurried away. Leaning her alone with her annoying brother, “Talking to animal likes you’re Some freak!” He said, and she looked down.

As much as she hates being alone, whenever Adam was around she wanted to be. “Oh wait you are!” He laughed, hitting his leg as he laughed hysterically pointing at his “pathetic” sister.

She folded her arms across her chest, “Can you just leave me alone?” she mumbled, quietly. Adam of course didn’t listen, “Look at you without a partner,” he taunted, and she frowned clenching her fist as she looked down, trying to avoid Adam’s gaze.

“Says the one who’s first wife left him, and the second being casted out of the garden.” She said, furrowing her brows as she glared at him.

He glared at her angrily, “Fuck you bitch! At least I had a wife! Y-You you have nothing no one.” He said, and she glared at him but her shoulders fell to her side.

“Loner loser!” He said, causing her to clench her fist. She sucker punched him in the face, causing him to fall back. Cleanching his nose in pain, “Fuck you psycho bitch!” He shouted, as he clenched his nose and she stormed off angrily.

She knew he was going to tell on her, and at this point she didn’t care. She hoped, that they would destroy her then she wouldn’t have to worry about being alone anymore she’d be gone.

Adam gets everything served to him on a silver platter, she was forced to apologize for punching her brother. Sera had taken her request of given her a partner into consideration, but now was no longer an option for her actions.

Adam gets a slap on the wrist even though m, he said awful things to her he doesn’t even get punished she does.

Adam was cheerful, ‘calling her a loner loser’ it was brutal her time in Eden. She hated it, every little second. Lonely, watching as her animal friends found mates and had children of their own. Leaving [Y/n] behind, alone.

She watched as mankind was created, because of Adam. What was her purpose of existing, why was she even here? Adam had a purpose to be the first man? Y/n was made from the scrapped of whatever, the angels had left over. A second thought. A mistake.

She felt empty and distant, feeling inadequate with herself at times. The motivation to do anything she felt on a daily basis, she felt empty. Trapped in darkness that she couldn’t escape from, as the cuts on her wrist slowly appeared.

She didn’t know why she felt the need to do this, maybe to make her feel something? She just wanted the pain the feeling of loneliness to stop. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. She couldn’t bring self to talks to others, stammering nervously unable to get her words out.

Her own brother didn’t like her and even though, there were times she legitimately tired. He would always tell her off or call her names, and say things to her that. Slowly ate at her and she began to think were true.

She watched as seasons change and people die, as the world grew bigger and hers grew smaller. Adam being the first man he created mankind, in his words “everybody came from his nuts” he started calling himself “dick master” she couldn’t stand of egotistical he is. So full of himself.

[Y/n] on the other hand felt as if she had no purpose, why was she even created? If she was just a second thought a whim? They’d given her no guidance or anything to have her figure out her purpose on Earth.

Just telling her to tend to the garden that really didn’t even need tending to. Then take care of the creatures. They can take care of themselves.

She would wander around aimlessly, around the garden just doing minimal tasks to get her through the boring day. Hoping for a better tomorrow that would just be the same thing over and over.

Adam didn’t even seem to care or notice, that his own sister was hurting. He was so full of himself he didn’t even bat an eye. Calling her names digging a further wedge into their nonexistent brother and sister relationship.

Ironic, how the one person she should’ve been able to go to for help. Or someone to talk to wanted nothing to do with her. Same thing for the angels as well, as she was an after thought.

The Garden of Eden, was supposed to be a paradise. But to her it was an absolute Hell, being alone drowning in darkness when no one seemed to care everyone around her not even bating and eye to try and even comfort her.

she’s been in heaven for thousands of years at this point, and it hasn’t gotten better. maybe a tad bit, Emily a younger Seraphim that brought joy to those in Heaven.

Treated her with kindness and was her shoulder to cry on. Emily didn’t see it as doing her job and duty in heaven, but helping someone who really needed it.

someone who’s been hurting since the moment she was created, who didn’t get the help they deserved they needed. Emily knew she couldn’t help her with everything, but she was there to listen to her vents her frustrations.

—-

[Y/n] shuddered, as she brought her knees to her chest. “Even now, I still feel that way there are nights where I can’t sleep.” She said, bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep.

She reached down taking a sip of the wine, he had offered her. Lucifer knew how she felt heck, he was going through it right now. It’s only been around a year almost three, since him and his wife divorced.

The fallen angel and angel, seemed to bond over their feeling of loneliness, and failure. “Sometimes, I wonder why I’m even here why was I even created?” She mumbled, looking at the red sky staring at Heaven in the distance.

Lucifer looked at her sadly, “I wasn’t given any purpose when I was created, even now I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing?” She said, frowning. “Maybe, you haven’t found it yet,” He said, and she looked at him an sighed.

“Maybe, by the time I find my purpose the world would’ve ended.” She said, sarcastically. Her watch beeped, signaling it was time for her to go back.

“Already?” He asked, and she nodded sadly. Taking a final sip of her wine, finishing up the glass.

She looked at the rubber duck, her heart skipping a beat. “So you won’t be alone in Heaven,” He said, her cheeks turning a slight shade of red.

She carefully took it from his hands, “Thank you,” she smiled, looking at it in awe. It resembled him, “It’s not much but..ah.. I hope it helps.” He said nervously, and she smiled.

“It’s perfect.” She smiled, carefully placing the rubber duck in her bag. Her alarm going off again, causing her to groan in annoyance. “U-Um, I’ll see you later.” She said, as an opened a portal to her bedroom in Heaven.

“I-I’ll miss you!”

“I-I mean see you later,” he stammered, hoping she didn’t hear what he had just said. She smiled, and nodded waving goodbye to him and she entered the portal.

[no sneak peek cuz it will be spoilers]

A/n: I wrote this at time time when you know your typing out a story and your tired and is slowly drifting to sleep eyes getting heavy but force urself awake to finish the fic

also the next chapter will have a flashback of y/n telling Lucifer about her struggles before they started dating when they were just friends at the time

taglist

@lxkeee @the-attention-whore @httpakasha @dickmastersworld @littleladydemon @sugarpookie @aria-tempest @abby-likesdraw8 @bethleeham @azullynx @baileyohemgee @haleypearce @cheoriemoawa @kaileyn-everdeen @froggybich @chirikoheina

[plaguechyld]

Bro jst imagine Muzan n reader being like "enemies" but behind closed doors reader fucks the brat outta Muzan every night

oh this is hot...

for the type of enemy that the reader is r they like a demon that isn't under control of Muzan?? Maybe someone who was turned into a demon before him but has perfected all aspects of being a demon and is just op and better and that makes Muzan mad?? And they're also stronger than Muzan, maybe having some celestial abilities that totally overpower him... hmmm

And then they're also older than him (in human years), maybe around like 21-22? (Still can't believe Muzan is a 19 year old (almost 20 but still.) he looks at least 26-30) and they're invincible, right, (no sun damage cus of how they ingested the blue spider lily and therefore doesn't die to demon slayer blades)

ok ok sorry for the ramble now for the smut (gn!reader, brat taming, overstim, dick can be read as strap (i call it dick whether or not it's a real one lmao), afab muzan, a safe word exists but it's not reffed)

Muzan let out another shrill wail as you tightened your grip on his hips and pulled him back down on your dick, ramming into the poor demon's g-spot over and over again. Muzan arched his back yet again, legs wrapping around your waist and hands gripping onto your back. He clawed helplessly at you, a silent plea for you to slow down your brutal pace because he really, really couldn't take it. You ignored his cries and continued pounding the poor thing into the mattress, too annoyed by his previous brattiness to care.

"Hic- AHN!!~ P-pl- sl- Oh! dOWN!-" His speech is slurred and interrupted by his loud and desperate moans as you don't let up. Fat tears roll down his flushed cheeks as his eyes roll back in his head, feeling another orgasm swiftly approaching. His cunt tightened around you as he let out a scream, cumming on your cock for the nth time. His crying soon turned into sobs as you didn't slow down even after his nth orgasm.

"Did I give you permission to cum, brat?" You ask sharply, causing Muzan to tremble and cry more while burying his face in your neck. Your hands were still gripping his hips so tightly that had he been human, dark bruises would've been left on his skin for days to come. The demon below you began sputtering out apologies, moans and wails interrupting his speech.

" 'M sorry! 'M so sor- HNGAHH!!" He screamed as your hand went down and pinched his clit sharply, other hand also wandering and tugging harshly on one of his already swollen nipples. His eyes rolled back again while his body was overwhelmed with just too much stimulation. It really was too much for him to handle! The poor thing was sobbing and moaning his heart out while getting railed hard. His pussy throbbed with oversensitivity from what you were doing and his legs shook hard from the feeling of you slamming into him over and over again.

Despite his body's state, Muzan could feel another orgasm building which made him cry out even louder than before. You could tell that he was close by how much the demon was squirming around, a fresh wave of tears spilling down his face as he desperately tried to hold himself back, not wanting another punishment on top of everything else. You could feel your own stamina wearing thin as the two of you had been going at it for a while now so you decided to give him what he wants. You leaned in close so that your lips were brushing against the shell of his ear before giving him a clear command,

"Cum for me, darling." He didn't waste a moment of your mercy and came with another loud shout, squirting on your cock before collapsing against the bed, too tired to hold himself up any longer.

