#I prolly need some body wash too

[miss-floral-thief]

Dad was able to get sunscreen but the bigger can of Lysol instead of the mini

[nomairuins]

so tmrw i need to shower und then do laundry ^_^

[solarwoniii]

heyyy!! just wondering if i could request “zb1 legal line reaction to catching their s/o masturbating” hehehehheheehehe if not all goodzz 💗💗

reaction to catching you touching yourself ! zb1 legal line

smut, crack, some fluff ! includes jiwoong, zhanghao, hanbin, matthew, taerae and ricky

contains ; dacryphilia, punishments, i think thats all? lmk if i missed any T^T

a/n ; THANK U FOR UR REQUEST ♡ HAD SO MUCH FUN DOING THIS

jiwoong ;

would laugh at you but not in a cute funny quirky silly way

that low kind of dominant chuckle that makes you realise.

you fucked up.

he'd pull up a chair beside the bed and insist for you to continue in that same scary tone ur mum talks in when u forget to wash the dishes 😰😰😰😨😨

and then he'll force you to make yourself cum until you're crying while he sat there and watched because you're not allowed to stop until he says.

then he'll finally touch you.

with his fingertips.

just to fuck with you more because he's a petty little bitch

edging you until you're shaking, eyes rolling back, body arching

and then, and only then will you get to cum.

zhanghao ;

finds it cute that you think you're so big and strong now

puts ur ass in its place so fast 🫣🫣

love bites all over you

your body is his canvas and his marks are his art 😵😶

actually, this timing is perfect

he'd been waiting for you to misbehave so he could try out the new vibrator he got for you

edges you again and again, just to rip away your orgasm and have you crying

when you finally cum you both know damn well it's not over 💀 keeps the vibrator in that exact spot and refuses to move it until you cum another three times.

i'm sorry i just think mean dom hao is extremely accurate and attractive

hanbin ;

i think he would genuinely laugh at you 💀

and you would try to be mad at him for laughing at you but his stupid laugh is unfortunately extremely contagious 😭😔

when he's done laughing at you he'll come and help you

i think it would be all giggly and fluffy and cute though

and then you would cuddle naked (i feel like hanbin wld enjoy this so much during aftercare esp idk) and gossip LMFAO

matthew ;

GETS SO SHY I SWEAR JSJSJSJS

THE PERSONIFICATION OF 😳

quickly closes the door behind him before anyone else can see what he's seeing

'd-do u want me to . . .' 'o-oh ok'

he's flustered but he will help you feel good 😭

turns into a cute little mutual masturbation session after u notice the boner building up in his pants from the sight of u T^T

when you both finish he'll clean you up and then be a little cutie patootie

'uhmmm there was this disney movie i really wanted to watch with you so could we maybe do that now ? 👉👈'

taerae ;

just smiles and locks the door behind him when he realises what you're doing

'do you need my help baby?'

he'll sit beside you and replace your hand with his

helps you reach the best orgasm of your life with his skilled fingers

idk i genuinely don't think he would get mad

but he'll remind you that you can always come to him if you're feeling needy.

kisses

so many kisses

he'll give you more than his fingers after as well if you still want more ;))

ricky ;

YEAH THATS RIGHT WE'RE BACK TO PUSSY SLAPPER RICKY BECAUSE MY LOVE MIYUKI PUT THE THOUGHT INTO MY HEAD AND I REFUSE TO LET GO

when he walks in i think he'd get flustered but he'd quickly cover it up because being seen like that by you hurts his precious ego

AGAIN LOW DOMINANT CHUCKLE he takes after jiwoong because he aspires to one day be that cool and strong but u already know he's a cute little softie

'if you wanted me to treat you like a little whore you could've just said so, baby.'

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😶🫣😵😳😰😭😶

gets you up on all fours and spanks your pussy until it's swollen and dripping.

then he'll mark your body up and take photos of you for his little collection 😨

eats you out (prolly makes u sit on his face too bc he's a little freak)

[thesupreme316]

aew stars and their form of aftercare??

darius martin, dante martin, hook, action andretti, ricky starks, eddie kingston, wheeler yuta, santana, ortiz, & mjf??

you could even do two parts if it's all too much for one :)

AEW STARS HEADCANON: Aftercare

Pairings: Darius Martin x Reader, MJF x Reader, Eddie Kingston x Reader, Hook x Reader, Action Andretti x Reader, Dante Martin x Reader, Ricky Starks x Reader, Wheeler Yuta x Reader, Santana x Reader

Word Count: 952

Supreme Speaks: hey yall, thanks to bae @hooks-martin for requesting this. I hope everyone enjoys it (its a big one boys). Also this is gender neutral. Please remember that you are loved and appreciated.

Warnings: not proofread, suggestive content, GIFS AINT MINE

Taglist: @hooks-martin @hookerforhook @wwenhlimagines @sheinthatfandom @triscillal @eddie-kingstons-wifey @cassie0sstuff @batzy-watzy

Darius Martin

This man is so damn romantic it’s not even funny

First, he would ask if you are okay and get you some water, clean you up etc.

I feel like this man is so with the idea of talk to their lover about everything and nothing

He loves to hear your perspective on various things

He just wants to lay in your presence

Kisses any marks you have and tells you how good of a job you did

“Let me kiss it better”

Darius is so gentle with you that anyone would think that he couldn’t hurt a fly (say that to your ass-)

Hook

Sir is very much gentle with you

Will lift you up and take you to the shower/bath

Washes up with you and even scrubs your back and legs

Gives you a hoodie to wear

Ya’ll will watch a show together while entangling your legs

If y’all get another round on, cool

If y’all don’t, also cool

He’s down with whatever

Hook doesn’t speak much after sex but his actions lets you know how much he loves you

Action Andretti

I think Andretti is so damn sweet

Cleans you up, makes sure you have water and a snack near, everything

Man would message you

If sees any marks on you, he would feel bad yet proud

Like he was able to produce that but is upset that your body prolly feels bad

He delicately kisses you everywhere

Loves it when you wear his shirt afterwards

Will literally do everything you ask and more

Ricky Starks (Round 4 I mean-)

THIS MAN IS A TEASE

He would tease you about how you sounded and great you felt

Will take you to a shower to clean up

But in actuality, you’re having another round in there

He literally can’t keep his hands off of you

Will kiss your marks and any areas that you feel “Insecure” about (BITCH YOU DON’T HAVE ANY)

Ricky will pull you closer as you two just take in each other’s breathing

…

And then you would have another round-

Eddie Kingston

This is your lover and best friend wrapped into one

Will joke about your session to make you laugh

Eddie is a romantic person but not an overly romantic person or soft guy

Has a different way of aftercare (not saying anything negative)

After making sure you’re okay/not hurt, Eddie will throw one of his shirts at you for you to put it on

Then you make your way down stairs where you two are eating pizza or burgers or cake, it don’t matter to him

Will make sure your confidence is through the roof when ya’ll are done

Literally just wants to make sure that you’re smiling and happy

Or he’s out like a light…he can’t help it sometimes

Wheeler Yuta

Mr. I-did-a-great-job-but-i-need-your-validation is here

Will ask you if you’re okay…and then waits for your praise

You have to be careful cause that’s how you turn him on too

At this point, you’re giving him aftercare

He likes to be babied

If anything you have to drag him to the shower to clean up

Wheeler loves to be taken care of (CAUSE HE’S A BRAT)

Immediately is clingy after the shower

Will not let you leave the bed…you tried and he just pulled you back down in a headlock

Santana

MANS CUDDLES AND THEN COOKS FOR YOU AND THEN YOU EAT IN BED (THIS IS MY FANTASY)

You don’t have to move a muscle

He cleans you up, he puts his shirt on you, you literally don’t have to ask for anything (IT COMES WITH THE SERVICE)

As you’re sitting/eating/waiting he’s just whispering sweet things in your ear

If you allowed him to, he would go on a trip about how good you are to him

Santana will hold you for hours on end

I believe that he would ignore the world until you fall asleep

And then and only then can he fall asleep too

Santana is that man who puts your needs before his

Dante Martin

Takes this shit so personal; has a routine for everything

And if he forgets a part of the routine…end of the world

I think he would be a nervous person/ someone who might need reassuring

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Cuddling makes him feel safe like nothing can harm him in this moment

OKAY LISTEN TO ME I can see cockwarming being his thing DONT FIGHT ME

Mans is tall so he has a size kink or some shit idk

But just wants to make sure that you know that you are loved

MJF

I feel like before Max would simply hit it and quit it

Like he would get what he wants and then leave without even thinking about the girl

But ever since he met you, he’s been more attentive to how he treats people

Especially you after sex

You two talk about everything as Max caresses your skin…and talks about himself

I think Max would also take this time to reflect your relationship and how happy he is

Loves to smother you but you betta not tell anyone…especially Max Caster

Prolly would not move for hours on end…unless you want too wink wink

[artisticxlly]

hiii trick or treat 🤲 ( i will eat up ANYTHING /lh)

Hi there! For mutuals, I'll be more generous, here's another drabble as a treat! I think you might enjoy some hurt/comfort, right? (I actually have 2 more of those, but I'm trying not to give out all the treats at once 🤭):

Injuries happen. Atsumu was very aware.

