#YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GO THIS HARD

[muzzlemouths]

Your specialty I think is Atmosphere. The places and how they're described in your fics are so impeccably put together, you really Understand the Weight of a Setting. You can tweak words to make a room Comforting and Full Of Love or Vile and Repulsive or even Melancholic and Hopeless. It's not just the setting though, it all really adds to how you make your dialogue shine, the characters are Tangible and Flawed and so very much Themselves that you can't help but get sucked into what you're reading. Your Dialogue is Fantastic but mixed together with how you do Settings, it makes for the Most Bitchin Atmosphere I've ever enjoyed. The fic where Sun is left alone in the daycare for instance; how despite the room being the same temperature at all times it feels Cold and Sterile and makes you feel isolated and lonely as you read, how in your Christmas fic the atmosphere is warm and safe in a fort decorated with lights, a fake fire burning on the computer and cookies in the oven. How in your horror fanfics Moon and Eclipse feel unknown and frightening, because of how you can't see them clearly from the shadows, can't keep your eyes on them forever, or even seeing Too Much At Once and becoming rapidly aware that you're in danger from your hair raising as static screams at you from the TV Screen. Absolutely Incredible. So I think Armosphere is your Niche :)

Sorry for the long rant 👉👈

SORRY THIS TOOK ME EONS TO REPLY TO I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

[eydilily]

would you bite the hand that feeds you?

[inkskinned]

the thing is that they're so fascinated by sex, they love sex, they can't imagine a world without sex - they need sex to sell things, they need sex to be part of their personality, they need sex to prove their power - but they hate sex. they are disgusted by it.

sex is the only thing that holds their attention, and it is also the thing that can never be discussed directly.

you can't tell a child the normal names for parts of their body, that's sexual in nature, because the body isn't a body, it's a vessel of sex. it doesn't matter that it's been proven in studies (over and over) that kids need to know the names of their genitals; that they internalize sexual shame at a very young age and know it's 'dirty' to have a body; that it overwhelmingly protects children for them to have the correct words to communicate with. what matters is that they're sexual organs. what matters is that it freaks them out to think about kids having body parts - which only exist in the context of sex.

it's gross to talk about a period or how to check for cancer in a testicle or breast. that is nasty, illicit. there will be no pain meds for harsh medical procedures, just because they feature a cervix.

but they will put out an ad of you scantily-clad. you will sell their cars for them, because you have abs, a body. you will drip sex. you will ooze it, like a goo. like you were put on this planet to secrete wealth into their open palms.

they will hit you with that same palm. it will be disgusting that you like leather or leashes, but they will put their movie characters in leather and latex. it will be wrong of you to want sexual freedom, but they will mark their success in the number of people they bed.

they will crow that it's inappropriate for children so there will be no lessons on how to properly apply a condom, even to teens. it's teaching them the wrong things. no lessons on the diversity of sexual organ growth, none on how to obtain consent properly, none on how to recognize when you feel unsafe in your body. if you are a teenager, you have probably already been sexualized at some point in your life. you will have seen someone also-your-age who is splashed across a tv screen or a magazine or married to someone three times your age. you will watch people pull their hair into pigtails so they look like you. so that they can be sexy because of youth. one of the most common pornography searches involves newly-18 young women. girls. the words "barely legal," a hiss of glass sand over your skin.

barely legal. there are bills in place that will not allow people to feel safe in their own bodies. there are people working so hard to punish any person for having sex in a way that isn't god-fearing and submissive. heteronormative. the sex has to be at their feet, on your knees, your eyes wet. when was the first time you saw another person crying in pornography and thought - okay but for real. she looks super unhappy. later, when you are unhappy, you will close your eyes and ignore the feeling and act the role you have been taught to keep playing. they will punish the sex workers, remove the places they can practice their trade safely. they will then make casual jokes about how they sexually harass their nanny.

and they love sex but they hate that you're having sex. you need to have their ornamental, perfunctory, dispassionate sex. so you can't kiss your girlfriend in the bible belt because it is gross to have sex with someone of the same gender. so you can't get your tubes tied in new england because you might change your mind. so you can't admit you were sexually assaulted because real men don't get hurt, you should be grateful. you cannot handle your own body, you cannot handle the risks involved, let other people decide that for you. you aren't ready yet.

but they need you to have sex because you need to have kids. at 15, you are old enough to parent. you are not old enough to hear the word fuck too many times on television.

they are horrified by sex and they never stop talking about it, thinking about it, making everything unnecessarily preverted. the saying - a thief thinks everyone steals. they stand up at their podiums and they look out at the crowd and they sign a bill into place that makes sexwork even more unsafe and they stand up and smile and sign a bill that makes gender-affirming care illegal and they get up and they shrug their shoulders and write don't say gay and they get up, and they make the world about sex, but this horrible, plastic vision of it that they have. this wretched, emotionless thing that holds so much weight it's staggering. they put their whole spine behind it and they push and they say it's normal!

this horrible world they live in. disgusted and also obsessed.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Ooh, you want to know what happens at the gay bar run by ex-pirates, ooh...You'll just have to read Tiger Tiger to find out...

(Inspired by this Disco Elysium comic)

[milkywayes]

GARRUS VAKARIAN: DATABASE IMAGE ACCESS. > PT. 1 : 2160, 2166, 2170. > all files backdated according to user preferences: (terran_coordinated.calendar).