You hummed and pulled out of him delicately. Normally due to the two of you having the status of enemies and the fact Muzan always refused you, you could never tend to him after having sex. But now that he was so exhausted and fucked out all he wanted was comfort. So you cleaned him as best you could with a warm wet towel, knowing that he didn't want a bath at that moment. You then laid down next to him, wrapping your arms around his waist and bringing him flush against your own body, lying a kiss on his forehead as he finally passed out.

[thisonehere]

Thinking of you

Part 1 "A match made in Hell"

Part 2 to 4 (???)

Part 3

A/n: Ngl, I was pretty intimidated to write this. You all gave so many awesome ideas on what I could do in part 2, I'm honestly pretty scared this won't live up to them.

Tags: @maulsgf @sweetpanda18

C/w: slight angst, Bi-Han cries a little

Silence. That is all Bi-Han heard as he leaned back in his chair. It was evening time and he was alone in his office attending business, signing important papers and planning specific events for the Lin Kuei. He had gained so much new resources for his clan that he had so much to plan for. As he worked, he couldn't help but be distracted by the silence. It was so loud, and he thought of you. Normally you would wander into his office many times to pester him. You try to urge him to come to bed, try to bring him food, or just sit with him. Bi-Han never paid much mind to it, he often brushed you off. Insisted how much he needed for work, sometimes he would eventually relent to you, other times he wouldn't.

He had never noticed how silent the room was before, but now that you're gone. He hadn't noticed how dark the room was without your smile to brighten it. Nothing's been truly the same since you left. He hasn't been sleeping enough, not eating enough, when he's wounded he goes to the nurses now that you aren't here to tend to his wounds, they lack your gentle touch that makes him feel at ease. Bi-Han stares down at his desk and thinks about those stupid letters you'd leave on his desk. Nothing major, just a letter that would remind him to do certain things, to remember to smile, to remember to drink enough water, to remember how much you loved him.

Perhaps...perhaps he took them, took you, for granted. Bi-Han shook his head and rose from his chair and walked out of his office. He matched through the halls, the sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls. Lin Kuei passed by him and he passed many Lin Kuei, they all side eyed him. He heard whispering as he passed by. Some even so bold as to shoot a glare at him. It's been like this since you made such a big commotion before you left. So many are wondering what happened, some speculate that you had a big argument and you were going away to cool off, other suspect that you had divorced, some even theories that you just left on your first ever mission. All that knew was that you were gone, and when you left, for many it felt like you took the only bit of warmth and love in this place with you.

Bi-Han tried not to think about you, especially the moment when you left, it hurt to think about. It had only been 2 weeks since you had left, but he still thought about it like it was yesterday. He remembered your eyes, the hurt that was in there. He also remembered the distant glare in there, as you were done with it all, was done with him . "Why" he remembered your words.

"Why wasn't I good enough for you? What did I fail to do that a demon could? I-I love you, I'd kill for you, I'd die for you. Why wasn't I enough for you? You were enough for me... you're everything to me..."

Bi-Han let out a sigh as he made his way up a flight of stairs. You were being ridiculous, he thought to himself. You were enough for him, you always were...he just...wanted more. He huffed as he pushed through the door to that to his chambers. "You're back early." There he found her, Sareena, sprawled across the bed. A annoying part of him wished it was you there. She seemed to avoid your side. Maybe out of respect to you, or because she wanted to be on his side to annoy him, something you used to do...

Bi-Han just rolled his eyes and marched into the room, "I finished early." He lied with a grumbly voice. His eyes wandered over to your vanity, once broken now repaired. He remembered how you would spend hours perfecting your image in it's reflection, your always tried to get perfect for him, though you thought he hardly noticed, but he did. He always noticed when you did something new with your hair, if you wore a new lipstick, when you were proud of how good you looked.

"Move over." He growled. Sareena begrudgingly obliged and turned over just enough for him to lay down, but not enough for him to have a lot of space. With a sigh, he laid down next to her in the little space she offered. He could go over to your side, but he just couldn't. Whenever he did he thought too much about you, he could almost swear he could still smell your perfume in the sheets.

Thinking about you was something he tried to do less and less these days. He tried to close his eyes, maybe enjoy Sareena's warmth as he attempted to drift off. But as he closed his eyes, he saw you. It was as clear as day. He saw you, he saw your quaint smile as you laid your head on his chest during the cold nights at the Artika. He wasn't bothered by it, but you were so he would hold and try to keep you warm. He thought of your warmth and how you cutely shivered a little at some points and how he would you tighter and bury you and him under a pile of blankets. He hated remembering this, he was trying to forget you, but you found a way to haunt him even though you weren't dead.

"You know, I didn't know much about her before she left. But I just say, she bloomed the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen." He heard Sareena say finally. Bi-Han eyes shot open and there he saw Sareena holding a flower crown. "Give me that." He says as he quickly took it from her. You had decorated your hair with them to celebrate his return home, you always decorated your hair with flowers to celebrate. Bi-Han remembered how he imported the most exotic flowers he could find just because you showed an interest in them.

He had an entire garden created just for you. When you left your garden died. Bi-Han tried to tend to it, but he didn't have that much of a green dumb. He had managed to collect those flowers you were that night and turned them into a ring of flowers, he used a thin layer of ice to keep it a permanent state of frozen preservation. He cradled it gently in his hands as he thoughtfully looked at it. "You miss her?" Sareena asked as she turned to look up at him. "What? Of course not! She left me, I could not care about her! She-she isn't important to me anymore." Sareena just stared at him, a knowing smirk on her face. He saw the way she looked at him and he immediately felt the need to get defensive. "Y/n is nothing to me!" That only caused Sareena's smile to griw bigger.

That's bullshit, he could no doubt imagine she was thinking. Bi-Han's gaze falls to the ground. "She-she's nothing to me..." his voice was much more subdued, melanchoic and almost defeated. Sareena leaned in forward to Bi-Han. She softly plants a kiss on his forehead. "Get some sleep, okay?" She said softly, she laid her head down onto the pillow, your pillow, her black eyes flutter close and she began to snore sweetly as she went to sleep, if demons could sleep that is. But Bi-Han couldn't sleep, he just sat there and miserably looked down at his bedmate. "Y/n means nothing to me." He repeated to himself silently.

---

The next day wasn't much easier for Bi-Han, the Lin Kuei still stared at him with wonder and suspicion. Bi-Han was tired from a lack of sleep, he spent the night tossing and turning. He dreamt of you. He dreamt that everything was alright, that you were in your garden reading your favorite book as he laid his head in your lap and rested under you.

He awoke in darkness, Sareena was gone, to where? He didn't know. She often went missing for a certain amount of time, then she would randomly show up again. Bi-Han didn't care too much for this. Sareena seemed so cold and distant on so many days, hardly there, and when she was present, Bi-Han tried to enjoy his time with her. But something was missing. You are always a warm and welcoming thing about you, he often feels safe around you. With Sareena, he did not feel quite so safe. He often felt like he had to constantly prove himself to her, show her his strength and hope that it was enough to keep her around.

"You were enough for me... you're everything to me..."

"Bi-Han?" Kuai's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and back into the present. In his office having a meeting with his brothers to discuss future plans for the Lin Kuei. His face hardened as he stared down at his brother. "I'm fine!" He snapped. His brothers stared at him and stay silent this outburst. They have been silent towards Bi-Han a lot lately ever since you left. A firm of solidarity to you, and disappointment towards Bi-Han. It was bad enough that he went against Liu Kang and started to form alliances with dark forces for his gain, him betraying you crossed another for them.

Bi-Han cleared his throat, he reorganized the papers onto his desk. "Anyway...with the sisterhood of shadow, we can now--" the meeting went and Bi-Han started elaborating on all the plans he had for their new assets and allied. His brothers stayed quiet and just stared at him. Which annoyed Bi-Han. He wanted something, anything from his brother, some response, to give him any ideas, to yell at him or berate him, anything that would make him feel like he still had his brothers. "Alright." He leaned back into his chair and rubbed his temples. "If you have something to say to me, just say. We're men, not children. Pouting will get you nowhere."

"How could you do that to Y/n?" Tomas immediately sprung into action, as if he had been waiting for an opportunity to say it. "Tomas, please." Kuai tried to get Tomas to calm down, but he was obviously so riled up. "She loved you! She loved you when no one else could, a-and you did this to her! You're not the least bit ashamed? You don't feel any guilt at hurting the only one who truly loved you!?" Kuai placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, and this seemed to cause him to calm down. "What Tomas is trying to say is, we feel you dealt Y/n a unfair hand. This affair, it is horrible for everyone involved."

Bi-Han just let out a small huff as he rose from his chair. "I would suggest that both of you stay in your place. Especially you, Tomas. What me and Y/n are dealing with falls out of your concern." He calmly strolled over to the window, hands folded behind his back. This only riled Tomas more as he jumped to his feet. "What? Do you think that since you're a grandmaster that suddenly gives you the right to treat everyone else like this?" Kuai quickly rose to his feet and grabbed Tomas's shoulder again, this time with a little more force.

Bi-Han didn't answer, he just stared out the window. "Why? Why are you like this? Is this all you are, bitterness, cruelty, and dishonor? Did you ever even care Y/n? Did you even have the capacity to care for anyone other than yourself?" Bi-Han stayed silent. Tomas gritted his teeth, turned on his heels and marched out the door. Kuai turned to follow him, but before he walked out the door, he looked back at his brother, his eyes softened with disappointment. "Th-there is done truth in Tomas's words. Bi-Han, you wound me with your actions. As your brother I will always love you. But I cannot respect you anymore as Grandmaster." And with that, Kuai gently closed the door behind him.