Playing a sport professionally, he was aware. But injuries always seem to happen when you least expect them.

It was practice, like any other day. His sets were good. They'd be done soon, he could take a cold shower and cool off. It was autumn but the heat was still there on this day, the previous days consisting of windy rains.

Except their game hasn't ended yet. And as Atsumu blocks a potential line spike from Bokuto, Alexandre collides into his side with enough force to knock him off balance. And the exhaustion stings too much for his ankles and knees to break the fall and catch himself.

The fall feels longer because Atsumu hits the ground sideways. His head hits the ground last, his neck unable to resist the force of the swing. Shit.

He can hear Alexandre curse, the entire 7 feet of the man turning to him and leaning over him. "Atsumu, shit!"

His breath gets knocked out of him and Atsumu feels awful. His chest feels hot with shame and he presses his forehead to the cold ground, arms curling around his ribs with groan. How embarassing, right? All eyes on him.

He can hear the other's gathering as his skull pounds mercilessly. He eventually gets his lungs to fill and deflate fully again and sits up to the best of his abilities. His entire body goes cold, then hot as he tilts his head upright. There's a small circle of people around him, but Atsumu can't really see. It's not that his vision was very blurred or he was seeing double. No, his reflexes insisted on him, keeping his eyes closed. Everything was too bright, and their concerns were too loud.

"Miya." There's something touching his shoulder. He opens his eyes, tries to see what was up and down. All his eyes focus on is this dark brown. Sakusa, Miya's brain provides a bit hesitantly. He blinks, his eyes are teary.

"...Shit." Atsumu feels the need to say something, the other's had gone so quiet. "You hit your head. Do you feel dizzy?" Another wave of shivers washes down Atsumu's back. "Ugh, yeah... I think I'm gonna... pass out..." He leans forward and a warm hand cradles the side of his face. He can't hear anything else when the world goes black, his body slumping against his teammate.

Kiyoomi curses under his breath as he lets Atsumu's head rest on his shoulder. Meian was already calling for an ambulance, crouching next to them. Shoyo brings them a bottle of water, looking concerned. "Do you think he got a concussion..?" "Yeah... Very likely, he hit his head pretty hard. Kiyoomi is trying not to be too worried. His fingers are feeling Atsumu's pulse, two fingertips against the side of his neck. It is steady, a bit fast but nothing unusual.

A small groan sounds muffled against his shoulder.

Atsumu feels nauseous. He prays that he wouldn't throw up all over poor Kiyoomi. He wants to sit up but resting against Kiyoomi's shoulder - where it was soft and dark - is much more comfortable. "Hey, Omi Omi..."

He puts a hand over the two fingers on his neck. Why is he feeling his pulse? "I'm here." Kiyoomi mumbles.

"'m sorry fer sleeping on ya... I'm 'll sweaty and gross, prolly." His tongue feels heavy in his mouth.

"You're an idiot." Kiyoomi mumbles. "I was the one who rushed to you."

Atsumu swallows the bile rising in his throat.

"Do you want to lie down? Need some water?" "Mhm..." Atsumu lifts his head slowly. Kiyoomi is so close it makes his throat dry up.

"I'm really sorry, Miya, it's my fault." Alexandre is looming over them, casting a shadow.

"Huh? Not yer fault, I just needed a nap... Practice is so grueling." Atsumu whines.

"You fell, Atsumu." Kiyoomi corrects. It doesn't even register that he calls him by his first name.

'*I fell in love? Wait, no...*'

Atsumu groans, he kind of remembers now. He feels very confused.

"That's why my side hurts." He huffs, reaching for the water bottle Shoyo hands to him. His orange hair stuck out even more now. Almost obnoxiously so.

"That's so embrassin'... Omi, I'm gonna need to 'rase yer memory after dis." He opens the bottle and takes a few big sips. Kiyoomi still had a hand on him, now his thigh. Atsumu giggles through his sips. Oh, Omi would hate his guts if he threw up now.

Kiyoomi is keeping a close eye on how Atsumu is acting. Him giggling while drinking water is not exactly the most reassuring thing. "I'm glad you can laugh despite the pain."

"I was thinkin' that you'd tot'lly hate me if I threw up on ya right now."

Kiyoomi gave him a pointed look. So he did feel sick. Most definitely a concussion, right?

"You're right, I would." He decides to entertain Atsumu and distract him from the pain. The ambulance would show up soon.

"Don't you dare, Miya."

"Mmm, I think ya'd look really sexy even with chunks o' my lunch all over ya." Atsumu giggles at his own joke, Kiyoomi feels his ears get bright red.

'You're so gross... I hate that I want to kiss you right now.'

"...Ew, Atsumu." He settles on saying instead.

"Ambulance is here." Meian informs them. "Miya. Ready for a fun car ride?"

-----

Maybe one day this will garner an ao3 post, but you get to have my draft as of now! Thank you for the ask!

[spaceumbredoggos]

Gonna be taking a little break and not post as frequently this next week.

I’ve been getting way too political and saying some spicy out of pocket things. So I’m only going to be posting in the mornings this coming week. My room isn’t cooling down as efficiently with the AC, and opening a window heats it up more. All art will be stopped, as I need some time to cool down both physically and mentally. I can’t go cold turkey but I’m turning into a chronically online loser who veges out all day. I’m getting a bit tubby, and I’m going to be going a lot of swimming this next week. Hopefully I don’t get heat stroke.

All my best Kenz ideas come up when I am in the water. Gonna post the ones that come up at like 8 pm pst. I hope this gives me time to really chill out with the overly political and spicy takes, as I am saying some things that I prolly wouldn’t say to my gran in person (I’d say them to friends if I had them.)

Gonna whip up a stellar playlist for swimming, set some alarms for sunscreen, and wash the bathing suit I was just swimming in. I hope you all understand that I’m doing this for my own good.

@fishy--friend @astralphobia @confused-therian @differentcowboypanda @children-of-moss @sarosthewizarddude I’m not leaving tumblr. I’m not even gonna stop posting. I just need to spend less time on my phone. I’m overcooking my brain and underusing my body.

[bylightofdawn]

I am finally home and lawd I am tired. D&D was enjoyable the second time around. I still want Holga to do unspeakable things to me. Xenk is still unbearably hot and I want him to do unspeakable things to Edgin.

Also one thing I really took away from the second viewing is how awesome the cinematography was. Sure, it definitely had a sorta edgy experimental film student gimmicks to it but it kinda works. And I kinda want to see more big Hollywood movies play around with camera angles and crazy shit.

Like how everyone lost their collective shit in Black Panther when Killmonger literally walks into the throne room after meeting T'challa off the waterfalls and the entire world flips upside down. I want more of that shit.

Take some chances and stop giving us cut to a million pieces herky jerky action pieces. Doric just flipping through the portal and into the wagon was such a badass shot. Give me more of that, plz.

Ugh it's 6:30 and prolly too late for me to try and take a nap but bruh I am sooooooo tired.

I'm going to TRY and get some writing done but I have no idea how that's going to go.

I do TECHNICALLY need to go address the fact I completely skipped over writing a scene with Jango and Obi-Wan in chapter 13.