[deep-space-lines]

I am inflicting, or perhaps bestowing, upon you: Garrus as various unnecessarily sexualized references that come up if you look up refs of women with guns :)

(( @milkywayes i know we’ve like almost never interacted but the silly comment i left on your post would Not leave my brain. I need to show u what you inspired ))

[introspectivememories]

been watching mashle and oh my god, the eugenics???? the way lance's parents were so ready to give up their daughter??? no second thought???? just "why did this child have to be born to us?"???? um everyone talking in mash's face about how non-magic people are inherently worthless???? the triple line dude fucking making dolls out of people and somehow no one??? is??? checking him???? and then when questioned immediately jumping into "well humans are little more than mindless beasts and i will become a creator deity and reshape the world in my liking!"????? the, um, corruption in the government??? the way this story is so clearly "h*rry p*tter if it was actually funny"??? the slytherin coded characters are blood purists???? they took out hufflepuff??? one of the magia lupus' mage's powerset was just big shuriken???? another one is rip off kisame???? lance is a siscon and the first thing mash says is "that doesn't make it better"???? lemon is genuinely so fuckin funny??? dot is incel-coded but like in a funny way??? dot says that lance is playing life on "easy mode" cause lance has a good face??? dot likes tea??? dot has good manners??? everybody only has one spell they can use??? finn ames is like if you transported is regular human into this stupid ass world??? i think the old man and the cop have explored each others bodies.

[master-sass-blast]

Hello!

Okay now, hear me out hear me out hear me out

3 times Ran definitely made you flustered

And 1 time you made them flustered (you think)

Thank you for coming to my TED talk *evaporates*

Hello nonny!!! I love this prompt! Sorry it took me so long, but here's a little something. Hope this is what you were looking for! 🖤

Rating: Mature. MDNI. NSFW. Tags: teasing, voyeurism, light dom/sub, pet play, light bondage, impact play

(f!Reader)

AO3

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The first time Ran gets you flustered, you aren’t even sure it’s intentional.

The two of you are preparing for a reconnaissance mission Topside. Ran had commandeered a couple of enforcer uniforms, of which neither of you were particularly happy with. The only one they could manage to get was the dress version. Not practical nor your taste. And to make matters worse, Ran seemed to have underestimated your size, as you're in a constant battle to get the damn thing on.

"This is fucking stupid," you curse under your breath as you struggle to pull the dress over your head, getting stuck at the shoulders. With your back to Ran you hear their quiet chuckle. "Not funny," you grumble, still straining and feeling utterly ridiculous with how your arms are only part way through the sleeves, stuck up in the air and your head inside the dress.

"Need some help?" Ran asks as they step up behind you.

"Are you already changed?" you ask.

"Mhmm."

"Seriously?" you scoff. "Why were you able to get dressed no problem, but I can't?" You wriggle your arms far enough into the sleeves to now be completely trapped, unable to move them to grab any part of the clothing. "I'm fucking stuck!" you growl, and you swear you can see Ran's cocky smirk despite your eyes being entirely covered. "Stop laughing at me and help."

You can hear Ran's boots move to your front side, and it dawns on you that in your current state, your underwear is still exposed. Your very embarrassingly cute underwear. The pink ones with the stupid little red hearts all over it. Your emergency pair. Of all the fucking days...

"Cute," Ran teases as they grasp the hem of your skirt.

"Shut up."

After several good tugs, Ran finally gets the dress down far enough for your scowling face to pop out. You glare at Ran's amused, crooked grin. They don't seem to notice, or decide to ignore it, continuing to shimmy the dress down over your chest until your arms become of use again.

As you take over, tugging the dress further down into place, Ran takes a small step back. They watch you, dark eyes glinting with mirth while you just huff and grunt in indignation.

"This dress is way too tight for my tits," you gripe, struggling to get that last inch of fabric in place.

"They look good to me."

It takes you a moment- too busy trying to pull on the stupid matching stockings without falling over- for Ran's words to sink in.

Wait. Did they just say-?

Your gaze slowly lifts to their face. Those plush, dark lips of theirs are still curled up just the slightest at one corner. And you swear you catch their eyes flit from your chest to your face.

"Uhm... right. Let's- let's get this over with," you stammer, turning your head away to hide the blush that spreads up your neck to your cheeks as you slip into the boots.

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The second time Ran gets you flustered, you're fairly certain it’s deliberate.

The two of you are sitting in a booth at The Last Drop drinking and people watching. Ran sits at your left, their arm draped along the back of the seat behind you. It's a particularly wild night. The room is packed to capacity. Music plays loud enough you can feel it in your chest and you can barely see several feet past your booth with how thick the cigar smoke and Shimmer vapors are. You don't realize a man is sliding into the booth at your right side until you feel Ran's metal finger tap your shoulder.

Turning to Ran with a brow raised inquisitively, they nod their head to your opposite side. Following their gaze, you find a very tipsy and rather unappealing looking man scooting towards you.

"Hey, what's a hot thing like you doing sitting here all alone?" He slurs.

And if that wasn't enough of a give away of just how plastered- or just plain stupid- he was, the way he misses your clearly disgusted expression sure is. You're about to tell him to fuck off, but to your surprise, Ran speaks first.

"She's not alone." Ran's voice is smooth, confident and unaffected. The idiot next to you seems to finally take notice of them, flashing Ran a confused look.

"Where is he? Been watching her all night and ain't seen no man here," he sneers, placing a hand on the top of your thigh.

Your cheeks burn and you suck in a deep breath, ready to lose your fucking shit on this asshole currently touching you with his dirty ass hand. However, once again, Ran beats you to it.

"Right here," they reply simply, and you nearly jump from your seat when you feel Ran's metal fingers start playing with the ends of your hair.

"You?!" He laughs. "Bullshit," he spits. You flinch as several droplets of his saliva hit your face. Janna, you're going to fucking murder this man right here if he doesn't disappear in less than ten seconds.

He gives your thigh a squeeze.

Make that two seconds.

Ran inches closer, their knee pressing against your thigh as they lean in close enough to whisper- noticeably low and suggestive- into your ear, "Isn't that right, my pretty girl?"