Silence. With his brothers leaving, the room is flooded with defeating silence. He clenched his hands together and he pressed his eyes shut. Tomas is a fool and so is Kuai, he knows not what he talks about, Bi-Han thought. He began to shake slightly, his breath gets shaky as he presses his eyes tighter. Against his best efforts, a single tear falls down Bi-Han's cheek.

---

"You asked to see me?" It was later in the evening, Bi-Han had summoned one of his most competent Lin Kuei warriors to his office. "Yes." He said in a low voice. His eyes were slightly red, slightly puffy, but the warrior decided that it would be best not to question it. "I requested you here for a specific task, something that is important, something that I never thought I'd ask." The Lin Kuei leaned forward, eager to hear. "I need you to find my wife. I need you to bring her back to me."

A/n: In the next chapter we'll be seeing what Y/n's been up to since leaving

[absolutebl]

Meet You At the Blossom - Watch Along

Maybe a trash watch? We will find out.

But first what do we know about this show?

Well, I can't for the life of me remember the title. The article placement it too weird so it will henceforth be called Blossom okay?

Here's what I learned from @renafire

Duck daddy!!!!! I bring news! China didn't kill the gays! Meet You at the Blossom is an HEA! Golden retriever XiaoBao x ice prince Huaien (who gets the shit stabbed out of him an awful lot for being a ML). A side CP of dumb, pretty bodyguard x eccentric doctor. The background plot was basically a bunch of middle age men fighting about the ML's long dead mother. Needles! So many needles! (It was practically a sickfic tbh) Flapping sleeves! Flowing hair! Poison! Politics! A villain weirdly into kites! Prisoners in chains you can easily slip your hand through! Dimples! Loyal bodyguards becoming family! It's not the best thing ever, but it ends happily! There was even a line about "true love has nothing to do with gender" which I feel like is a big deal for something associated with China?

This convinced me to watch, so I thought I'd just post it verbatim to convince you, too.

So I'd refused to watch Blossom because I assumed the leads would die or at least be torn asunder at the end, and that there would be no kisses.

So this Watch Along is going to be me eating crow.

China pretty much always does censored BL (when they do it at all) since 2017 or so. You can watch something like My E-Sports Genius Brother for the style of "happy but censored BL" that I've grown to expect from China. (Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.)

They didn't used to do this! Time once was that China was this chaotic minefield of tasty mess meets terrible tropes (like kidnapping, stepbrothers, rape, whipping boy, and dub con). I had a weird love for it at the time because it was the Wild Wild World of BL beck then and I didn't know to expect better.

I come from 90s Yaoi. Remember?

Ah the bad old days. (You can read a history of CBL here. Not updated in ages.)

Where was I?

So, what I knew about Blossom was that it was a Wuxia BL and that it was made with Thailand, or for Thailand, or something to do with Thailand (there is Thai script on the promo material) and that it wasn't being distributed inside Mainland China. (I still worry about the actors but that's kinda a natural state for me and BL outside of Japan.)

Outside of China Blossom got wide distribution showing up everywhere iQIYI (China based), Viki (Japan based), Gaga (Taiwan based) WeTV (US Based) and YouTube (Thai Channel Artop Media is serving it).

It also looks like Heavenly is involved and they are Korea based. So like, everyone had their mitts on this thing. We live in crazy times.

Okay so, here are my 20 expectations:

Pony tails with a ribbon or two

Lots of questionable older tropes, especially dub-con & kidnapping (the herb that makes you horny maybe?)

Flowing filmy robes wafting everywhere

EXTREMELY PRETTY men, costumes, make up, setting... well, everything

No consent whatsoever

Pokey pokey, but not with the right kind of swords (a naked blade will be grabbed by a naked hand, sadly also not in the preferred way)

A bodyguard hotter than he has any right to be, wearing black

Floaty fighty fighty, including but not limited to: skid backwards through puffs of dust, a leap to land + one knee down + holding sword + head bowed, a twirly protect baby from baddies

A boat in a lotus pond

Poison, probably green, glittery if I'm lucky

Circular architecture

A big fuck off fan

Puppy-cat pairing

They wander through bamboo, sit down at the edge of a lake, probubly on a log

Wound tending, of course, because there will be lots of wounds

Someone pushed onto a platform bed (also kneeling in front of it)

A jail with straw in it

Older men with sparse beards detracting from the romance

Fruit or some other food being thrown

Some serious SLEEVE action.

Li Le as Zong Zheng Huai En

Probably the reserved unhinged one. Has sword, will prod.

He has a solid track record of shows under his belt. So to speak. One wonders how they persuaded him to do BL. He sure is pretty tho.

Wang Yun Kai as Jin Xiao Bao

The son of the wealthiest man in the Jiangnan region, probably the cheerful cute one.

He's an entirely green actor.

Most of the cast is from mainland China, with the exception of Achi Sukonlaphat Sribubpha, who is Thai (obvs) and under Artop Media.

Nancy Chen is directing

She is a Taiwanese director and screenwriter, who directed HIStory 4 and HIStory 5 (neither all that great) and was behind very queer friendly Pappy & Daddy.

I wouldn't call her a stellar director. I would say I've been reserving judgement, but if you pin me down I'd call her Taiwan's New.

Pitch

Xiao Bao (cute) falls in love with icy, white-robed stunner Huai En due to an unexpected meeting. Discovers she is actually a boy (and a baddie). Hijinx ensue.

Adapted from the novel Hua Kai You Shi Tui Mi Wu Sheng 花开有时, 颓靡无声 by Shui Qian Cheng 水千丞

Co-production with China and Taiwan. But the country of origin is listed as Thailand.

12 Episodes, 40 min each (or so) for a total fresh content run time of 8 hours.

Aired: Jul 11, 2024 - Aug 15, 2024 on iQiyi, Viki, WeTV, Gaga

Shall we get started?

I had a surfeit of options since Viki, Gaga, and iQIYI all had Blossom. I like Viki's interface best, want to support Gaga the most, but in this case, I opted for iQIYI because... screen shots. So it's all your fault.

EPISODE 1: Nicknames, pretty men, dimples, twirly, stabby, floof!

I don't like the intro music, it's too slow and tinkly, but classic for the genre I suppose. Still I'm fast forwarding through all the falling cherry blossoms.

All right. Now it's about time for... YES...

Emperor Infodump

Chancellor of Extraneous Explanations

As You Know Bo

Sorry sorry. The puns must flow.

The deets: layabout emperor = chaos & suffering. New emp = strong & popular but his baby bro wants to rule. New emp exiles bro to obscurity. New emp = good ruler. Order established through patriarchal dominance. Children laughing in the street. Got it.

I will not be remembering names, FYI.

We open on kid in trouble over a kite killed(?) by baddie.

Enter pretty spangled skippy puppy McDimples. I shall call him Dimples. Dimples = spoiled rich kid having trouble finding a wife - presumably because they all know he gay.

Enter hottie evil cut-glass cheekbones McPoutypants. Haven't decided what I shall call him. It'll come to me.

Extremely pretty men. CHECK.

Ooo, a big hat on horse back!

Of course, how could I not have had that trope on my checklist? My bad.

And a bunch of assassins slow-dropping out of trees like lazy fruit. I forgot that, too.

I gotta say, fairy prince or high elf is not a bad moniker for twirly-sword cheekbones supreme.

Floaty fighty fighty! CHECK

Oh, I thought they'd go in for crossdressing at the very least but I guess they went for Dimples is an idiot instead. Interesting choice. I see we also have the "baby is a clumsy bunny" trope all set to deploy. Carry on.

Grab the sword and skid through the dirt. CHECK!

And a fainting!

Pony tail with ribbons. CHECK

Dimples might be a bit too much of a prat and an idiot for me.

[Have begun watching at 1.25 speed. Don't fault me.]

I always find the orange/yellow eye makeup that Cdramas put on characters of questionable morality fascinating. Why those colors specifically? And why eye makeup specifically?

We arrive home. It fancy. Daddy doesn't want an unknown lady for his baby (silly daddy, ladies are for ladies, boys are for boys).

Everyone acknowledging that elf prince is, in fact, The Prettiest is very pleasing to me.

Meanwhile, there is some kind of list/stuff/thingy and Prince Shen wants it and is a bad guy, maybe? I can't remember names from the beginning so I have no idea what's going on with the plot but also, it is only going to get more convoluted. Plus the weekend is coming so I'll eventually be drinking and watching this. Plot is for people who don't like BL. And don't have six bottles of sake in their fridge.

Snicker.

Where was I?

Oh yes. Judiciously NOT following the plot.

Dimples and his 2 enablers seem to share about 1/3 of a braincell between them. But they're sincere about it.

Engage secret identity trope and the expected cross dressing.

Ooo Shen is The Prettiest's uncle? Damn it I'm trying to follow the plot again. Must not get sucked into plot. This is a Cdrama therein lies madness. Ah, Prettiest is the son of the emperor's exiled younger bro? Got it.

Twirly protect baby from baddies! CHECK

And that's episode 1 in the bag. In the sheath?

My thoughts so far:

This couldn't be more exactly what I expected if it tried. I mean it is trying. And it's succeeding in being a Wuxia BL. So. Yay! Performing to the packaging. I appreciate that in a show.

I'm looking forward to more.

(On the advice of one of my spies I've switched to watching on YT when I can, YT and Gaga are supposed to have the better subs than iQIYI and Viki. That said I found iQIYI's serviceable.)