And yanno not me putting off writing the next part because I know it's going to emotionally drain me.

Or I could go take another shower because my hair is so yucky from the amount of product in it. I'm definitely ready to wash my face.

Honestly, a shower sounds like a winner right now. And maybe that'll wake me up enough I can focus on writing.

NGL that fucking Cody and Slick idea I had yesterday HAS NOT LEFT MY HEAD. The brainrot is super real so maybe I'll just break my own rules and play around with that today. I'm just worried I'll lose focus and then motivation on Seeds. When I think I'm literally like 3/4's of the way there. I have one more major plot thing and then I'll be in the home stretch. Weh. Hopefully, the shower will help clear the cobwebs.

EDIT: The shower did not help, I’ve tried actually napping and I am in this weird place where I’m so tired but my brain just won’t turn off enough for me to sleep. It’s just slippery eels swirling around up there and I can’t quiet it enough to switch off. I’m just not gonna make WIP Sunday or so anything but lay here in bed staring at my phone willing it to turn 10 so I can feee Genji and the ferals and go to sleep.

And I will bet money I will get a third or forth wind at around s 9/10pm because my body hates me.

[ve1vet-cake]

John Doe Headcanons [outdated]

(That nobody asked for)

This will prolly contain nsfw stuff sooo.. BEWARE

Haven't done stuff like this before so uhm enjoy anyways💀

_____________________________

He would probably be kind of pet like when he's in his all lovey dovey form once you're dating or more romantically involved (got that vibe from the Dream ending he looked like a cute lil pup there)

He would take care of you very gently. Having learned from his past mistakes in previous loops he will more likely know how you wish to be treated and what your no-gos are. Plus he specifically said he can be whatever You want. I feel like he would sit down with you to learn more just so he can make everything perfect

Tying in with the previous point I think he's a complete perfectionist when it comes to your relationship. He wants you to adore him as much as he does and-most importantly-feel comfortable! So you can expect him observing you carefully, trying to match you perfectly without changing too much (as you still love him for him but it's cute how he tries to adapt to your behaviour in order to make the relationship work out)

Talking to my depressed folks or others incapable of taking care of themselves-he got you. First of all he doesn't (obviously) bother if you haven't showered regularly or can't keep up with cleaning in general-he doesn't either. But I feel like he will try to cheer you up and be a goddamn... Whatever he is-blessing. Although he hates baths or being clean he would bathe with you and shower you in love in an attempt to make you feel better. I feel like he would also feed you or gently push you to do something that wouldn't be out of your comfort zone.

He will reassure you that you're beautiful the way you are whenever you feel insecure. Bodily "flaws"? Nah. Smell/Sweat? He likes it. Personality "flaws"? He'll help you through it. In his eyes you're a beauty (not only in his though, be confident bestie<3) that needs to be cherished

He only showers or bathes when you're joining him. He needs your extra warmth and enjoys you washing him. Running your fingers through his long hair, scrubbing his skin or massaging him. He LOVES it. Might end with some steamy sex though-

He fidgets a lot when nervous or talking to you. Even if you're dating for a while he will still fidget as if he were to ask you on your first date whenever he asks for cuddles or how you like his presents (this time normal ones unless you like gore haha)

His hair is suuuuuuuper soft. Like, fluffy and silky. It's usually all greasy bc.. You know him. But when you wash his hair and take care of it for him your hands want to stay tangled in them forever-much to his pleasure

This is also seen in the game but I love those little hair-eyeballs that watch you. One is always on your body when you're off to work and he can't come with you. It always sits in your pocket or bag and stares at you with little hearts in its pupil

Nsfw~

He can control himself or his sex drive just fine but when you move a certain way, look at him all seductive or cute or just wear his clothes with barely anything underneath he loses it. He'll probably rail you to hell and back while the environment changes rapidly due to his lack of control

He enjoys oral, especially giving and having you tug on his hair. Do it a little rough though and he might glitch a little from anticipation

Definitely a switch, more sub leaning I assume because of his... Trying to be dom but not really dom behaviour. Say he will gladly top and command you in bed, maybe make some more confident advances or remarks in a well developed relationship, but just one strict look and he'd probably melt back to his puppy demeanor.

Ties in with the point above; I feel like he prefers giving over receiving as he gets enough pleasure from you being happy or satisfied. He will whine a little though and of course noone will just leave him frustrated (except fellow sadists perhaps, but even then be careful or he might switch to his sadistic side)

Feel like he's very into bondage, knife play and breeding. Basically anything violent and close. Seeing you bleed or bruised and enjoying it? Fuck yes. All tied up like a present for him to open? He'll lose his remaining sanity. The thought of you filled with him, his name leaving your mouth in soft moans, enjyoing his closeness? He could die. Doe would also very much enjoy receiving cuts, bruises etc

_____________________

Aight that's all I could think of rn

[prismaticpichu]

Second prompt on the bullet list was “laundry”. Hallelujah!!

(Y’all are prolly very used to my 1st grade sense of humor by now. I’m sorry I never mentally matured past 7yos!)

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Sephiroth went stone-stiff upon seeing the yellow streaks rivering down his coat, at least a dozen or more stringy ribbons forming viscous globules that dribbled rather rhythmically at the man's feet.

And Zack just stood across from him, clutching a broken can of spray cheese with the same expression as one may bear when having shattered their mother's most expensive vase—something he's also done. Twice.

"Oh man! Oh man! Oh man! I'm sorry, Seph!" Zack set down the squirtable dairy-turned bomb, rushing to his friend with a paper towel in hand and desperately trying to wipe the cheese off.

Sephiroth closed his eyes, sighing deeply. He wasn't even trying to suppress his anger; he was simply too tired to muster the energy for any other reaction. "It's... fine," he said feebly, then lifted his sleeve to see tendrils of buttery gold stretch with the motion, inadvertently creating the illusion that his limbs were strung together like a harp—or some kind of broken puppet.

...Ew.

Zack pulled away, having successfully dabbed off at least one thread of cheese. His sheepishness grew tenfold. "Aw man—y'know what? Let's just get this thing off ya. I'll go down and wash it myself!"

However, as he reached for his friend's coat, Sephiroth jerked away.

"I have nothing else to wear," he pointed out, and although his body didn't regulate temperature like the average person, it was still the heart of winter.

"I'll give you something to wear!"

The look of horror that crawled onto Sephiroth's face was priceless, at least to the boy whose expression suddenly blossomed with amusement—and inspiration. Evil, evil inspiration.

"C'mon, it won't take long!" Zack wheedled. Granted, he didn't necessarily want to go down to the beehive of swarming cadets and staff breaking into wrestling matches over the fastest machines, but Seph's coat had posed as a Kindergartener's splatter art project and it was kind of all his fault.

Sephiroth still looked hesitant. "Mmm..." His gaze traveled to his sleeve, then to Zack, then to his collar, then to Zack, and then to the spray can. He knew his best friend: Zack would need to find a way to assuage his guilt somehow. It would eat him alive until he did.

Besides... he was just too tired to protest.

~

And that’s how Sephiroth found himself curled up on Zack's sofa, his eyes shut as to try and neglect the fact that fluffy, turquoise, Moogle-emblazoned pajamas were grassing his entire body.

Though he had to admit, they certainly felt lighter than the demanding, almost gluey weight of his coat... They were warm, cocooning him head to toe, simply existing for the sake of his safety and comfort...

"Alright, I'll be back in a bit!" Zack announced through the doorway, an iconic puddle of tar draped over his shoulder. Sephiroth hardly registered when he was gone.

 ~

Zack returned an hour later with a clean, cheeseless, coconut-smelling trench coat... and almost immediately melted at the sight that awaited him.

Seph was sound asleep on the couch, hugging a pillow close, his mercury tresses spilling off the edge while the shorter bangs splayed carelessly over his eyes and nose, quivering with his tranquil breaths. He was snug as a pug in a mug.

Zack deposited his coat on the counter where he knew Seph would see it, tip-toeing past his friend and heading off to bed himself.

But not before stopping at the arm of the couch, leaning down, and bringing his arms around Seph in a delicate hug.