What the actual fuck?

You know Ran is just trying to get this pig to leave you alone, but the way they're doing it is highly... suspicious.

"I- I'm taken. By them," you manage to stammer out, and you hope your expression doesn't give away just how flustered you are. The man's eyes dart between you and Ran several times. And for fucks sake Ran decides to really drive it home by running the tip of their nose along the back of your ear, making every last tiny hair on your body stand on end with the goosebumps that spread over you. But at least this trash heap of a man finally gets the picture.

"What a fucking joke," he slurs, "Don't need an ugly slut like you anyway." He stands, nearly falls back down, then stumbles off to find his next victim.

Slowly, you turn to face Ran, who is still twirling a strand of your hair around their finger. They're wearing that damn smirk again, the same one they had when you two were preparing for the recon mission a few weeks prior.

"Was- was all of that really necessary?" You ask, and Janna why are they still sitting so close and touching you? And why aren't you telling them to stop?

"You don't seem to mind," Ran points out. They raise the brow not covered by their dark hair, challenging you to deny it.

"What? I- I-" you can't even come up with an excuse. How does Ran keep doing this? "Whatever," you huff and turn away to hide your blush. Again.

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The third time Ran has you all hot and bothered, there's no longer a doubt in your mind; they are doing it intentionally.

The two of you are assigned yet another recon mission, but this time it's within a hoity-toity brothel up Topside (even their whore houses are over the top extravagant).

You and Ran are to go poised as workers. As a couple. There to offer up your services to a visiting councilman known for his loose lips and particular kinks. Ran had already secured the perfect setup, having paid off one of the young, new and naïve sex workers to allow you two the use of their room for the night.

You weren't exactly thrilled at the idea at first. You wanted nothing to do with some disgusting high ranking man, especially in this context. So much so that you were close to outright refusing to partake, and chance a verbal or physical lashing from Silco. However, Ran assured you that this councilman would not touch either of you. He had a particular kink for voyeurism. He would simply watch the two of you partake in activities.

"But you and I still have to-" you pause, trying to find the words to describe what should be obvious, but you're too damn- nervous? shy?- to say it to Ran. And you're not even sure why that makes you so uncomfortable. Or why the thought of you two doing… those things make your cheeks warm, your skin prickle with goosebumps and your legs ache.

"Fuck?" Ran asks.

Your eyes dart to their face just in time to catch the mirth they're trying to hide at seeing you so flustered. "Yes. Fuck," you scoff.

"He's not into that," Ran replies with a straight face.

Brows furrowed in confusion and frustration, you snap, "What the fuck do you mean he's not into that? It's a fucking brothel. What's he paying us to do? Brush each other's hair? Do our makeup?"

"He likes to watch one party just tease the other. Never really give them what they want. A voyeuristic sadist."

You just gape at Ran, dumbfounded. Not so much due to the disgustingly weird kink of the councilman (you're well aware of how nasty these men can be), but more so how Ran can just talk about what the two of you will be doing in front of him with such nonchalance. Like you'll just be taking a walk in the park, not partaking in some kinky role play while some nasty dude jerks off to it.

“Ok. So we tease each other until he blows his load, and then we just chill with him while he spills the beans to us- random sex workers?” you ask, nonplused.

Ran simply nods.

“This has got to be the stupidest mission I’ve ever done,” you murmur to yourself more than to Ran.

Too caught up fretting over the whole idea at a high level, it doesn't even occur to you to discuss the details of what this would entail. Who plays what part, or what exactly those parts involve. At least not until the two of you are in the room at the brothel and Ran hands you a bag containing your 'costume'.

"What the fuck is this?" You snap, trying to keep your voice down knowing that someone could walk through the door at any moment. You're holding up what to you appears to be an absurdly tangled mess of white string and lace. Certainly not clothing. You're not sure it even constitutes lingerie with how little fabric there is. When Ran doesn't respond, you glance over your shoulder to check on them, but instantly regret it. They have their back to you, but they've already stripped down to just their undergarments, leaving a considerable amount of skin exposed. Skin that you can't seem to take your eyes off of. Before they can catch you ogling them, you whip your head back around, trying to ignore how your cheeks heat… with embarrassment. Yes. Embarrassment. Nothing else. Not excitement. Nope.

It, as expected, takes you a considerable amount of time, trial and error, and cursing to finally get into the flimsy lace and ribbon. Examining yourself, you find that you're almost entirely exposed where it matters most. The thin lace does nothing to hide your shame.

Poking through your bag you pull out several more, equally ridiculous, items. A pair of white lace thigh high stockings, a halo, and a pair of white, disgustingly sparkly wings. And an oddly mismatched red leather collar and leash.

Seriously?

An angel. You're playing the part of a fucking angel. A very scantily clad angel.

"Silco owes me a raise for this shit," you murmur as you slip on the stockings and the rest of your costume. Stepping in front of a large floor length mirror, you check yourself over.

So stupid.

Satisfied, if you can call it that considering how much you hate it, with how everything fits, you lift your gaze to check your face, but catch Ran's reflection behind you. They apparently finished at some point and were just blatantly watching you suffer through your woes.

You whip around to face them, scowling in annoyance. However, the moment you catch what they're donning, your jaw drops and your eyes go wide.

Ran is dressed in all red, skin tight leather. Boots, pants and a sleeveless top with a deep v-line that reveals an ample amount of creamy, white cleavage. Too caught up in those details, you don't even notice the devil horns or tail they're also sporting.

Oh dear Janna.

You're pissed. You're turned on. You're confused. Why are you turned on?

"What- what the fuck, Ran?" Why do you get the cool outfit and I'm stuck with- with this stupid ass cutesy might-as-well-wear-nothing garbage?" You swipe your hands down alongside your body for emphasis.