EPISODE 2: Checking a bunch of stuff off my list in rapid succession

Poisoning?

No. Sex herb? CHECK

Discovery that she is in fact he?

Dominance Tussle? Dub con? Rape? Already? CHECK

Well that came fast (presumably so did he).

There’s a lot happening all at once at the beginning of just ep 2. 

It’s an ACCOUNT BOOK that’s causing all this fuss? Hilarious. 

Enter the anticipated hottie (bodyguard? spy?) in all black wearing a hedgehog. CHECK

(I didn’t expect the hedgehog, I have to admit.)

Oh is the single brain cell society is trying to grow additional brain cells? That's not gonna work.

Cheekbones is still the prettiest.

Oh HELLO stern grabby Daddy not-older brother of yummy. We likey.

Who do you belong to?

Why do you have The Biggest Sleeves?

Do I take that as a sign of gayness?

Please? 

Ooo looks like I’m right. 

Also this is very silly.

And "I never said she was a woman."

It’s just so funny.

OH NO!

Stern prince bro is leaving already?

I only had Grabby McDaddy for a very short length of time. I already miss him. 

Meanwhile, Dimples apparently has no compunction about being in love with a man, we blew through a bisexual identity crisis while I wasn't looking, and now we exist inside the gay=okay bubble? I did not expect The Bubble(tm) to show up in a Wuxia, but I guess this is a BL universe and we all just float around in it… 

Cheekbones is a bit of an asshole. Quite apart from the, ya know, bit of rapey rape thing.

I also did not have absolutely terrible VO dubbing on my bingo card. I forgot about that one in Cdramas.

EPISODE 3: Distracted by the pretty

Some kind of dark past for dimples and his little (not blood ) sister. 

Sniff test, the greatest trope of 2024 apparently. Nice to see the execution of a modern trope in a vintage style BL.

Aa ha! Kneeling next to a platform bed. CHECK

And more poisoning and drugs.

Wound tending. CHECK

Aweeeee Dimples is worried about Cheekbones! How cute.

Also, the ice queen appears to be melting.

Ooo. More sexitimes? Consensual this time. Okay. I guess Taiwan did get its nuts all over this show. (Honestly, that was a mistype but I'm keeping it in.)

The bit with all the bodyguards was great.

And my love for Mr. All-Black Clued-in Hottie persists.

We are now in the “does he like me back?” phase of the high school narrative. We are also in the "do I like him at all?" part of the narrative. Suddenly, this is an angsty YA. 

Ice queen has melted and is now turning into jelly. (Can you tell I’m very pleased with myself and this metaphor?) 

And now, Dimples is sick?

Boy, is this fast moving! I have to say, that is something I did not expect at all. Usually Cdramas are much slower than this.

I do love how shameless D imples is. It’s kind of delightful. He’s definitely in his bisexual awakening slut phase.

Cheekbones is also a doctor, apparently. Useful man. 

In other news: I would really like to add a full length crossover wafting robe into my wardrobe. I have no idea why I feel compelled by such a thing.

EPISODE 4: Gay sleeves AT last

Not a lot happened in this episode. Mostly flirting. More backstory and plot that doesn’t really matter. Presumably this intended to be character motivation?

We do not need him to be motivated we need him to be pretty. Understand the brief please.

Why no more floaty floaty sleeves?

Oooo, because sleeves in gay! CHECK

I did like the scene of the blood being cleaned up after the assassination attempt(?). It’s kind of nice to see that depicted for a change. I always worry about all that blood on that nice stone work.

Oh the handholding it was very cute.

Ice queen has melted and now turned entirely to jelly. Very very jelly.

Dimples is so stupid proud of his tall deadly wife. It's flipping adorable in a very goofy way.

I guess Cheekbones has come around and now Dimples has officially been claimed, multiple times and in multiple ways. He can't change his mind or anything now. Trouble is afoot...

asleeve?

ahead...

ahem.

I'll stop now.

EPISODE 5 - It is a Thing I guess?

OMG Cheekbones just loves his stilly bint of a bf. It’s absolutely absurd. The ultimate puppy/cat pairing.

I love it that he’s just casually walking around with a knife sticking out of his back and only cares that baby may have gotten a splinter in his finger.

Now we are in the vows portion of the early romance. I am assuming betrayal is coming soon? 

Grabby McDaddy! I missed you! Here to perform the part of Basil Exposition I see? No grabby for me? Sad. Unfortunately, if you aren’t flirting with a man I’m going to be fast forwarding. Although your sleeves are very nice.

Uh oh, Dimples is in trouble. 

Okay that was that. No screen caps, I lazy.

EPISODE 6 - DOOOMMMM

Oh lovely. More rape. I guess Dimples went looking for that response? Is that the implication? Does Dimples have a rape kink? What is with this show? 

No brothels for a baby I guess.

It’s not gay... it’s poison? 

It’s not bisexuality... it’s the slut herb? 

The single brain cell club is now the wailing fates. 

I guess cutting off a man’s hand out of jealousy is no biggie? Well this is a BL. Jealousy is the #1 excuse!

Fighty floaty blood spatter death! This time on wooden planks. Those are impossible to get clean. 

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of backstory and stuff I don’t care about, and probably can’t follow even if I did care about it.

I don’t like the Emperor at all. But then I don’t think I meant to. I am a little shocked that there aren’t more men with sparse beards distracting from the romance. But I guess this is a BL, they go for youth even in wuxia.

EPISODE 7 - You know what they say about a man with big sleeves?

Oh, Daddy McGrabby is back and he's a good guy (?)! He’s also in love with Dimples. 

Oh no!

What is this sensation I feel being thrust upon me?

Is that…? Is that second lead syndrome?  I think it is.

Oh well, it was fated the moment I saw the length of his... sleeves in episode 2.

Meanwhile?

Dimples gets tortured by acupuncture. 

Poisonings are always so elegant and classy in Cdramas.

Blah blah captured rescued captured rescued again sort of. Cheekbones is now seriously imperiled. We swap one for the other in Grave Danger (TM).

Enter the Divine Doctor character! Who (Dr) I have been told reliably by previous witnesses is A Favorite. I do love this particular archetype (quirky healer wise beyond his years - sometimes actual immortal. ) I am prepared to be delighted.  

EPISODE 8 - Divine Doctor is Emperor of the Gays

The divine doctor and 1/3 brain cell is not a pairing I thought was going to happen. Frankly it doesn't seem like the writers thought about it much either.

But it did make me laugh out loud.

It’s fantastic. I love them. I love this for me. I love a secondary couple for this show. Carry-on.

I LOVE THE DOCTOR SO MUCH. 

Everyone was absolutely correct. He is the best character. He is my favorite. He is openly gay and a troublemaker and absolute queen. And I adore him forever. No notes.

King Emperor behavior!

The evil crown prince has a crush on Daddy McGrabby. With good reason, he does have the biggest sleeves.

(I have a crush on Daddy McGrabby.) And he clearly likes brats, so I think the crown prince is in with a chance, actually.

(Not me, sadly. Despite the rumors I am not a brat. I make no case for this.)

EPISODE 9 - The Plot Thickens like Shampoo

Oh, Cheekbones is the new crown prince? We have a whole Snape situation going on here?

And finally Cheekbone knows what is happened to his poor little tortured Dimples. (oof that acting tho. before you say "what acting" i KNOW.)

In all honesty, I’m quite engaged by the drama of the show at this point and kind of losing my snark because of it. Don't get mad at me.

It’s not a bad show. I mean it’s a melodramatic soap opera, but that’s to be expected. It's so soapy it's like one of those extra foamy soap dispenser soaps.

To be entirely fair most gay men of my acquaintances have very similar relationship trajectories. Minus some of the casual murder (aside from character assassinations of course). 

EPISODE 10 - Oh Noes All Round

Not enough of my beloved divine doctor emperor of the gays. But you can’t have everything. 

Oh noes, my babies are fighting. 

But he brought you a big thistle! Don't fight!

Oh they get to kind of make up, or something. It’s sweet. Puppy Dimples accidentally caught himself a psychopath. To be fair tho, all cats are psychopaths at heart.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is planning on killing Cheekbones. No Daddy. Not the Cheekbones!

The cheek kiss from Cheekbones was so romantic. Normally I’m not a huge fan of this particular smooch, but under these circumstances it was very good.

EPISODE 11 - So Many Gay Emperors no one cares about the actual emperor

I wish I could shut somebody up by a simple double tap to the collarbone. It’s like the wuxia version of a block feature on tumblr.

Meanwhile, the part where 2/3 of a brain cell are comparing how hot their respective fierce gay emperors are to each other is truly hilarious. I actually clapped.

This is so ridiculous.

Epic eye roll from the remaining 1/3 of a brain cell. And I have to say I’m on his side in this matter.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is not, in fact, on the side of twrew lurve after all.

How sad. 

EPISODE 12 - The Bisexual In the Bathtub & other nursery rhymes of my youth

I love this silly bint of a bisexual in the bath between two fierce gay dudes who are about to give their life force to keep him alive.

Someone definitely once drew this as Lord of the Rings fanart 20 years ago.

I guess our single brain cell has been torn asunder. And Daddy McGrabby never did get his man.

Next series?

Bing him back to me.

With EVEN BIGGER SLEEVES!

IN CONCLUSION

All cards on the table?

This was undeniably a wuxia and most definitely a BL.

Evil stunning princely Cheekbones meets and falls in love with the bisexual Disaster dimples of his dreams. There’s a lot of floaty fighting, tangled plot, and overworked emotions. From start to finish it was exactly as it claimed to be, including more than the expected amount of sexual claiming.