"Good night, bud."

I oughta take a break from Zack & Seph for a couple hours before I blow out like a laptop with soda spilled all over it

[miss-floral-thief]

hm, got a cut on my right knee? 

[autumnslance]

(Work in Progress Wednesday image header from @ao3commentoftheday)

Between other things I should be working on, I’ve been fiddling with an indulgent, rambling, mostly-fluffy piece on the day Aeryn, Zaine, and Emelia first returned to Thavnair, sort of an expansion of a previous prompt. 10 year old Zaine is our POV for these excerpts.

--

“I’m all right, sweeheart,” Mama said, heaving out a deep breath, still smiling. “I just…I missed this so. I’d forgotten how the wet sand always tickles between my toes.” She looked at Zaine, then past him, blinking. Smiling again, she put a finger to her lips and gestured for him to turn around.

Zaine did, sucking in a breath to stop himself from making a sound that would alert his sister. Aeryn was kneeling just at the edge of the dry sand, watching the waves roll in. When the water came close, she reached for it, letting it wash over her small hand. As it retreated, she dug a hole in the wet sand. The wave returned, dampening her knees and washing sand from her fingers. When the water flowed away once more, the place she had dug had been nearly smoothed out. She made an almost-noise of delighted discovery, repeating the process.

Mama’s hand rested on Zaine’s shoulder and squeezed. “A fresh start is just what we need,” Mama said quietly.

Zaine frowned. “But I don’t want to forget everything about home,” he said before he could stop himself, even if he sounded like a brat.

Mama leaned down and hugged him. “We can’t ever forget,” she said into his ear, voice wavering dangerously. He felt his tears prick his eyes, as they always did when Mama cried, and he didn’t want to make her do that again. Then she kept talking, voice steadying. “But we’re still here and have to keep going despite what happened.” She straightened again, her hands still on his shoulders, as she looked up. “Here, a dragon is a symbol of the divine, of safety and allegiance. These skies are safe, and there’s no war to steal pieces of us away. No goddess of this isle will demand you prove your bravery by slaughtering dragons. No draconic raids will appear suddenly to destroy our home. No Inquisitors to make wild accusations and threats. You’ll be safe here. And I hope, happy.”

“I’ll try, Mama,” he said. It must have been the right thing to say, as she squeezed his shoulders and smiled. She still had the prettiest smile, even if it was sadder than it used to be.

A squeal distracted them both; Aeryn had become too bold in her experiments, getting knocked on her rear by a wave. She lay on the sand, staring up at the sky in surprise, then giggled, water rushing up to her waist.

Zaine expected Mama to scold about what a muddy wet mess his sister was, but instead she laughed again, walking over to pick Aeryn up. “We’ll have to get you proper swimwear sooner than later,” Mama said, trying to dust some of the clinging sand off Aeryn’s kecks and tunic. “You’ve always been fond of water, and will be taking to the ocean like a fish, I imagine. …Where are your shoes?”

“Prolly took ‘em off cuz you took off yours,” Zaine said as Aeryn shrugged, unconcerned about her bare, sand-covered feet. He looked around but saw no signs of the battered pattens, though her socks were in her hand. He suspected she had let the shoes wash away as part of her testing of the waves; they had been clunky and in a color she didn’t like. Aeryn was picky about what she wore, which could be frustrating for both Zaine and their parents.

For Mama. Just Mama, now.

Zaine took a deep breath to fight the stabby pain in his chest when he remembered that.

Mama sighed, and might have started to scold then, but a call of her name caught all their attention.

(BONUS, when buying new island-appropriate clothes:)

The Au Ra women weren’t much taller than Zaine, their bodies covered in pale scales, horns on their heads instead of ears, and long reptilian tails. They looked like dragon people, like the whispered stories of heretics back home. Zaine tried very hard not to stare. Keeping Aeryn from touching every single piece of fabric she could reach helped.

She was being more troublesome today than she had been in weeks. On the one hand, that was good; she was more like herself again. On the other hand, Zaine was already feeling off-kilter in a new place, it was hot and sticky, and he was getting hungry, so tending to a curious five year old was annoying.

(And:)

“Here we are,” another Raen woman sang out, ushering Aeryn ahead of herself. “She was a tad stubborn until I showed her this blue top, and she does look darling, I must say.”

Of course she looked darling; his sister was always cute, even when she was being a brat. It was part of how she got away with so much.

[honoredbastard]

: : ♡ TR: sending a picture of your new kitten to your boy draken and then mikey. someone unglue draken from his bike and give mikey another taikyaki. thank you.

part one to this kitty is up! part three and the final, unless more is requested. will be mikey.

character — draken  content — fluff, swearing, an eventful half asleep draken who barely knows wtf is happening, time skip char. ( manga spoilers ? )

a/n  — sorry if the draken part, actually nah. this whole thing will prolly be confusing. i’m callin dibs on sleepin’ soon cause the brainrot of draken and mikey is FINALLY calming the fuck down. anyways, thanks for reading luv!

: : ♡ KEN RYUGUJI

you were the first to wake up, draken was finally not glued to some bike he was repairing or installing the parts for that finally arrived. he didn’t change, he had oil riddled all over his body and some of that had transferred onto you. although luckily none got on the sheets so that was at least a given. but you couldn’t glare at him with anger for long, his black hair shaping his face oh so gently. the usual two bangs he’s been wearing recently turned into long thick messy hair. your hand yearned to run through that silky hair, yet you had a surprise for this angel of a man. 

you didn’t wanna wake him and he was already searching for your warmth when you finally got situated. getting washing, getting dressed, letting out luna and leon your doberman and pitt that draken didn’t want but he cozied up to them real quick. a third animal couldn’t hurt right? draken’s voice rang in your head “no more animals babe! we’re going to become a zoo!” a zoo we will become than, right ken? you gazed down at him, a smile pulling at your lips when you leaned down.

brushing away his jet black locks to place a kiss on his temple and dragon tattoo. “i gotta go.” his hands found your waste, arms snaking around you while pulling you to him in one quick movement. “noo... five more minutes.” draken groaned, “my dear mi amor, i have to go to this appointment.” you whispered in his ears, trying to wiggle out of his grip. but he’s just too strong for you, so after a long tussle with his fucking big ass muscled arms. you began groaning in defeat, you felt draken’s breath against your nape when he chuckled. sending shivers down your spine.

“i win.” “you do not.” “oh really?” draken’s morning voice was slow, assertive, was a little slurred, but you felt the dominance from that simple statement. “i mean- yes! you did win, babe can you let me go now?!” shit- you may have flipped that switch. but you really needed to get this kitten! it’s going to go to another adopter if i don’t!!! “I’MMA TURN THIS WHOLE HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN IF YOU DO NOT, RYUGUJI KEN, LET ME OUT THIS GODDAMN BED.” “babe, never scream like that again.. please.” draken sounded hurt and defeated. 

you wiggled your arms from his loosening grip and cupped his face, his eyes closed letting you get to gaze at his beautiful face. “i’m sorry, you were just getting to sleep huh? i got a surprise for you so i just really gotta go. ok? you’ll love it though. luna and leon are already outside in the backyard with plenty of food and water. please rest.” you apologized, rubbing your thumb back and forth on his semi-oil dirtied face.

it was soothing to draken who hummed in response, slowly being dragged into a never ending feeling of warmth and comfort. you. your smell, your warmth, your voice. everything about you made him fall asleep. before you knew it, draken’s breaths became regulated and quiet. the rise and fall of his chest was smooth and calm, finally his grip was loosened enough for you to get out of it. running to your car, you yelled from the large fence to your two kids “love you! i’ll be back soon, don’t you dare wake up your daddy! you got a younger brother on the way to do that!”

the only time draken had paint on himself and you is after multiple or one sleepless night of working on a bike he knew he could finish and needed to finish. when he reached the bed his body numbed, relaxing completely when he had you in his arms, leon and luna trying to squeeze between you and him. making their spots infront of you and behind draken, the only way he’d truly fall asleep is on nights where everything was quiet and seemingly perfect.