"Because you're the cute one," Ran replies, dark lips curling into a taunting smirk. They step forward, taking the end of the red leash connected to your collar into their metal hand. Twirling it around their fingers, they add, in a notably sultry tone, "And you make the better pet."

"What?! I- I'm not-" your failing attempt to redeem yourself is abruptly cut short when the door suddenly opens. And to make matters worse, Ran gives your leash a rather violent tug downwards, forcing you to drop to your knees in front of them.

The man, presumably the councilman judging by his fancy looking uniform, freezes in the doorway when he catches sight of you two. "Oh they didn't tell me I'd be getting such… filthy looking ladies," he leers.

It takes every ounce of willpower not to tell this disgusting man to fuck off, and you can tell Ran isn't particular happy with his statement either given how they tighten their grip on your leash.

You watch, seething internally as he closes the door and strides over to a small settee just a few feet behind Ran. He takes a seat, reclined with his legs spread and immediately reaches for the buttons on his pants.

Who's the filthy one?

Turning your attention back to Ran, you await their… instruction, as it seems you're playing the part of their subby little pet… angel.

Ran tugs your leash towards them, hard enough to have you falling forward. You catch yourself with the palms of your hands on the plush carpet, but shoot them a warning glare up through your lashes. Ran’s lips curl into an impish smirk. They're enjoying this a little too much in your opinion.

“This one’s been quite naughty,” Ran says loud enough for the man behind them to hear. Ran’s mischievous eyes remain glued to yours as they start pulling you along on all fours. “I think she deserves some punishment.”

You hear the man laugh behind you. It’s a disgustingly horny sort of chuckle, raspy and jagged. He’s clearly jerking himself off already. It makes you cringe, but you keep your eyes locked with Ran’s.

Ran guides you to a large x-shaped wooden fixture. Tugging up on your leash, they pull you to your feet.

“Turn.”

You- reluctantly- obey. Turning so your backside faces your audience, it suddenly dawns on you what the fixture before you is for.

Oh fuck no.

There are leather straps near the tops and bottoms of each section. Meant to restrain you, obviously. You feel Ran nudge you, rather harshly, pressing their metal hand against your obnoxious angel wings. You nearly topple over from the force, but catch yourself on the cross.

It’s a struggle to keep your face set in stone as Ran bends down to secure each of your ankles to the bottom of the fixture, spreading your legs wide enough to leave you terribly... exposed. Their face is so close to your practically naked bottom that you can feel their breath fan across your skin. It makes that skin crawl with goosebumps. You pray they don’t notice.

When Ran stands back up to secure your left arm, you try to keep your attention forward, focused on the wall in front of you. Try not to let Ran see how nervous you are. How anxious you are. You’re not so lucky though.

As Ran finishes strapping in your right wrist, you feel them bring their mouth close to your ear. Close enough for their noticeably soft lips to brush against it as they whisper low enough for only you to hear, “Drop this if you need me to stop at any point.”

You turn your head to watch as they slip the end of the leash between the wooden post and your hand so you can grasp it. You’re about to ask what they’re talking about when Ran backs up to grab something off a nearby table and-

SMACK!

Something soft and leather-like strikes your bare ass cheek. Mouth open and not expecting that sudden sharp pain, you don’t have time to bite back the startled yelp that leaves your throat. You suck in a shaky breath and blink several times, trying to process what just happened. Your skin feels hot and prickles where you were just hit.

What the fuck?

Turning your head to glance wide eyed back at Ran, you find them holding a long black riding crop. Eyes flitting up to their face in shock, you find them simply smirking. They even have the audacity to mockingly wave that damn mechanical hand of theirs at you.

“Fuck. You,” you seethe as quietly as you can. The man must not hear you, as you can hear him clearly enjoying himself from his seat on the couch, grunting and groaning and… sloshing? Janna, he must have fucking lubed himself. You turn back to face the wall, fearful you’ll catch sight of something you’d much rather not see.

“You learn your lesson?” Ran asks quietly, but loud enough this time for everyone to hear.

You can feel the soft round leather of the crop ghost over your sore skin soothingly. And it takes every ounce of willpower not to whimper with how good it feels. Gathering your bearings, you process their question, realizing it’s part of the show you two are putting on. “There’s nothing to le-” your retort is cutoff when you feel another skin reddening slap to your other cheek. Though you should have known it was coming this time, you still can’t contain the startled yelp that leaves your mouth.

Ran steps forward, into your space. So close that you can smell their perfume- a faint scent of patchouli and cloves- as you suck in a breath. And this time, they sooth over your stinging flesh with their human hand. And fuck does it feel so good. Willpower be damned, you’re left letting your head drop forward as a shaky whimper slips past your parted lips. They bring their mouth to your ear again to whisper, in an undeniably sultry tone, “Enjoying this, angel?”

No. Yes. Fuck yes.

“No.” You try to sound as angry as you feel, or as you should feel, but it comes out pathetic and breathy... needy.

The airy laugh they release tickles the back of your neck. And Janna must hate you today, because your body visibly trembles as chills run down your spine. “Then what are these?” they ask as they bring their hand up to trail teasingly down your arm.

You turn your head to find the goosebumps scattered across the length of your raised arm. “I’m- I’m just cold,” you stammer out.

“Yet you’re sweating,” Ran points out as they run a finger along the damp side of your forehead.

“I- I’m-” you struggle to come up with an excuse. Something, anything other than the fact that you are terribly turned on by them right now. “I’m just- mad… at you,” you finish dumbly. And then you feel the end of the crop slowly, very deliberately, sliding up the inside of one of your thighs. Your undeniably arousal coated thigh.