I’m not wild about the wuxia genre, but I will tell you what I do like:

Very pretty men in flowing robes + eye makeup + hair ribbons wafting about stabbing and kissing each other plus ridiculous soap opera machinations. I also like cheekbones and dimples. AND I love a stupid gay sleeve, okay? There was also truly epic levels of stink-eye, and that too is to be lauded.

This show left me grinning like crazy. Was it great? Not really, but it was a great experience and I enjoyed it immensely.

I’m so glad you all persuaded me to watch it in the end.

Thank you! 

I should probably give it an 9/10 because I had such a good time watching it. But I’m not going to, because it isn’t a 9/10 drama. It had a lot of flaws chewing at that pretty (boom mic riddled) scenery, not to mention all the rapey rape.

It’s a solid 8/10

(source)

[bluecollarmcandtf]

M O O N L I G H T ™

Pulling into the lonely gas station, my eyes quickly find what I'm looking for, a pair of blue lights emanating in the darkness. The glow is coming from the gas attendant's skull: clear indication that he's a Moonlight™ employee.

"Good evening, sir," he says with the overly-endearing tone of a gracious host, "How may I be of service tonight?

I don't hide my distaste for the pathetic menial worker, leaning on his mop and waiting for my reply like he's got the best job in the world. He doesn't actually believe that. He doesn't even know what he's saying, let alone doing!

"Just fill her up," I grunt.

"You got it, sir!" he beams, tending to my car with a pep that's out of place for the late hour.

Moonlight™ was the app that revolutionized working culture forever. It allows the user to sign up for a job while they sleep. All they have to do is doze off and some insufferable AI from Moonlight™ will resume control of the body via remote connection. People like it because they get paid work without experiencing all the boring hours and insincere customer interactions. Subsequently, they always get the same unbearably eager personalities stuffed in their bodies. Even without the glowing eyes, their idiotic grins would make them stand out a mile away!

"How has your day been, sir?" he contines mopping as the gas slowly pumps.

"Don't try to chat," I snap.

"Of course, sir," he doesn't miss a beat, smiling as he returns his neon gaze to the sidewalk he's swabbing.

I just roll my eyes and wander inside. The app doesn't record memories while it's in control, so this guy has no idea how humiliated he should feel. No one should have a shit-eating grin on their face working the night shift as a gas station janitor! I'd die before I gave up my dignity to Moonlight™ like this fucking loser!

On the TV behind the register, an ad plays...

The costumed man on the left steps forward and announces, "Join the revolution. There are over forty-two-million Moonlighter's taking advantage of their sleep! That could be you!"

The statistic makes me cringe. It's nearly doubled since the last time I checked...

The man on the far right of the screen happily taps in, adding, "We're constantly expanding our scope, so check with your employer! If your job doesn't already have a Moonlight™ option, then ask your boss to give you one!"

God, they're pressuring people now? Some jobs should not be done by an AI puppeteered Moonlighter...

Finally, the man in the center steps forward to deliver his lines, "Remember, Moonlighting is a safe and healthy way to not only make money but also get a good night's rest! Why work all day, when you can do it in your sleep!" his head turns, making it seem like he's smiling at either of his coworkers, "After all, we are!"

The three men laugh in unison, like true colleagues chumming up at work, but I know the truth. These three are worse than actors, they're empty marionettes for the Moonlight™ corporation. I doubt they'd ever even met each other in real life...

"Shut up!" I groan, smashing the power button to turn it off.

This world is going to shit. Moonlight™ has grown too large over the past year for there not to be some conspiracy or ulterior motive. I don't know what it is: the elite keeping the working class in their place, our government influencing our decisions, a foreign country converting us into their slaves! It all sounds crazy, but I don't think a single theory is impossible with an app like Moonlight™.

I'm the only one probing into this mess. I may have only worked as a detective for a few years, but I never did any of it fucking asleep!

A few days later, I track down my first lead...

"Good morning, sir," the garbage man says in that unnaturally smooth cadence they all have, "Is there any trash you need collected?"

"I just have some questions," I snort.

One hand pulls the hem of my shirt over my nose while the other swats at the flies. These garbage trucks are absolutely filthy. I doubt the garbage companies even bother washing them out anymore, but why should they if their workers are soulless husks without the ability to care? The man in front of me seems completely oblivious to the mixture of rotting smells and accompanying bugs. His glowing eyes don't even blink as a fly lands on his face, crawling through the hairs of his beard. He's probably lucky that he goes home with no memory of this downright awful job.

"Are you looking for employment with Moonlight™ incorporated?" his smiling lips stir the bug on his face, but it quickly buzzes into the moist retreat of the man's dark armpit, "I'd love to help you install the app and-"

"No," I cut, "Just open the truck. I accidentally threw out something I shouldn't have."

I study the man's frozen grin for anything. It's a test. The Moonlight™ AI is designed to accept demands from free-willed customers, but I have a suspicion that the building nearby is an undocumented base for the company. If I'm right, the company would hate for anyone to root through the garbage of their secret lab...

"...I apologize, sir, but the garbage has already been compacted, and it is unsafe for non-employees to look inside. Please let me know what it is you are looking for and I will search for you."

His artificial glee didn't wane, but the blue light in his eyes did flicker just barely. This guy might be asleep, walked around by remote AI tech, but I could still tell he was lying. I'd like to see one of the Moonlight™ detectives figure that out. As I said, some things are better done the old-fashioned way...

"Well, thanks anyway," I snark, planting a slap on his sweat-soaked back. He says something about it being his pleasure as he resumes handling the garbage, flies eternally buzzing around his smiling head and glowing eyes.

Continuing my investigation, I pop down in the sewer, looking for an underground entrance to Moonlight™'s secret lab...

"Are you lost, sir? Let me help you."

I've had to breathe through a mask to put up with the heavy cloud of steaming sewage, but the Moonlight™ septic worker seems fine, smiling with an open mouth, specks of God-knows-what dried on his teeth.

"No, I'm where I should be," I dismiss him and march past.

Suddenly a muddy glove sticks out and holds my chest. "I'm afraid you cannot pass, sir," his smile is as strong as ever, but the trademark glow of his eyes intensifies.

I've never felt more sure about my suspicions. This mind controlled worker seems ready to fight rather than let me pass. I wonder if this poor soul knows he's being used as a guard as well as being a Moonlight™ sewage worker.

"Why don't you show me the way out then," I relent.

"Of course, sir," his hand removes itself from my chest, leaving a dirty print, "The sewer is a dangerous place for civilians."

I follow as he marches me out of the sewer. It's better to leave and come back later with a plan. Today, I confirmed my suspicions, but tomorrow, I'll finally see what secrets they're cooking up in that lab. I return home and end the day with the satisfaction of being close to a major discovery. Sleep finds me quickly...

Waking up in my bed, I check my phone and find an unsettling message waiting for me...

"Congratulations on finishing your first shift with Moonlight™!" the text reads, "Here is a photo of you hard at work last night!"

"What the FUCK!"

I jump out of bed, but instantly everything feels off. My back aches and my legs are more tired than they were last night! My pajamas are uncomfortable, pinching in areas like someone else dressed me in them! My mind is racing with confusion, and an overwhelming sense of self-consciousness rushes over me. My face burns from the violation, but most of my fear is focused on the strange feeling lingering in the back of my private area.

"What did they do to me?" I try to be pissed, but all I can do is whimper.

Suddenly my phone rings...

"Hello," I growl.

"Good morning, sir," a familiarly gracious man's voice rolls through the call.

"Tell me who the fuck this is!"

"Someone who noticed you snooping the other day, sir," his voice sounds like it's smiling.

Suddenly it clicks. Whoever's calling me from Moonlight™ would never use their own phone and voice. They must be using some poor schmuck that thinks he's working an honest job right now. How am I ever supposed to find who's behind all these layers of lies?

"You can hind behind your brainless puppets," I sneer, "But I will not stop looking into this fucked up company!"

"But now you're one of our puppets, sir. I'm not sure how much credibility a detective has if he spends his nights working the room at the dirtiest club in town..."

"That's sick..." I whisper, thinking about the picture on my phone. The idea of me gleefully stripping for a room of disgusting old men makes me shiver.

"Good luck with your investigation, sir," the voice continues, "But just understand that every time you sleep, your body will get up and report to that club. I have to admit that you're hiding a rather tight body under that trench coat of yours."

"You were there?" I mutter.

"Oh I had to meet the man poking his nose where it didn't belong, sir. I got very familiar with you. You were very friendly last night, so I poked something of mine where it didn't belong."

The voice on the other line laughs, and all I feel is utter humiliation. I hang up the call and stare at the photo he'd sent. It was me alright, smiling like a maniac in the gayest outfit I've ever seen. I didn't like my body being dressed like that. I hate that I was happily busting my ass for the enemy. He had to have been getting off at my humiliation last night. I'm sure he relished every second of what he did to me. I don't even want to think about the sensation left in my ass.

I need to push this investigation faster.

Because tonight, when I go to sleep, I'll be helpless to prevent this from happening again.

[zillychu]

I really like your “ghosts treated as natural disasters” au! It’s super cool! I wonder how people get around the fact that phantom has never been seen sucking anybody’s life force out? Do they think he’s building up to something big or just protective of the population center he’s found

That's a great question! I tried to keep that post as short and sweet as possible but oh man do I have a lot more nitty gritty details in mind.