“i’m so sorry for being late! my husband-” you tripped on your words, draken was your boyfriend, well you were engaged! well- EUGH. the couple could notice your flustered gestures and handed you the kitten. it had a white spot that you could just squeal at right beside it’s eye. once the adoption was settled, you were on the road again to draken while wrestling with your brain for a name. “i don’t know.... i’m sure draken will come up with something.” 

when you arrived home, draken was still there on the bed - only cuddling a pillow that barely filled your absence. he opened an eye when he heard footsteps and paws tapping against the wood floors in the hall, still drowsy and yearning to sleep. his vision was still spotty but when you got closer to him he noticed the black and white thing in your arms. “what’s that?” he asked, pointing at the ball of black and white gaining closer to him.

“a kitten.” “babe?” “yes, draken?” you smiled, feeling his stern expression from a mile away. “is this a stray? you know we can’t-” the kitten nuzzled beneath draken’s chin, finding a spot in the nook of the pillow and the man. and he was gone- hooked. “we’re keeping her.” “what should we name her?” “i don’t know, how about.... jiro?” “jiro? i like it.” melting into the kittens fur, draken fell back to sleep. “ahh.. a dad with his daughter. luna, leon? wanna join him?” their tails wagged and banged against the floor before you hushed them. “on 3.. ready? one.. two... THREE!” all three of you leaped onto draken, alarming the kitten that ended up in scratches for all of you.

[kaebedom-me]

okay so...foul legacy childe nsfw hcs? :3c

Y'ALL FOUL LEGACY WAS SO HOT THAT WHOLE GOLDEN HOUSE FIGHT WAS SO HOT YOOOOO I WANNA FIGHT HIM AGAIN

I'd like to apologise in advance for the amount of thirst y'all are gonna be subjected to because the fight is still fresh? And i- I'm whore knee

So I've said before foul legacy Childe is in armour so he isn't as sensitive

Like the feelings all just kinda catch up to him so after the sex it'll hit him like a truCk

I just think it's cute after fucking you good he has to just lie back for awhile because fuck

When you're fucking foul legacy Childe prioritises your pleasure over his

Not that he doesn't usually? It's just cuz he doesn't feel as much in that form uwu

He doesn't not feel at all he feels it a little less

So he prioritises you so you can enjoy it to its full potential

To fuck foul legacy i feel like y'all have to fight first

Because while Childe is on board w fucking you in his Childe legacy form (cuz he has a size kink too) you have to indulge in his kinks too

So y'all gotta battle it out uwu

Personally, I'd love to fight him I'd fight him 24/7 everyday of the WeEk

Like his fucking laughs and taunts in w e a K just- mmf

So y'all did the fight and now y'all fucking

I stand by my opinion that he's not 100% human in that form so i do like to think he has a monster type dick

I will not be taking any criticisms

He's also got like a long tongue like dudes not human rn

let me have tHIs shuT UP

He's got electro too like,,,, you know sensual lil sparks?? Cute asf

His claws tho super big could easily break ur skin? YES HOT ASF

He's gonna be sooo fucking turned on honestly like he hasn't thought about something like this but he has been turned on when fighting before so this is right up his alley

No plot just me going ham

We like covered this before but i just want to put this here because we're making it official

But foul legacy has aggressive cum

It's harder to wash, much thicker and the load is so muuuch more

I wanna say it's less potent though? It's like some sort of armour-y like it's not meant to reproduce so it's cum has very little chance if at all of getting you pregenerant

You can absolutely drown in foul legacy's cum 1038% yes

If Childe's like in his prime in his best shape he'd be able to hold that form for a while so uwu he can go for rounds

And 1 round could drench you

Are we into stomach inflation? Cuz i am and i- neEd this shit AND the crotch tattoo

I also think the way he sounds so demonic while taunting you like if he dirty talked it'd really get me going like you can't tell you want to fuck foul legacy and say him humiliating you in his demonic voice doesn't turn you on

He'll prolly use light elemental reactions on you too like electro charge and maybe overload if we're feeling extra kinky✨

I also think it's a little harder to control himself in foul legacy? Because he's brain is going brrrr from the fight and he gets fired uP

Then i think his body has chemical reactions like adrenaline probably that makes him just g o

So expect to be completely obliterated because he can't stop thrusting when he feels how tiny you are, and you're practically screaming in pleasure and his cock

Him!!!!!!! Him using you literally like a cock sleeve on rougher sessions!!! Like he just holds you up with one claw and just fucks you hot shit hot shit

The aftercare is a little like slow though HAHAHA cuz Childe's just processing all the pleasure from before? He needs like 2 minutes

And you're fucked out of your mind cuz Holy fuck that was hot and you're practically immobilised from his giant dick tf

But ok hc his aggressiveness cum stays warm for a while like for a period of time and it doesn't dry out as fast so it's not icky when you're done?

Childe has to use his hydro to help clean you because a wipe down will not do it no

Gives you all the kisses after tho tells you how well you did and how much he loves you uwu

[babytsum]

what do they smell like (inako boys!)

warnings: none, jus some fluff!

self indulgent headcannons bc i can't stop thinking about my best boys :)))

miya atsumu

‣ listen, i can’t lie. he prolly smells minty, but also a lil musky if that makes sense. he’s a very energetic and excitable person, so he’s moving around a lot.

‣ he doesn’t use top of the line cologne or anything, just your average man deodorant, but he has a very comfortable smell. it makes his hugs more enjoyable.

‣ particularly after a shower, he sometimes smells like tea tree oil because he uses osamu’s tea tree oil conditioner. although, the smell is very obvious and osamu is able to figure out why his conditioner kept running out pretty quickly. the next time he goes to the store, he decides on using one that smells ‘tropical’ because it had a cool cartoon pineapple on it.

‣ definitely used a 3 in 1 shampoo before he dyed his hair.

‣ he a lil smelly after games, just like every other person who tries hard, but it doesn’t matter. his minty deodorant masks enough of it anyways, plus he might need some touchy comfort after a loss or a celebratory hug (maybe a lil kiss).

‣ here’s the thing, his scent doesn’t last long on his clothes. so whenever you want to wear his hoodies, you can’t simply keep it. you have to cycle through hoodies, giving it back to him and stealing a new one every few days.

‣ it’s funny because he’s a very naturally warm person, both literally and figuratively, and he smells tropical when he’s fresh from the shower. he reminds you of a sunny beach.

‣ also, he occasionally will smell like candy. he gives off the vibes.

miya osamu

‣ fresh baked bread. i will not be changing my mind on this. whenever you are around osamu, you have a pavlovian response which is salivating. this is both from him being hot and often cooking for you.

‣ it’s natural that osamu is going to smell like a food, but he usually washes up after cooking something pungent, so you rarely get smelly osamu.

‣ like i mentioned before, this man uses tea tree oil conditioner, so he smells like that after a shower. 

‣ his smell is very comforting. whenever you’re near him, you always try to get as physically close as possible just breathe in more of him. 

‣ you can easily go up to him, wrap your arms around his neck, and bury your head in his chest. he's kind of dumb, so he doesn’t understand it at first, but he’s learned to just ease into it and maybe lift you up if you’re too tired to stand.

‣ “w-what are you doing?”

‣ “baby, give me a hug or something.”

‣ “why?”

‣ “because you’re my boyfriend?”

“ok.”

suna rintarou

‣ i have this theory that this man was in the shower one day, and mind you he probably shares the bathroom with his little sister, and he smelled his sister’s cherry shampoo out of curiosity.

‣ he liked the smell, so he now uses his sister’s cherry shampoo. she notices and makes fun of rin for “smelling like a princess” but he doesn’t care. if princesses smell like cherries, then he is now a princess.

‣ this is one of the main things you notice when you first get physically close to him. his cologne does not cover up the smell of cherries enough for you to not notice.

‣ you’re cuddling one day and you bring it up. at first he’s kind of like oh shit. i smell like a girl.

‣ then you tell him that you really like it and he’s like oh ;)

‣ i mean, who can resist a pretty boy who smells like fruits.

‣ “can i see the shampoo bottle?”

‣ “yeah, sure.”

‣ “rin- is that- is that a fucking fairy on the bottle?”

‣ “yeah. what about it?”

‣ because of this, he is now your “pretty princess.”