“Then what’s all this?” Ran purrs against your ear.

Your legs. Your stupid fucking legs. They tremble with the sultry sound of their voice, under that light, teasing touch. A touch that you know is leading to a place that aches to be touched. Your gaze snaps to the leash in your hand. Do you drop it? Do you want Ran to stop?

When the crop drifts higher, so damn close to your wet heat, you realize you know the answer. “Ran,” you keen wantonly, “Please.” Janna, you can’t form coherent words. Or thoughts. Your grip tightens around the leash, both in an attempt to make sure you don’t accidentally drop it, and in anticipation of Ran pressing that terribly delightful crop right where you need it.

As if things couldn’t get any worse, you feel the end of the crop stop just before reaching the apex of your thighs. The man seated behind you two is releasing a long, loud, gurgling sort of groan as he, presumably, finds his release. You had been so damn worked up and distraught you had forgotten he was even there.

And that's it. You do not get your own release. And you can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

With phase one complete, Ran removes you from your binds, smirking at your flustered expression all the while.

Phase two, the part where this idiot tells you what you want to hear, goes surprisingly smooth. You manage to gather your thoughts enough to pull off a chatty, flirty personality with the man and he so easily gives you and Ran all the information Silco needed.

After the man exits the room, the two of you redress in silence before slipping out the back door unnoticed by any of the other staff. However, just when you’re thinking you're past all that excitement, past having your mind scrambled, Ran opens their damn mouth and throws you off your game yet again.

“Seeing how much you enjoyed that, maybe I should book us a room next week.”

You stop dead in your tracks. “Wait- what?”

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The one time you give Ran a taste of their own medicine, it’s not so much planned as it is a conveniently timed move.

After a mission gone awry, the two of you are running from a large group of armed Enforcers. They follow you clear down to the Undercity, but you and Ran have the advantage of knowing the streets like the back of your hands.

Darting down alley after alley, you’re starting to lose steam. The two of you need to lose these guys, and fast. Lungs burning from the need for more oxygen in the already oxygen deprived Lanes, you glance over your shoulder. None of them had made it down that road yet. Thinking fast, you grab Ran by their metal wrist and tug them down an adjacent alley.

Once you’re deep enough within the shadows, hidden from the bright neon lights that illuminate the road you just came from, you gasp out, “Trust me!” Without giving Ran a moment to reply, you pull your hood up to conceal your face, grab Ran by the front of their harness, and shove them against the wall of the building behind them.

Ran gasps, air knocked from their own oxygen deprived lungs. But, there’s no respite for either of you as you crash your mouth into theirs in a heated kiss. You ignore the muffled sounds of protest coming from Ran’s mouth as you press your body against theirs, slotting your legs with theirs and deepening the kiss.

Between the thumping of your heartbeat in your ears and both your heavy breathing, you barely hear the Enforcers at the end of the alley. 

“Just a couple making out,” one calls. “Check that way!” Their heavy footfalls resume, then gradually fade.

Ran’s hands grasp your waist, and you fear they may push you off and give away your ploy. However, they just squeeze. Tight. Really tight. They don’t return the kiss, but they also don’t try to pull away. They just stand there, frozen, metal and organic nails digging through your shirt and into your flesh.

You try not to think about how pleasant their grip feels. Or how soft their lips are against yours. Or how intoxicating the scent of their perfume is. Or how your heaving chests press delightfully together with each frantic breath. Or how the thigh you’re straddling feels so good between your aching legs…

Unsuccessful in your attempts, you release a low moan, barely muffled by Ran’s mouth. Your eyes shoot open. When had you even closed them? You find Ran staring at you just as wide-eyed and surprised. You push yourself off them, breaking the kiss. Ran’s hands fall limply to their sides and the two of you just stand there panting for a moment.

And then you realize just how completely flustered Ran looks. And you grin, wide and arrogant.

Victory!

“Don’t look so confused,” you laugh, “I mean that was nothing compared to what you put me through the other day.” You turn, leaving them there speechless, and start heading back toward the main street. “Let’s get out of here before they come back looking for us.”

You don’t bother looking behind you, too caught up in how you finally bested Ran at their own little game. Or so you think. So you don’t notice the way Ran’s lips curl into a devious little smirk as they follow behind you.

[lazylittledragon]

ok i swear i'm not going to talk about my breakup forever but the thing that just keeps bothering me:

i know that not getting what you need in a relationship is a COMPLETELY valid reason to end it but also. i feel like having a very vulnerable moment where i opened up about my struggles with intimacy and being relieved that i didn't have to keep doing things i wasn't comfortable with, then being dumped a YEAR later because of my lack of intimacy. is something i should be allowed to be very hurt by???

[soupdreamer]

hey brennan what the fuck

[egophiliac]

LEON

LEON YOUR EYEBALLS

[hajihiko]

The polycules are falling apart

[aq2003]

has anyone gotten the idea that odysseus' storyline in hades 2 is a depiction/exploration of trauma over his SA and how he's blaming himself for things that were out of his control? because that's the impression i'm getting from what i've seen. he talks about "goddesses" as his "greatest weakness" and that "he's not one to say no to them"...

when mel invites him to the bath, he brings up mortals having different standards for intimacy than gods and how it usually has a more romantic/sexual connotation. she then asks if he's uncomfortable and he has a startled reaction and brings up circe and calypso again (but never actually by name)

(this isn't ship/romance bait btw. odysseus knew mel as a kid and they're stated in-game to have a sibling/uncle-niece relationship)

also he grew apart from penelope after his return, but the game makes a point of showing that his love for penelope and telemachus is what drove him on at all so that element of his character isn't brought into question

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

In the world of heavy metals, love is denser than hate!