For one, ghosts aren't restricted to Amity Park. They have haunts (territories) but they have lairs in the ghost zone as well, so they tend to go back and forth between the worlds.

However, only the Fentons have a portal with a fixed location, and they rarely have it turned on. (Fun fact: the Fenton portal is made after ghosts explode into the human realm in this AU!) There are areas on earth with higher portal activity, but where they pop up and how long they stay is pretty random.

So, ghosts naturally wander. They pop back into the human realm as they wish, but it's not always close to their haunt. Lots of lesser ghosts don't even have haunts, too mindless for intelligence and more like roaming animals. Smarter ghosts can be curious and explore other parts of earth. They tend to only get defensive of their haunt if they sense other ghosts hunting there excessively, or trying to lay claim on the haunt.

So, in short, Phantom isn't always in Amity. He's there most frequently, but does appear elsewhere on earth at times. There's basically no way to tell how many ghost-related deaths are Phantom's fault.

Not only that, but slowly devouring a human's life force over time isn't uncommon! More intelligent ghosts will do this in an effort to prolong the duration of their "meal", and indulge in the terror it incites. A lot of people simply get very ill and exhausted over time, until there's not enough life left in them. But since this happens to humans naturally all the time, well... it's often hard to tell if the decline in health is from natural causes, or a ghost. (Lesser ghosts don't eat as much, but they have no intelligence to keep them from stopping till they're full. They get full quickly though, so you're less likely to die if one catches you. Just watch out for multiple encounters.)

Danny does take this to an extreme, though! Humans do replenish their life force naturally over time--it's just that ghosts that eat slowly still overcome that natural regeneration. Phantom is literally the only ghost that takes so little over such a large population that it's barely perceptible (unless he messes up, which, oops--that's happened).

But there's simply no evidence that this is probable, or even possible. Ghosts have no reason to do this, it's not as satisfying to them if their prey doesn't experience the terror that comes with knowing they're being drained.

(Also, just another fun little factoid: haunts are usually small! Lesser ghosts will haunt a single item, stronger ones will haunt a building, the strongest on record will haunt something like a park or complex. No one has figured out yet that Phantom haunts all of Amity because that's unheard of!)

Another factoid: ghosts don't need life force to survive! They lived in the ghost zone all this time just fine.

Life energy simply gives them more power, and better ability to stay in the human realm longer, and more corporeal. And it's instinct--it tastes good.

Danny, however, does need that life energy to survive. He needs his ghost half strong enough to stay attached to him, or it could detach and leave his human half dead. Then he'd just be another ghost.

(Also, The more sentient a life is, the stronger it is. So ghosts could technically drain the life of plants and animals, but it's gonna be mostly empty calories.)

[raticalshoez]

Sorry guys. I'm ranting about Joel again because djskakaka that's my favorite guy. This post is a direct result of the tags in a post I reblogged and I just HAD TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

Okay, so Joel always carries himself to high regard. He has lots of confidence in himself, is generally apathetic and dry to any matter that doesn't concern him, and he overall loves to bite back at things. He's a big fan of chaos and violence, and stays generally bitter when things go badly for him. He can be ruthless and reckless and that's just natural for him because he's one of the many Life Series wolf-coded characters.

But something about Joel in Secret Life is just...kind? He's kind and caring, in his Joel Smallishbeans way. Especially in later sessions.

In Etho's little remembering the past era, he reassures him that he does still care for him. When Lizzie invites everyone to her party in a rushed frenzy, he attends because he thinks it's only fair. When Pearl was apprehensive about her task being guessed, he purposefully wastes his guess so she doesn't have to be worried around him. He trusts Jimmy to assist him with his task even while everyone else is cautious about his red name status. And when it all came down to it, Joel tells Martyn to stay back after all the reds have dropped like flies because even if all the reds were a threat to them, he still didn't want to see them all die in one episode.

In Secret Life, Joel still has everything he's always had. He's still bloodthirsty and holds silly grudges, evident with the whole Scott thing this session. He's still cheeky and likes to mess around and make sarcastic comments often, but at the end of the day he's Joel. He tends to stay loyal to his allies and I think he's more thoughtful than lots of people realize.

This may be part of the reason I love the Mounders. They were all sort of distant in the way they would wander off and do their own thing, but when it came down to it, they always stuck by each other. They remained loyal despite what seemed to be really loose ends tying them all together, and that means SO much to me! I guess it makes sense though; a team with the lonely wolf girl from Double Life and the lonely wolf boy from Last Life were enough to neutralize the whole, "Bdubs can be kinda disloyal" thing and the whole "Mumbo was apprehensive of any color lesser than he was" thing.

Anyways. Life Series Joel Smallishbeans. That's my guy bro...THAT'S MY GUYYYYYY

Also! The post that inspired this was by @simplydm! Their post about Joel's comment to Martyn reminded me how much that scene made me orbit around the moon so I thought they deserved to mentioned in this. Sorry to them if uh they didn't want to be tagged though. I will remove it if that ends up being the case!

[causenessus]

love notes

part 0.05. intros

EXHIBIT TWO: RIDE OR DIE BROS FOR LIFE

suna rintarou °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

middle blocker for the msby volleyball team and wanted to major in something art related but ended up going into athletic training with sakusa. in high school, atsumu, osamu, and him would very frequently sneak out at night usually to graffiti a wall and atsumu and him have kept up the tradition. whenever they travel to other cities to play an away game, they’ll try and find the time to go out and leave their mark on the city. in college, he started to do things like leave little snippets of lyrics from romantic songs on walls in sharpie or spray paint </3 he first met y/n in high school and they didn't talk much despite being in the same friend group. he a her from afar but never said anything because he didn’t feel like she knew him well enough that she would return his feelings if he told her. as a result, ever since graduation, he’s been finding small ways to be closer to her. although he isn’t majoring in art, he started to hang around the art department more, and would follow her around whenever she came to develop photos. she’d let him come with her into the department’s dark room and explain the process to him. he tries his best to listen but most of the time he get distracted while looking at her <3 eventually he started to invite her to come wander the city with him in search of street art and told her he’d start sending her photos of art that he found in other cities (which he's totally not making and then sending to her as if he's just randomly stumbled upon the most heartwrenching, romantic art ever). as long as he’s with her he couldn't care less what they're doing; to him, the real artwork is right next to him <3 she’s taking photos of something written on a wall while he’s looking at her <3

miya atsumu & miya osamu °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

atsumu

setter for msby <3 made his bio in retaliation to his brother and then got upset when osamu didn’t care. didn’t even want to go to college but really wanted to play for msby and didn’t want to be left out of everyone else going to school so he’s chilling in communications with bokuto. loves to come to onigiri miya on days y/n works because she gives him discounts and he jokes that she’s a better cook than osamu (which psychologically, for him, is probably true. samu cooks for tsumu and curses the food while y/n tries to put at least a little bit of love into what she makes for him). at some point tried to flirt with y/n and then realized she did not love when he visited because of him but bc he would bring suna. often comes by himself to onigiri miya or brings bokuto with him to ask yn how things with suna, completely ignoring the fact that she has a boyfriend (which leaves her confused about every single life choice she's made) and then will immediately text suna being like “y/n and me are talking about u rn LL sucks to suck i bet ur wondering what she thinks of u"

osamu

always gives suna discounts when he comes and will immediately take over whatever order y/n is working on so that she can make suna’s foof <3 he’s like a double agent for both sides but doesn’t get too involved because things with suga are making it difficult. he’s definitely someone suna goes to a lot for advice and although suna tends to only come on days when y/n works, sometimes on late nights after practice when osamu is the only one left working, suna will come in and they’ll share a drink and talk about y/n and more

bokuto koutarou & oikawa tooru °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

bokuto

wing spiker for msby and self proclaims himself as the ace <3 sakusa and him beef a little bit about it but the entire team is made up of doubles anyway so they kind of share the title. he’s matching users with atsumu and oikawa and also asked akaashi if they could have matching headers <3 akaashi sent him his current header which bokuto immediately started using <3 my guy has got so many friends and is loved by everyone so he’s actually having the best time of his life in college!!! besides when exams come around. then he’s hiding under a table and it takes the collective effort of akaashi, atsumu, and oikawa’s to get him out.

oikawa

second setter for msby! atsumu and him actually lowkey connected immediately and the team often uses a 6-2 rotation to utilize two setters and it’s been working out pretty well. other volleyball teams quiver hearing about msby’s lineup LMAO. he’s also a photography major which has led to suna often asking him how y/n is doing <3 does a lot of portraits and posts his works on a separate photography account. has started to join atsumu and suna when they sneak out while on away games to find somewhere to leave a piece of art.

extras <3

suna, atsumu, osamu, bokuto, and oikawa all live together

it is either very peaceful or a living hell

atsumu and bokuto will get riled up about something together and start having an energetic burst while suna isolates in his room (or more often is slipping out to go hang with y/n)

oikawa’s pretty chill and is in his actually-studying-for-exams era

osamu’s usually busy at work

so it’s peaceful (according to their definition) when not everyone is home but sometimes atsumu will start beefing with osamu about something and shit hits the fan

suna is heavily heavily heavily inspired by this guy named @/greg_goya on instagram

when i had this idea for street art i really spent an hour on instagram and google combined looking for this guy bc the art he does is totally what i was going for

and when i say inspired i mean suna is literally greg goya. i will probably use screen shots from my man greg in this smau so ty to him in advance he's a king 👑

both "exhibits" or friend groups are lowkey one big friend group but there's a small natural divide bc most of the ride or die bros are from inarizaki and some of them (cough atsumu cough bokuto cough suna if he didn't want to be around y/n 24/7 cough) said that they NEEDED a bros only gc

taglist: @wyrcan @oyasumeii @froyaoya @gyuijns @nbcvs @milkteade @eggyrocks @0moonii @guitarstringed-scars @makkir0ll @mylahrins @cherrypieyourface @vivian-555 @sharkerino @bluebeanbee @r0seandth0rns @staileykout @lunavixia @thvvluvr @elliott0o0 (form to be added to taglist! <3)