‣ you remind him every time your head is buried in the crook of his neck and his arm is wrapped around your waist. he’s often too tired to care since this position always leads to taking a nap together.

kita shinsuke

‣ clean laundry. this man smells like clean laundry. not cleaning supplies no sir. clean laundry.

‣ it’s oddly comforting. he doesn’t use an overwhelming cologne, so the smells of a fresh load of laundry is actually really nice.

‣ shin is also very warm. he smells like home, he smells domestic. being close to him and breathing of his scent makes you think about marrying him.

‣ occasionally, he smells like food because he does cook, but not to the extent of osamu.

‣ when you’re both in his bed, his smell kind of blends in with the smell of his bed. it’s all just fresh laundry and it’s become one of your favorite scents.

‣ sometimes, you’re convinced that this man has no body odor at all. it’s one of those things that make him seem so perfect.

‣ he has never used a 3 in 1 shampoo in his life. osamu, atsumu, and run have definitely gone through that stage, but kita? kita doesn’t fuck with them. he thoroughly washes himself and has a whole routine in the shower.

‣ in addition, he has a mental schedule for when he conditions his hair (reminder: don’t use conditioner everyday) and he sticks to it.

aran ojiro

‣ expensive cologne and sometimes cedar wood.

‣ aran’s cologne isn’t actually expensive. it just smells expensive. he smells like a rich man. you can smell it when you pass by him at school.

‣ his deodorant smells like cedar wood and it’s not really that obvious until you hug him while he’s all sweaty from practice.

‣ listen, this man looks and smells so clean. the way he puts on his uniform makes him look extra professional. his smell FITS him so well.

‣ his shoulders look so so broad in his blazer, his tie is always on point, his pants fit him just right. in fact, his ass looks amazing. absolutely delectable.

‣ he looks, acts, smells, and walks like a literal businessman. 

‣ after practice, he does smell a lil musky in the same way that atsumu does, but you usually don’t mind it. the cedar wood scent covers it up pretty well. and he looks really hot when he’s all sweaty and tired-

‣ the smell of his cologne stays on his hoodies for a pretty long time, so you’re constantly stealing them and never giving them back.

‣ unless he asks. you always end up stealing another one anyways.

[sluttbuttsstuff]

BUCCI GANG SKINCARE/BEAUTY ROUTINE (because this is what i care about)

BRUNO:

Probably has naturally perfect skin, because he’s beautiful and perfect

I love tan Buno, even if the anime and PPP make him super pale.  I translate this to the personal headcanon that he does have a natural tan, but he does use sunscreen everyday

He picked it up from being the son of a sailor, and one too many bad sunburns

Probably also loves using products with aloe in them, he knows he can trust them

Probably washes his face at night, but showers in the morning (because Abbacchio showers at night) so he thinks he doesn’t need to wash his face

Probably shaves often enough, but doesn’t cut his skin anymore when he does it because he is GROWN

Doesn’t use moisturizer because his skin is naturally on the more oily side, and thinks he doesn’t need it

He probably ends up getting wrinkles and aging MUCH faster because of this

  ABBACCHIO:

He has “A Routine” for his skincare, but he focuses more on his makeup and hair

If he’s just gonna cover it up with makeup anyways, who cares what his skin looks like

Because of that, his skin is on the sensitive side, i.e. he gets sunburn easily and has a bunch of allergies to chemicals and specific ingredients

Miraculously doesn’t get much acne anymore, just some blackheads on his nose

So yeah he puts a lot more effort into his makeup as a result

Very good at contour and cut creases-dramatic and gothic looks with dark/neutral pallets

Probably loves Kat Von D because of vibes, but also has an impressive collection of more indie brand’s liquid lipsticks and eyeliners

Actually does care a lot about his hair now that it's long

He originally let it grow out due to apathy, but Bruno complimented his hair so he keeps it long now and maintains it regularly

He washes his hair every other day give or take, then blow dries and irons it. It takes about 2 hours

He also regularly uses a hair mask, and protective sprays and oils

Also probably only uses brands recommended by hair stylists like redken and paul mitchell or the italian equivalent

He waxes all his body hair off.  All Of It.

As previously mentioned, he tends to take night showers because lets him take his time

Plus he's obv not a morning person.  He needs like an hour to do his makeup before he’s ready to go out in the morning

Probs wears the most makeup out of the gang

GIORNO:

Giorno is a person who’s carefully created a mask to achieve his dreams, and i believe this absolutely carries over into his appearance

Not to mention with issues of bullying and abuse in his past, he uses his beauty routine almost like a knight uses armor

Needless to say, he’s got the most intense skincare routine

Without fail, will wash his face and do a skincare regime twice a day

Im talking double cleansing, toner, spot correction, serum, essence, eye cream, moisturizer, etc

Spf in the highest protection available and regularly wears face masks at night

Will NOT go to bed without taking care of his skin

He definitely doesn’t seem like it, but might be the most obsessed with beauty and personal appearance out of anyone in the gang.

BUT it's the natural, effortless type of beauty.  The #wokeuplike this type

Wears some makeup, but its minimal, especially compared to Abbacchio

Some bb cream with spf and primer, lip gloss/tint, and eyebrow/lash tint.  Prefers brown mascara as opposed to black, and prefers long lashes as opposed to thick

He washes his hair with all natural products, and lets it air dry except for his donut holes in the front.  He pincurls them and uses as little hairspray as possible.

occasionally uses a straightening iron to add some curls, otherwise he thankfully has nice hair

Doesn’t really grow any facial hair.  Except for some leg/armpit hair, which is super soft and light.

Also uses hair masks and supplements for his hair, and again prefers organic/natural ingredients

I Want What He Has

MISTA:

Oh dear god

Probably one of the worst routines

Naturally has oily skin and hair, which is great for preventing aging, but bad for everything else

He does not know how to take care of himself, and unless it's brought to his attention, or he’s trying to impress/seduce someone, he doesn’t particularly care

That’s not to say that he’s a lost cause, he could probably be a model if he knew what he was doing.

Because he has oily skin, he got a lot of acne as a teen.  It’s getting better the older he gets, but he still gets plenty of white heads and acne.

Mainly on his forehead because of his beanie.

Will pop them every morning, and sometimes show it to Narancia (to his amusement) and Fugo (to his dismay)

After he pops his zits, he will use those alcohol pads

He thinks unless the skincare is actively burning his skin, it isn’t working

He’s recently started using witch hazel after a recommendation from Giorno, and it’s actually helping him a lot.  He’s not a huge fan of the smell, but it’s a start.  

This man needs to take at LEAST one shower a day, sometimes two.  Not just because of his oily hair, but because of his daily activities with passione, he sweats a lot which doesn’t help with his skin or hair

He uses Head and Shoulders , which is a crying shame.

I headcanon that his hair is naturally very dark, thick and wavy/curly, a bit coarse.  

9/10 his hair ends up sweat plastered to his skull by the end of the day after being under his hat

VERY HAIRY.  If he misses even a day of shaving, will grow stubble.  Body hair dark and curly

Also prolly has backne

FUGO:

Two words: Dry Skin

Which is nice because he doesn’t get a lot of acne, except for blackheads on his nose.

His skin is sensitive in other ways though

For one, it shows his blush easily, which can be embarrassing

Also dark bags under his eyes, although that’s mostly because of his irregular sleep schedules

Uses lotion on his hands a lot, because otherwise they can get very dry and cracked.

his lips are almost always cracked and chapped too, sometimes to the point of bleeding

He washes his face and hair daily, but doesn’t use moisturizer because he doesn't know that much about skincare.

He has learned about sheetmasks from Giorno, though, and likes them

He doesn’t do it often though, because Mista and Narancia make fun of him

Uses whatever shampoo or conditioner Bruno buys him, or whatever’s cheapest at the grocery store.  He does like to use mousse to slick his hair back and style it though

He can technically grow a beard and grows facial hair at a regular pace, but it’s so light and patchy that it doesn’t look that good, so he shaves regularly

NARANCIA:

Poor baby gets the painful kind of acne.