[tubbytarchia]

gg buddy am I right (ethubs doodle that I don't know what to do with)

[crystalflygeo]

Last of her kind Emperor!Alpha!Zhongli + Omega!Dragoness!Reader

cw/tags: Your usual mentions of slavery and sexual themes, A/B/O dynamics and heat mentions. Also allusions to depression and mentions of death.

notes: Aahahaha this took forever..... allow me top explain: first of all my new job is killing me and second of all I'm going through a hard period where I don't really like anything I write anymore. This work in particularly I kept struggling with the pacing, the dialogues, the way I wanted feelings to come across or scenes to flow it's just hhhnnnggg. I told a couple of friends that I set the bar so high with the first part I feel like nothing else I write will be that good. Then the second part was "ok" but cut off in a cliffhanger and has been there for SO LONG that now I feel this will be underwhelming after all the buildup//hit

I hope it's not. I hope it's good.

Anyway this part is in Zhongli's pov and contains flashbacks which will be fully in italics! Enjoy! and thanks for caring so much about this story ;w; ILU all <3

<- Part 2.

Your instincts mess up with your head.

Your crying and anxiety have simmered to a cold numbness.

Hours blur together, time loses meaning.

The doctor comes by sometimes. The maids bring you food. But everything feels… off, distant.

This doesn’t feel… like your usual heats.

You curl up and sob, a choked soft noise.

You don’t feel hot, but rather cold. Limbs weak. Dizzy.

Your heart aches.

You’re so tired.

And so sleepy…

Zhongli puts down the seal stamp and deflates back into his chair with a sigh, he must have read the same line at least five times already. He cannot concentrate at all. It’s not even been three days and each hour, each minute, feels eternal.

He’s already gotten so used to your presence, so smitten with you and your little quirks, your rare smiles, the way your ears and tail flicker, your pretty eyes…

And he remembers those same eyes begging for him, teary. Your pitiful cry. Your distressed scent.

Guilt eats at him. As well as something else…

He’s been restless, barely slept. Your scent is a siren’s song on the blankets, tart and fresh and tantalizing, but you are not with him. Anxious energy flows in his veins. This emotion, this thing that is like regret and sorrow and fear all tangled together, cleaves him through. His instincts are screaming at him, rattling inside a cage of his own making. His mate, his precious Omega is in heat, you’re scared and lonely and need him. Zhongli has to suppress a growl and feel the shudder of his scales at the fact that he’s not with you. In your nest. Taking care of you.

It’s agonizing.

"How is she?"

The same question, over and over, at any chance he gets.

"She refuses to eat, your majesty." Xiao tells him, and he can feel the concern in the younger Alpha’s voice. “According to the maids she only took a few bites of the ajilenak nuts, the rest of the food was left untouched.”

…

"She's um... she's always sleeping when I go check up on her." Ganyu explains a little crestfallen. She too is worried. “A-at least I think she’s in no pain… she was clinging to one of your hanfus.”

…

"You should go see her, Zhongli." Ping states, a rare serious expression on her usual gentle factions. “Baizhu says she’s going through the worst case of separation sickness he’s ever seen. Is that really what you want your poor Yin to go through?”

He lets out a frustrated rumble.

“Of course not. But it’s for the best, I don’t want to… take advantage of her, or force her to anything.” Zhongli frowns, trying to focus on the papers in front of him again, in an attempt to ignore her piercing gaze.

“Is it really any of that if she wants her mate?” Ping retorts. “She was begging you.”

I know.

He growls this time, and shakes his head at his memory of you. It haunts him.

“She doesn’t know what she wants.”

“So, you’re deciding for her then? Is that it? Honestly, are you listening to yourse-”

“She’s been conditioned to serve.” He cuts her off, voice grave and somber. “Trained to be submissive and please. She likes me simply because I’m kind to her, she wants me because she thinks it’s her obligation as my mate. I feel the pull of the bond too, the need, the yearning. But I also know she is afraid of Alphas and she thinks… she thinks she has to obey me. That she owes me something or that own her.” His eyes narrow. “I didn’t need to bond her. I shouldn’t have bonded her. I just… wanted her to be free and instead I chained her to me. And now she’s in heat…”

And it drives him insane.

“Listen to me, we’ve both spent time with her, enough to know she’s opening up and learning to voice her feelings…” Ping reasons gently. “It’s a slow process, don’t hurt her this way. At the very least… go see her.”

“I lost control once with just one kiss from her. I will not do it again. I will not harm her any further.”

The elderly woman keeps silent for a few moments. Zhongli sighs and rests his forehead in his palm in defeat.

And then Ganyu approaches, a little tense, a stack of papers in her hands.

“Your majesty, the Qixing are starting to arrive, council meeting will begin soon.”

“Very well. Thank you Ganyu.” He stands up and nods at her, then turns to Ping and his demeanor softens a little. “You know I just want to correct my mistakes, and give her the life she deserves. At least a fraction of it, of happiness.”

It wasn’t supposed to go this way… Zhongli sighed as he walked up to the room where the “reunion” with the sumerian would take place. It was long overdue seeing as he had spent the night by your side, refusing to leave after you had cried and begged so desperately…

After he had bonded you.

He had initially taken the eremite’s claims with a grain of salt, but naturally he had to make sure. The last dragonblood had supposedly died decades ago, so how…?

And yet when he saw you for the first time in that room, he knew.

You were real, you were beautiful. Suddenly he felt a million things at once: He wanted to get to know you, stay close to you, protect you. Old draconic instinct vibrating excitedly on his soul. You smelled vaguely familiar, your tail was gorgeous, your ears adorable. What if you didn’t like him though? What if he harmed you? Scared you? Suddenly he was nervous, nervous of ruining this, nervous in a way he hadn’t been in so long, like when he’d been young and Liyue had been at war and he had lost everything to fire and smoke and dust and he had to make difficult decisions and-

He had always calculated his moves. No room for risks. Too much at stake.