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[archangeldyke-all]

hiii i had this idea stuck in my head all day, how about buying sev flowers just because, without any occasion and she doesn't know how to react? you can sprinkle some spice there pretty please

AWEEEEEEEE this is so SWEET

men and minors dni

as you strolled to the last drop like you always do on thursday evenings-- sevika gets fridays off so you like to walk her home after her last day of work, stop to buy her whatever she's craving on the way home, and spend the time catching up and chatting with your girl-- your eyes caught on a little cart on the side of the street.

flowers are rare in zaun, especially flowers that aren't meant to be smoked for various inebriating effects. there's hardly any sunlight in the undercity, hardly enough clean water for all the citizens, much less the flora and fauna. but, once in a while, someone will head up to the promenade, buy a whole bunch of flowers in bulk, and haul them back down to zaun to sell.

most often, people who visit the flower sellers of zaun are men trying to get back on their girls' good side, or people headed to funerals. you slow your pace to examine the colorful bunches of petals, smiling softly as your mind wanders, as it tends to, to your wife.

you wonder what kind of flowers are sevika's favorite. you wonder if she's seen enough flowers in her life to form an opinion. something sad settles over you, and you frown as it occurs to you that your wife's likely never been gifted flowers in her life.

well, that's all it takes for you to cross the street and pat down your pockets for a few spare coins.

"hello, beautiful!" the old lady behind the cart greets you. you smile.

"hello. i don't know much about flowers, but i'm looking for something for my wife?" you ask. "something sweet and small."

the woman grins, then reaches up and grabs a giant bouquet of red, pink, and white roses. you giggle.

"oh, no, i think that's a bit much. she might die of embarrassment if i give her those." you chuckle. the woman smiles.

"so she's got subtle taste?" she asks. you giggle and nod again. that's one way to put it. the old woman quickly gathers a few flowers from various bunches. she holds it up for you to examine. you smile.

"that's perfect. what flowers are these?" you ask, reaching out to hold the small bundle she's picked out for you. she smiles and reaches across the cart, pointing to each flower she's arranged.

"white tulips," she points to the two tall white flowers, "for a pure love." she moves her hand to the tiny five-petaled blue flowers with bright yellow centers. "forget-me-not's, their meaning is in their name." she explains, then she points to the the tallest flower, one singluar purple stalk. "this is lavender. it's symbolic for women like you and your wife." she looks you up and down, winking, and you realize she means gay people. you chuckle. "it'll also make the room you store these in smell fabulous. chop the stems at an angle when you get home, and then put 'em in fresh water with a little bit of sugar. keep 'em in a sunny spot--not too sunny though! they should last you a week." she says, quickly wrapping the stems in your fist up in a sweet white bow.

you grin and pass her three gold coins. she gasps.

"oh honey, this is only worth one!" she calls as you start walking toward the last drop again. you just giggle and wave her off.

"thank you miss!" you call, waving goodbye to her.

you're a little nervous to give the flowers to sevika, worried that she won't like them. but when she walks out of the front doors of the bar and sees you waiting across the street for her, she grins, and all your worries melt.

she wraps you up in a big hug, and you giggle. "hi baby." you mumble against her shoulder. she groans, kissing your scalp.

"it's so fuckin' good to see you." she mumbles.

you pull away to look up at her, pouting. "bad day?"

"horrible. c'mon, i want somethin' greasy and salty for dinner."

you laugh. "i got you somethin' that might cheer you up." you say. sevika raises a salacious eyebrow at you, and you burst into giggles. you're happy to see her permanent scowl melt a bit at the sound. "not that kinda surprise, baby." you snort.

then, you reveal the bouquet you'd been hiding behind your back, pushing it into sevika's hands. she blinks down at them, then up at you, then back down at the flowers. "...what?" she asks eventually. you giggle and kiss her cheek.

"i got you flowers!" you exclaim. she looks up at you, still confused.

"...did someone die?" she asks, and you can see her trying to mentally catalog all the people she knows. you snort, then gently smack her shoulder.

"sevika! can't a woman just buy her wife some flowers? no ulterior motives?" you ask.

sevika considers this like you've just asked her what the meaning of life is. she looks seriously confused. you're half adoring, half sad. you make a mental note to start buying your wife flowers any chance you see them. she needs to be spoiled more.

then, her face clears, and she looks up at you with a look she reserves for you and you only. reverent, vulnerable, and shaky. you pout, and reach up to cup her face in your hands. "just for me?" she asks. you smile and lean forward to kiss her.

"just for you, babe." you whisper against her lips.

sevika usually walks with her flesh hand in yours. tonight, though, she demotes you to her mech hand, so her flesh hand can gently cradle the bouquet against her chest.

you make a quick stop at jericho's to pick up some grub, and you have to bite back a smile at the looks regulars are throwing sevika as she gazes sweetly down at a small bundle of flowers in her hands.

when you get home, you insist that you be the one who trim and arrange them for sevika. she hovers over you as you do like you're going to crush them. you think it's adorable-- she's so attached to the things already, you're a little worried what's going to happen when they eventually die.

(you don't have to worry though. you end up pressing the flowers between some old encyclopedias, then framing them and hanging them on your wall. it's becomes a tradition, each time you buy sevika flowers-- which ends up being close to once a week-- you guys press and frame them together once they're close to wilting, to preserve the memory and love forever.)

taglist!

@fyeahnix @sapphicsgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner @shimtarofstupidity @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther @gr0ssz0mbi3 @ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @leomatsuzaki @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai @vikasub @glass-apothecary @m0numents @macaroni676 @vixel352

[simonisferal]

i saw your kaveh and alhaitham angst and i wanna say: mwah, chef's kiss.

but i want to ask to do the same troupe/theme (idk what it's called basta) but with heizou and some other characters of your choice.

is that alright?

Their heart belongs to another — venti, xiao, kazuha, heizou, wanderer x gn! reader (part two!)

summary: they love you but don’t know you’re already in a relationship

warnings: alcohol (venti, kazuha), soft angst, heartbreak (xiao), yandere-ish themes (kazuha), jealousy (venti, heizou, wanderer)

notes: please ignore the fact it took me a year to write this / it was originally only heizou and kazuha but i wanted more things to write

venti always managed to put a smile on your face as you two drank the night away at angel shares.

with the two of you tipsy, diluc had to slowly give you less alcohol to intake. it was cute seeing venti so desperately cling onto the wine bottle as the red-haired male put it back behind the counter.

you laughed, it was more of a drunken giggle, and venti let go of the wine bottle in an instant. your voice might’ve cured all of the trauma and hurt he had to endure as a small wind spirit, the wind slowly breezing through the establishment even with no open windows.

diluc took your wine too, replacing it with cold water and setting it down in front of you. “drink it, love.”

you grumpily sigh, pouting but nevertheless taking the cup into your hands and taking small sips of the water. you were calm around him, venti noted.

but love?

“oh master diluc, you’re so kind to my poor y/n..!” venti smiles, wrapping his arm around your shoulder and diluc frowned. you hug him back and he swears you can feel his fast-beating heart.

venti’s heart might’ve stopped sooner than he had thought. “you mean, my y/n?” diluc continued to clean glasses but the aura definitely shifted. he knew what he was capable of yet he didn’t care.

venti’s glare matched diluc’s while you’re still oblivious to everything being said.

“aww, diluc! you’re so sweet.!” you whine. diluc gives you a soft smile that melts your heart and hardens venti’s.

he lets go of you, not bothering to try to hide his obvious annoyance towards your words but you two are drunk—he’ll definitely forget about this later (he won’t).

he didn't mind staying with you outdoors. whether it's on the rooftop of the inn or a beautiful stop you convinced him to take you, xiao always managed to love your sense of adventure. it often came with hassles, of course.

you were an adventurer, you lived on the road, never settling down like xiao so desperately wanted to with you (not that he'd ever tell you that). you also got hurt a lot, a vision can only heal so much, and without proper care, he was sure you were gonna die in teyvat's mother nature.

you had a scraped knee, it wasn’t as bloody as he had anticipated when the inn’s owner had told him you were gonna die but way to make him rush, no?

you were sitting on a rock as he teleported right next to you. his eyebrows were furrowed and his lips were pressed into a thin line. he was worried.

aether was right in front of you, kneeling, which surprised the adepti. his gloves were off and his hands tended to your injured knee. xiao wished he could take his own gloves off, hold your hand as tightly as you hold his, not worried about his karmic debt going to you and eating you alive.

you wince and the blond in front of you rubbed your other knee, “hey, it’s okay. it was a simple scratch, nothing more.” he bandaged your injury and kissed it, like a mother would with her child’s ‘booboo’.

xiao looked at him. if you asked anyone who didn’t know him how he looked like at the moment, they’d tell you anger, disgust, contempt, or something in the lines of hate. they weren’t wrong.

his heart drops even further to his feet when you pulled up aether to his feet so he loomed over your sitting figure and kissed his cheek. “thanks, cutie.”

ah.

he helps you stand up from the rock and gives you over to aether. his hands, his gloved hands, settle on your shoulder and your waist, like a lingering hope that it was a simple tradition that humans did as a sign of appreciation. but he knew it wasn’t that.

he lets go of you, his hands in place as you hug aether. something so simple but so endearing made him sad. he’s giving you other to someone else. someone who could travel with you and protect you when you’re in need. xiao still has to help the people of liyue.