His skin is heavily affected by his hormones and diet

Maybe that’s why he prefers fruits and veggies to meats?  All the sugar and greasy food doesn’t do his skin any favors at all

Unconsciously picks at his acne, and doesn’t realize until he sees blood on his fingers that he knows isn’t from “work”

Could probably benefit from getting medication from a dermatologist, but he doesn’t know the first  thing about it, and is too embarrassed to ask Bruno for help

His hair is Dandruff prone, probably because he washes it every day.

Doesn’t use any special products or anything, but his hair is SO SOFT

It does get tangled up easily, unfortunately, and he has a cowlick on the back of his head that won’t. stay. Down.

Doesn’t really grow any facial hair yet, but his body hair is dark and thick, but very soft at the same time

Poor bby needs help with his routine

Got to Giorno, not Mista

[aminiatureworld]

In My Dreams IV

Characters: Xiao, fm!reader

Word Count: 3,167

Warnings: Brief depiction of violence, nightmares

Premise: The past is many things. Something to admire, something to learn from, something to hold dear. And yet how unreliable it can be, especially in the hands of ghosts.

In which the reader dreams of the past.

Author’s Note: Translation notes and historical references will come after the fic. This one was a little sketchy/ooc, prolly because I’m tired.

Xiao

If there was one thing that you appreciated most about your relationship with Xiao it was the fact that he never attempted to cage your independence.

Though the adeptus had a penchant for clinginess – something he’d never actually admit to – the circumstances of both his and your past had set a standard for a level of separation that you greatly appreciated. You were never pressured to tell Xiao about things you weren’t comfortable sharing and in return you never pressed your partner in regards to topics or events that made him somewhat uncomfortable.

And yet there was something very isolating about such a freedom.

It was an ordinary enough commission, laughably so in fact, the kind that you could knock back in ten minutes flat if you put a little effort into it. Treasure Hoarders were once more encroaching on Liyue, this time gathering at the vicinity of Dunyu Ruins, something that would surely be a hazard to the archaeologists who gathered to study the lost jade monument. The act of chasing out the Treasure Hoarders was indeed easy enough, and it was only until you started rifling through their loot that you found yourself uneasy.

The lid was an innocuous enough item. Though the box that it once covered was nowhere to be found it must’ve been a work of art, as the smooth tortoiseshell lid was clearly the result of patience and love. Painted a deep blue it depicted a snowy scene, with a castle or cathedral at the front and center. The building itself was of a unique design; a tall turret stuck out at the top while small onion domes sat a little lower, each painted a more outlandish color than the last. The architecture was completely unlike what one might see in either Liyue or Mondstadt, and really there should’ve been nothing to it except the odd design of the building. Yet the moment you set your eyes upon the building you felt something harden in the pit of your stomach.

You never thought about what you couldn’t remember; after all, what was the point of it? Why mourn something you weren’t even sure was good or bad? Yet in that moment you felt that you would give very little to not remember just a little bit. At least enough to know why the image of a cathedral in the snow made you wish deeply for something you couldn’t remember, and frightened you just as much.

“Something’s wrong with you face.”

“Xiao!” You sputtered, surprised by the sudden bluntness of your partner. “My face is just fine, a little dirt won’t kill me.”

“That’s not it.” Xiao scowled. “Your face is harder than usual. Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened! Sometimes I just don’t smile, okay?” You instinctively moved the corners of your mouth upwards, trying to ignore the sudden jump in your heart rate. “I’m fine.”

Xiao looked supremely unimpressed at your efforts, sighing and flying up to the balcony of the Inn. You sighed, letting your expression once more droop. It was easy sometimes to forget how in tune Xiao was. You wouldn’t expect it from an adeptus who had spent thousands of years mostly secluded from humans, but your partner was impressively good at reading your mood. Usually you didn’t mind the ability of his, even welcoming the fact that he so bluntly brought up the question of your feelings. But today you wished despite yourself that he was a little less aware. After all, how could you explain to your partner what you didn’t even understand yourself?

The rest of the night was oddly tense. Though Xiao said nothing you could tell from the way he stared intently at your face that he hadn’t given up his suspicions. For your part you tried to ignore his gaze, talking about trivial matters such as the question of replacing the Guild roof and the fact that you had managed to gather a few Qingxin during your commissions. All the while you felt the roiling of your heart; and all the while you kept rubbing your fingers along the smooth finish of the lid in your pocket as if in doing so you might suddenly be struck with what you currently missed and currently, desperately, needed.

The next day you walked up to Katherine utterly exhausted. Though you’d made a concerted effort to sleep, knowing that if not you’d just arouse more worry in Xiao, most of the night had been spent tossing and turning, your eyelids feeling paper thin as you attempted to drag yourself down into the depths of sleep. Of course now that the sun was shining you felt like even a stone bench would be a soft enough mattress. Blinking heavily you smiled awkwardly at Katheryne.

“Any commissions today?”

“Two ordinary sweeps and one request.” Katheryne tilted her head slightly. “Are you sure you don’t need rest?”

“I’m perfectly fine Katheryne, thank you for worrying. You said there was a request?”

“Yes. It seems that the citizen who noticed the Treasure Hoarders for us claims to have been robbed by them. He says to meet you at Dunyu Ruins so you can hand over the item.”

“And what item is that?”

“He said it was some sort of box lid. He didn’t give many details I’m sorry. If you’re uncomfortable though of course we could send someone with you.”

“I’ll be fine, thanks for worrying.”

“Of course! Good luck!”

“Thanks.”

You turned around, trying to stem the ice that flooded your veins. Who was this man to whom the cathedral belonged? How did he come across such an odd item, was he from one of the other nations of Teyvat you hadn’t visited? Most of all you wondered if he held some connection to your past. The idea thrilled you in some way, though dread also lingered. You weren’t entirely sure you wanted to meet this mysterious person. Commissions were commissions however; you wouldn’t betray the Guild. No matter how much you wanted to; you couldn’t.

The Dunyu Ruins were still, no monsters seemed to linger at the gates and no other adventurers peeked out from behind old walls. The air was utterly still, something which worried you greatly. Walking at an increased rate you sought out your mysterious commissioner. The more you thought about it the more you wished the whole thing to be over as soon as possible. Turning the corner you stopped in your tracks, gazing in awe at the person a few meters in front of you.

The first thing you thought was how oddly he was dressed. The second thing was that he was much younger than you had expected. The third thing was that you felt an odd sense of familiarity from him.

“Ah yes, the adventurer who accepted my commission. Have you brought what I asked of you?”

Though a response was certainly in order you found the words stuck in your mouth. Staring at him you felt the ground shift between your feet slightly. He was familiar, this young man in front of you, and yet he was also a perfect stranger. He seemed more like an apparition than anything, a spirit who had yet to cross to the far side. You stepped closer, reaching out your arm slightly. If you went to touch his shoulder, would your fingers go right through him?

“You really must think it’s odd that I’ve returned.” The man chuckled. “I assure you I’m completely real. You weren’t the only one to survive sister, though I know that information might be too little too late?”

“Sister?” You snapped out of your trance. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Surely you aren’t pretending not to recognize me? I think that’s beneath even you. Come now, was I such a brat as that?” Reaching out the young man went to grab your hand. Instinctively you pulled away, feeling discomfort shoot through you.

“I don’t know what you mean? And you certainly aren’t my brother! I’ve never had a brother!”

“Then who was the kid you lived with your whole life before the incident?”

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know about any incident or any brother. You asked me here to return something so I’m returning it.” Reaching for the lid you thrust the little work of art in front of you. “Here. Take it.”

“So you really don’t know who I am?” The young man reached out to take the lid. “How is that possible? Have they gone so far as to erase me from your memories? Have I been taken out of your family?”

“They?”

“The gods.” The young man’s eyes seemed incredibly harsh all of a sudden. “Their presumptiveness holds no bounds.”

“Don’t speak of the archons that way.”

“Answer me this,” the young man ignored your protest, “where are you from.”

“Why should I tell you that?”

“Humor me.”

“I…” You stood there for a moment, wondering whether or not you should tell this strange figure the truth. Morbid curiosity floated in your mind, and you took a sharp breath. “I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

“So I really have been erased from your mind.”

“Nothing’s been erased! I just don’t remember, should that surprise you so much?”