But you, you disarmed him. Completely.

You, with your polite gentleness despite the obvious cracks beneath the surface.

You, with your beautiful looks and enormous potential, even if you didn’t see it yourself.

You, with that look of yearning and hope, with your soft lips and sweet moans, with your warm body fitting perfectly against his.

For once, he allowed himself to make a decision with his heart, not logic, not politics. Just instincts.

And he claimed you…

…

He enters the room. A couple Millelith soldiers stationed by the door, Xiao standing by his side loyally as he sits at his place of honor as the emperor. Your ‘master’, an Alpha eremite named Zaheer, kneels respectfully a little below.

“I see you liked her, your majesty” He offers a sly smirk. “Did she satisfy you properly? She’s been trained on her gag reflexes to-”

Zhongli -Morax- resists the urge to growl. “We are not here to discuss that.”

“Ah, of course, business!”

Business.

“Since she’s such an exotic and well-trained slave I suppose we could agree on…”

“Do you think of me an idiot, Zaheer?” Morax’s eyes narrow.

“P-Pardon me?”

“She is a pureblood xiānshòu. I want to know exactly how she ended up being enslaved by you and your people.”

Cold and calculating golden eyes stare down at the eremite.

“W-What… she’s desert-born!” Zaheer retorts back angrily “She was born at a heat house. Maybe she has traits from your people because one of them decided to get a cheap fuck while traveling.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Morax asks unfazed “Liyue has records of the last of her kind disappearing and presumably being murdered when a village near Sumeru borders was razed to the ground. Do you have a disclosure?”

Zaheer stands up and growls, clearly an Alpha not used to having to bow his head and accept things not going his way.

Clearly an Alpha used to intimidating and attacking others.

Xiao wields his spear and changes his stance to an offensive one. The Millelith guards also tense.

Zaheer gets even more irritated, feeling like a caged animal. Backed into a corner. “Emperor or not” He starts through gritted teeth. “If you’re not going to pay me then I’ll take my merchandise back and do business elsewhere where I’m not being accused of ridiculous claims.”

“You’re right that I won’t be doing any business with you, but we’ll see how ridiculous those claims truly are. Zaheer, by my word as the emperor you will now remain detained in Liyue.” Morax sentences.

The eremite’s red eyes widen in shock and rage and the desert-dweller shoots up to attack Morax, getting easily overpowered and neutralized by Xiao’s quick moves. In seconds his weapon drops to the floor as the Yaksha general points his spear at the unconscious man. The Millelith quickly retrieve him and the blade before Morax simply nods at them.

Months. It had been months since then and he had to begrudgingly release the man as no accusation connected him to anything. They were essentially out of leads. There did appear to be documentation of your birth at a desert village but Zhongli would be hard pressed to believe the half-assed story you’ve been told…

And since you are pureblood, then both of your parents, and most importantly your dam, was also a dragonblood. That’s at the very least one Liyue citizen enslaved in a foreign nation.

He would get to the bottom of this.

For now, however, he had to cast those worries aside.

The Seven members of the council sit around the large table, the Liyue Qixing, leaders of all the commerce and trade sectors of the nation.

Zhongli takes his place at the head of the table. Ganyu does so as well by the sideline.

“Very well, what’s our first topic today?”

“Did Master just… leave?”

There was silence at the table, Zhongli and Ping sit frozen and you get just a bit nervous.

It’d been a few days since you started your new life, and though Zhongli was sure you were warming up to it he knew you still had a long way to go. It was probably still a little surreal for you… such a big change from everything you knew.

The tension on his shoulders quickly drops again. He continues eating. “Yes.” He says simply. Ping follows his lead, saying nothing.

The faster you forget about that eremite, the better.

“Hm…” You continue eating as well. Your expression is a little conflicted…

You inhale.

“Was he… happy… that I finally found a mate?”

Zhongli turns to you sharply and tenses again like a cat bristling. He holds back his tongue so as to not say something he’d regret. Why do you still care about that despicable man’s opinion? Why do you still seek his approval? Did you really think he cared about you? Zhongli desperately wants to make you understand how that slave-owner only saw you as an object, how he fed you lies, how his mistreatment is inexcusable…

But he can only imagine how deep your scars run, and how that toxic mindset has settled and accompanied you for years. He cannot judge you for caring about someone who doesn’t deserve it.

“Why do you ask, dear?” Ping asks instead.

“I don’t know…” You mumble, poking at the congee with your spoon. “I always wanted to make him proud.”

Proud.

Him?

“I think what matters most is how you feel.” Zhongli says, his hand reaching out for yours invitingly and you place your fingers on his palm, getting a soft reassuring squeeze. “You don’t need to rely on how others view you or think about you.”

You seem thoughtful for a second, your ears flickering back insecure but then standing up alert again. “I am happy” You admit. “Very happy. I have the best mate in the world.” You smile brightly.

Zhongli’s heart does a flip.

“With the excessive rains in the northern villages, there have been many floods and a lot of crops have been severely damaged or lost. Our previous contingency plan is in action already and donations are being sent to help the affected families. However, we must prepare for a decline in the harvest of certain grains and vegetables this season, as well as an increase in prices for a few months due to the shift in demand and supply.” Keqing explains expertly, the young alpha’s expression is serious and solemn.

“It’s an opportunity to strengthen commerce with Mondstadt and Sumeru.” Ningguang chimes in, leaning back on her chair, arms crossed. “The value of jade and other crystals is on the rise as well.”

“Not to mention, we’ll be employing several architects from the Akademiya to help with the rebuilding.” Keqing adds, turning to Ganyu, who nods.