“i’ll be leaving now.”

alongside his fluttering and well-mannered words, he really liked you. kazuha stays up at night, looking up at the stars, wondering if you got home alright or if you ate something for dinner last night and such. he cared about you just like he would care about others but something seems off.

he'd pack your lunchs occasionally, taking his sweet and precious time to write a elegant note of how much you mean to him as well as delicious food! you must've been blind or uninterested to not notice his lovesick behavior.

on the crux, you and kazuha were simply talking the night away with a little drinking on the side. he clung to your shoulder as he slurred his speech, letting out some hums and incoherent hymns. it was cute, like your beloved thoma back in inazuma.

”you know… you remind me of home.” you say. kazuha looks up to look at you. the wind blows softly, brushing your hair in your face and he couldn’t help but fall in love with you more.

”may i ask why?” he manages to say clearly, his breath soft on your neck. you clear his thoughts, his past life in inazuma didn’t matter as long as he was held by you.

”the food you make, the lines you say, your smile…” kazuha swears he has heart in his eyes. your calm and collective words makes the samurai’s heart beat faster than before, his face almost as red as the simple strand in his hair.

“it reminds me of my boyfriend, thoma.” kazuha ignores whatever you said and clings closer to you.

”that’s encouraging to hear.” he mumbles. he still has a soft smile on his face. he’s not gonna let go of you now. he won’t let you go to inazuma. you can’t be in that wretched place, not the place that hurt him so much as an adolescent. you can’t possibly be happy there, your words have a different meaning, he gaslights himself.

“i’ll make you some breakfast in the morning if you wish.”

”that’d be nice.”

heizou enjoyed the time you two spend together. whether it’s on a simple date or a investigation he personally made, seeing you, being near you was all he needed to have a good day.

luckily for him, he had a day off today! kujou sara finally let him speed-run his work yesterday to get today off.

( kujou sara narrowed her eyes at the detective’s bold request. “you’re not plotting anything, right, shikanoin?”

heizou grinned. “of course not, sara! can’t a man catch a break?” he winked. kujou sara still had a face of suspicion but sighed after heizou didn’t stand down or retract his statement.

”i’ll allow it. make sure your work is tidy and you will have tomorrow off. just don’t do anything stupid during that time.”)

he met up with you, his signature smile on his face as he prodded right beside you. “hey, partner! didn’t expect to see you here.” that’s a lie. he may or may not track your schedule from time to time.

you turn, a bunch of sauce on covered your mouth. you were always a messy eater but those stains looked quick and rushed. you usually ate slowly, so you must be with someone—

”oh hey compadre!” that’s who.

itto only smiled as the smaller male looked up at him. you were with him, but why? did the oni invite you to eat? most likely, but—again, why? how did he know you, how did you know him; those are the answers he needed.

“if it isn’t mr. arataki! how’s your day?” heizou didn’t really care about the answer, as rude as it sounds. he just wanted to spend his day off with his beloved y/n but teyvat is so cruel.

”it’s been awesome! i woke up and then—“ itto’s voice was drowned out by his thoughts. he must be missing something, but what? he looked back at you, maybe you had a clue.

you watched itto intently, focused on his words with a smile. you two were close, but how close? collages, friends, besties? you chuckled at itto’s jokes, or what heizou assumed was a joke (he’s not paying attention to the oni, just you. only you).

“—and then i decided to invite my beautiful lover out to eat! and here we are!”

ding, ding, ding! there’s the answer! you two were—

…lovers?

he pressed his lips together before covering up his shocked face with a smile. “my, my, that sounded like a hell of a day! i’ll leave you two love-birds to it; don’t wanna get any tooth-rotting cavities from you two!” he laughed and you laughed with him.

heizou walked away with a smile and waved. you two waved back and he turned.

he never wished to be another person but maybe today is a good day to start.

the aranaras always seemed to follow the poor wanderer. whether he was carrying out a task from lesser lord kusanali or taking a simple stroll.

it was a tiring thing, making sure none of the aranara got hurt in the mission or ate anything suspiciously purple or blue. luckily you managed to keep them entertain while wanderer fought anything.

you let the small creatures play with your hair and hands, tugging them to either play with you or to divert your attention to them. “y/n-nara! look at hat-nara!”

he sat still on a log as a group of aranara’s sat on his lap and hat. his eyes were closed and you didn’t know if he was simply letting them do as they pleased or was asleep. you decided it was the former and just smiled. it was a cute thing, indeed.

what you two didn’t know is that they were hiding. hiding from the fungi that wanderer failed to detect and hunt down (he says that sounds too animalistic, but he basically locks his eyes on the target and doesn’t stop ‘till they’re eliminated). an aranara stepped into your arms, trembling.

“wanderer?” you speak, impatiently and anxious. he let out a small hum, not bothering to open his eyes. “you missed one.”

“missed one wha—“

before he could finish his sentence, the fungi rushed towards you. it was obviously angry, wanderer had just killed his entire fungi family! he didn’t even have time to drop the aranaras on him, let alone prepare to send an anemo-fueled blow to the monster before a green arrow hit it straight in its chest, followed by three little seedlings exterminating the fungi.

you were cuddled up with an aranara or two, trying to protect them before a hand found itself on your shoulder.

“you shouldn’t leave your guard down in a forest, you lummox; you’ll get yourself killed.” tighnari!

you instantly relax hearing his voice and you let go of the protected aranaras to hug him. you nuzzle your cheek on his own, tighnari’s ears rolling back and his eyebrows furrowing. “i thought i was a goner! thank you ‘nari sosososo so much!”

”yeah yeah, just make sure next time you check the perimeter of your resting place.” he patted your back twice before looking forward to the hatted fellow.

“wanderer. i saw your work on the fungi, i’m impressed but think strategically next time.” wanderer’s eyebrows were furrowed and his hands felt clammy. his eyes, filled with panic were replaced with a glare. who did this guy think he was?

“so you were following us?” he huffed and crossed his arms. the aranaras dispersed, leaving the three of you alone.

tighnari’s tail swirled around your waist as you continued to hug him for dramatic effect. he snarled, “i was doing a patrol when i noticed the fungi’s elemental trail. i knew y/n was near so i followed it for their safety.”

wanderer huffed again. it was clear he didn’t believe him but how did the fennec fox know them? he let out a small ‘right’ before diverting his attention to you.

you had a big smile on your face. “aww, tighnari! you care about me?” tighnari looks away but it’s obvious he did. it rubbed wanderer the wrong way.

“of course i do. you forget you’re my mate.”

wow.

wanderer felt his fake porcelain heart break. he was actually that stupid to fall in love with a mortal. he cursed himself, he swore he’d never do such a thing again, that he’d never love again, but he did.

what a stupid thing.

[arsonistmoth]

Aight takin a quick com break to share my ideas on the KITTY FAMILYYYY <3 (aka my take on Forneus and her kits) Headcanons under cut cuz some of them are sAD and also I tend to blather on.

Forneus has always wanted kits of her own, though perhaps not a Tom in her life to get them (She is content as she is, a traveling merchant who sees so many faces, so many stories in a day). So, by the power of a one-night stand with some dashing tall tom, she gets her wish. Albeit bittersweet when her kits come stillborn. She prays and prays to the god of death, begging, pleading for her babies to come back to her but its not Narinder that hears her fervent prayers first. She's given a choice by the god of war...Bury them as is her right, or give the kits to them. They will take them to death's gate where they just might know a shadow of life. She leapt at the chance. Not one day goes by where she doesn't think of her two little toms and how they must have grown. She knows, in her heart, they will return to her somehow..and she will know them by sight and scent the second she sees them. Aym and Baal grew up in the gateway with their master. They were a gift to a lonely god and in them he found some semblance of company and...love. Of course we all know Narinder is not the besssst of influences and it shows in the two young toms. They are fiercely loyal, quick to temper (in aym's case), and deadly in combat. Though it wasn't always so. Kits must learn and they must grow... Accidents are bound to happen- (perhaps like being given a new sharp pointy weapon only to hurt yourself immediately thereafter and have the god of death pinch your scruff between two claws to make you stop squirming as he heals you) Though their cloaks are nice and warm, the pair have only ragged tunics beneath it. After all, not many dead arrive with a) nice clothes and b) clothes big enough for the toms. Its fineeee. they're fineeee. After the events of the game, Aym and Baal choose to stay with the cult to be close to their mother and Master. Baal eventually finds himself a mate and even settles down, having a litter of twins with his orange tabby queen named Fion <3 Aym is content for a time, staying with his family and his new niece and nephew...but eventually wander lust grips him as it gripped his mother. He heads out into the world and, though he sends a sparse letter here and there, he has not been seen since. Lamb think's he's crossed the sea. Hopefully he finds whatever hes looking for. to end this on a happy note: Forneus loves her grandkits and would die for them. She has also slapped Narinder. Once. (you dont call yourself a poor father figure to kits you took care of. not around her. "You were all they had! They love you and cherish you do NOT spit in their faces so!"