“Yes, it does. I see my plans will have to be changed.” The young man took a deep breath. “Very well then, we shall see what we shall see. I have an offer for you.”

“And what is that?” You felt suspicion wash over you.

“Join the Abyss.”

“Over my dead body!” Instinctively stepping away you drew your polearm. So that’s what this was about.

“I figured you might say that. However, let me tell you this. Our family was torn apart by the cruel whims of faraway gods. Teyvat suffered the same fate, still suffers it. You may not remember what happened to us, but I know it is buried in you somewhere. If you wish to avenge our family, then you’ll join us.”

“I have no petty thoughts of revenge against the gods.”

“That may very well change.” The young man smirked. “I’ll be back in a week. I expect your answers then.”

He was gone before you could say anything, carried away by a blanket of purple stars. You stared at the empty ruins, confused and empty, feeling far worse than you had felt when you arrived here.

“You look worse.”

“Thanks Xiao.” You let out a sigh, unsure how to respond.

You’d spent the rest of the walk back to the Wangshu Inn in agony, thoughts darting back and forth as you tried to reason with yourself about the veracity of the young man’s claims. There was no proof he was who he said he was after all, no proof that he wasn’t simply insane, or trying to convince you to join him by lying. Yet there was something about him, his demeanor, his anger, something that spoke to a truth about him. Not that the idea made you any happier. After all truth or not, he was still an Abyss member, or at least an advocate. You could never side with him, even if he was your long lost family. And yet what if he was your family? What then? Would it truly be a betrayal then to simply send him packing?

Xiao’s hand enveloped your own, the soft warmth drawing you out of your confused thoughts. Looking up you found him leaning into you, the tips of his hair lightly brushing your cheeks. His eyes bored into you ask he scanned your face. You stood perfectly still. You knew what Xiao was doing, knew that he was trying to figure out the depths of your discomfort. It was valiant of him, even if you hoped that he turned up empty handed. How could you tell Xiao, an adeptus who served directly under Rex Lapis, about the man who blasphemed the gods.

“You should sleep.” Xiao finally pulled away.

“It’s still early evening.”

“You didn’t sleep well last night, I could tell. You should sleep now; maybe you’ll feel better.”

“Maybe.” You replied, knowing that even if you slept better than you had ever before nothing would change when you woke up.

Still your eyelids were heavy and your feet aching. Sleep beckoned you with open arms, and you were quick to fall into its depths. Pressing a soft kiss on Xiao’s cheek you made your way up the stairs. Collapsing onto your bed you let out a sigh of relief. Sleep was coming on fast, and you quickly found the outside world swirling away. The last thing you were aware of was a dent in your mattress, and a set of familiar eyes staring down at you, filled with affection and worry.

It was dreadfully hot. That was the first thing you were aware of. The second was how loud everything was. There was a terrible sound swirling around you, inhuman shrieks seemed to rise up from the ground beneath you, accompanied with a banging that cracked through the air, echoing oddly in a night that was all too quiet. The third thing was that you had no idea where you were. Looking around you found yourself reeling at the scene that met your eyes. The house in front of you must’ve been nice at some point, but now had fallen into ruin and disrepair. Smoke was drifting up from a door that led into the ground, and bottles lay in pieces on the ground. A wall seemed to separate the house from the outside world, so tall that you had no idea what lay beyond it. Trembling slightly you felt yourself move towards the source of the noise, feet moving despite the rising dread that you felt. Making your way down a set of stairs a few lines came to you all of a sudden.

A ceiling of amber, a pavement of pearl

The smoke was thicker now, filling your lungs, leaving you short of breath. Little bits of orange blurred your vision, wielded by strange men in strange uniforms. They seemed distorted in the smoke, made into ghosts that might haunt a child’s nightmares.

Through the narrow paved streets, where all was still

You didn’t move your head towards the back of the room, somehow you couldn’t. Your very soul fought against it. Instead you closed your eyes, overwhelmed with how hot it was.

“You’ve come so far and you can’t even look?”

The voice was mocking, familiar, full of scorn. Opening your eyes you stared at the men in front of you, the men with fire at the tips of their hands. Why did he want you to look? You knew what you’d see. Somehow you knew.

We climb’d on the graves, on the stone worn with rains

You couldn’t make it out among the smoke. All you knew was that it was red.

You screwed your eyes shut, even as sudden clarity danced before you. Someone was calling your name.

There was a hand on your shoulder.

And alone dwell forever

The smoke cleared, and with it the dream.

The scream ripped through your throat before you could even process it. You knew that you should stop, knew that you were no longer dreaming, knew that the hand on your shoulder belonged to your terrified partner. Still you screamed. You screamed and screamed and screamed.

“Hey. Hey!” Xiao’s voice was frantic. Shifting your gaze towards him you felt yourself begin to tremble.

“It, it was true. It was true, I saw him. I saw him. I saw me. It was true. I, I, they’re dead. They’re dead.”

“It was a dream. No one’s dead.”

“But Xiao, they’re dead. He was right, they’re gone and dead and somehow I forget them.”

The loneliness slammed into you, mixing with the horror that sent your stomach churning. You dug you nails into your palm, desperately trying to stop shaking. Everything seemed distorted, the light emerging through the window just as menacing as the dark.

“Take my hand.”

Xiao pulled one of your hands on his lap, gently opening it and running his fingers over the marks that now rested in your palms. Unfurling your hand you it was flat against his he covered it with his own. Letting his palm rest gently against yours he looked up at you.

“No one is dead. You were having a nightmare.”

“I was remembering, Xiao. I finally remembered something. And now I wish I never had.” You unfurled your other hand, wiping furiously at the tears that pooled in your eyes. “I’m so alone Xiao, I’m so alone.”

“You aren’t alone.”

“My family, my family is gone. The only one left is an Abyss member. I, I’m so utterly alone.”

You felt Xiao drop your hand slightly. The sudden lost connection made your founder for a moment, but soon the feeling was lost as Xiao wrapped his arms around you. Pressing kisses to your forehead his grip was tight and strong, encasing you utterly in soft comfort. Letting yourself collapse slightly you leaned into his embrace.

“You’ll never be alone. I’ll always be here.”

If promises were conveyed in actions then you had no reason to doubt Xiao’s. Though the air around you was sticky with heat you found yourself pressing into your partner’s chest eyes more, soaking up every bit of connection that you could get. Xiao said nothing more, simply keeping you in his embrace, lips brushing against your cheeks as he kissed away your tears.

You knew that he wouldn’t ask about your brother that night, perhaps not even the morning afterwards, or even tomorrow evening. After all your partner wasn’t one for words, and your relationship wasn’t built upon the expectation of painful transparency. If you weren’t ready to talk he wouldn’t push you.

Eventually your tears slowed, though the pain in your chest still burned like a brand. Bringing your hands to your chest you gazed up at the adeptus who was still wrapped around you.

“Can we stay this way a little longer?”

Xiao’s eyes gleamed catlike in the moonlight. Leaning down he brushed his lips against yours, sighing slightly as you met him with exhausted ardor. Pulling back you rested your head on your partner’s chest. The dulled beat seemed almost musical, a reminder that Xiao was alive, a reminder that he was right next to you.

You had assumed in some way that it meant he didn’t care, or didn’t want to know. Though you would’ve never thought that before, the feeling of loneliness that had threatened to swallow you up had made that perfectly clear. Yet Xiao did care, cared enough not to prod and poke at wounds that were surely bleeding even now. Cared enough to kiss your worries away, cared enough to let you embrace him as long as you needed. Cared enough to show that you weren’t truly alone. 

In a week you’d give the young man who had once been your brother an answer. In a week you’d face the fact of your loneliness, of a family that you’d once been a part of. In a week you would let yourself be truly lonely. But until then you would listen to the familiar beat of Xiao’s heart as you remembered that you weren’t truly alone. That you never would be.

-------

The box lid itself was based off nothing in particular. The building painted on it is a reference to Saint Basil’s Cathedral. 

The poem I used was “The Forsaken Merman” by Matthew Arnold

The scene in the reader’s dream is a reference to the execution of the last Imperial family of Russia. It took place in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg on July 17th/18th 1918.