“Greater lord Rukkhadevata and lesser Lord Kusanali have agreed on a certain exchange program with Liyue. I started drafting up some proposals already if you’d like to see.” The blue-haired secretary passes along some documents.

Ningguang’s eyes skim along the page. “It’s almost like our new Sumeru-born empress was a sign.” She smirks. “By the way, where is she?” She turns to Zhongli, curious about her fellow Omega.

“She’s rather indisposed at the moment.” The emperor replies dryly, not wanting to delve much onto the touchy subject. “Ganyu this looks good, however we need to think about-”

There is a knock that quickly surprises everyone. Who could interrupt a council meeting and why?

Baizhu peeks in with Changsheng curled around his neck, a frown on his usually gentle features. “Your majesty, a word. It’s an emergency.”

All the members at the table stare silently as Zhongli stands and follows the doctor.

Ganyu has a bad feeling…

“We have no time, follow me.” The green-haired doctor walks briskly along the wooden corridors, he looks… frustrated, dejected.

“What’s wrong?”

He doesn’t want to panic. He never panics. But something inside him does. It’s obvious that this has to do with you. 

“I apologize, your majesty. I thought it was just a case of separation sickness but… the empress is showing signs of widow’s wasting.”

Zhongli stops.

His heart skips a beat. His skin prickles with dread.

“She’s… dying?”

Baizhu shakes his head. “It hasn’t reached that point yet, but… she’s deteriorating.”

The guilt is back. The fear.

“Given what happened, I’m pretty certain the shock of your rejection was the trigger. Still, it is highly unusual for a Yin to suffer from widow’s wasting without their partner actually dying, even more so for it to settle so quickly. Her reaction is akin to someone who had never left their mate’s side for years.” Baizhu explains.

You trusted him.

And he turned his back on you.

What have I done?

“In any casssse, it’ssss not too late.” Changsheng’s little voice pipes in. Baizhu keeps leading the way and Zhongli follows, though he obviously knows the entire palace like the palm of his hand, at the moment his thoughts are scattered and far far away.

“She needs her mate’s reassurance. I have done what I can with medicine but this is a bonded pair matter.” Finally, he stops at a juncture and turns to Zhongli. “Please, your majesty, only you can save her. I will tell Ganyu, Xiao and Ping of the situation, and if you need anything, just ask.”

Zhongli nods, mute.

The snake narrows her eyes. “Don’t leave her sssside.”

“Changsheng.” Baizhu shushes.

She is right to chastise him. He deserves that and more.

“I won’t.” Zhongli nods and heads down the hall.

Widow’s wasting.

The words echo in his head. He’s seen the damage it can do. How a broken bond, the loss of the most important person, can destroy someone inside. Did you really care that much about him? Did he really hurt you that badly?

“Please…”

He didn’t mean to.

“I have the best mate in the world.”

He feels like a monster.

“I want to stay with you. Sleep together. Like mates.”

He needs to see you. He needs to make sure you’re ok…

He stands in front of the nest room. The same one where he first met you.

Opening the doors only slightly to slip inside, Zhongli's eyes widen and a hand flies to cover his nose and mouth when a strong smell shakes him to his very core.

The room he expected to be completely saturated with intense heat pheromones… instead bears the acrid scent of despair.

This isn’t the lustful call to breed and have children that made an omega vulnerable and pliant. No. It is a desperate cry from a heartbroken omega for their mate to come back, to stay with them, to love and protect them. It is grief.

You are suffering because of him.

To think all this time… he was afraid he'd make you uncomfortable. That he’d scare you, hurt you, ruin the bond you’ve carefully built. Instead, he is overcome by an all-consuming terror. Every part of him screaming at his mate's weak essence.

And there you are, his precious treasure, his sweet dragoness.

You lay curling in on yourself letting out small muffled sobs.

“Y/n…” 

No reaction.

“Darling, my dear dragoness…” He rushes up to you immediately, grabs your hand and pets your hair. You look so weak, your skin is feverish, how has it only been three days? It feels like a lifetime…

You shift a little and your eyes blink open, staring at him dazed, red and puffy and your expression defeated. You let out a pitiful whine and more of that bitter sad scent is released. 

“No my dear, don’t cry, I’m here. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Zhongli coos as he curls up to you, frantically starting to scent and nip at your neck and shoulders affectionately. His horns manifest and his tail follows through, lashing about a little restless. The bond… feels wrong, broken. He should be able to intimately feel you this close and yet…

He tries to reposition you a little so you can lie on top of him, rest on his chest. It’s concerning how easily he can do so, you’re like a ragdoll in his arms, unresponsive and unmoving. His hands cup your face, thumbs rubbing at the traces of tears in your cheeks. You let out a frustrated whimper. “Shhhh shh it’s okay. I’m so sorry.”

Even if he says it a million times, it won’t feel enough.

Zhongli nuzzles at your neck and proceeds to do something he hasn’t done since he was practically a teen. He purrs. It’s a little rusty, comes off more as a grumbling but it seems to work as he feels you relax just slightly in his arms.

“I’m right here” Zhongli’s deep voice assures you, tugging you closer, mouthing at the soft skin along your collarbone. “I’m not going anywhere and I’m all yours, I promise, I promise. I won’t leave you alone, not ever.” He soothes.

He lowers a bit of your clothes at the shoulder and grazes his fangs along your faded mark, you tense and let out a long shaky breath.

“Everything will be ok.” He kisses the spot. “I’m sorry.”

And then he sinks his fangs in to reestablish the claim.

You cry out in pain and squirm, clawing at his clothes, but he holds you, his hand rubbing circles at your back, his tail intertwining with yours.

...

.....

...

At first nothing changes, but after a few moments… a low strained purr bubbles up from within you again.