#also she's like a little younger than i am and from what i've gathered and what i know of recent fandom Behaviors.
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kalkydra · 18 days ago
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oh my god wait. i saw a reddit post about this. a guy got really upset because he found out that his girlfriend of two years lied when he asked her about the meaning of her butterflies tattoo being just because she liked them when actually it's a reference to a bl character she likes who's the BAD GUY and whenever he shows up there's butterflies and people get scared. and he was so mad at her about this 😭 like "it broke my trust and if she could lie about something so small how can i trust her not to cheat on me" and it's like. damn dude i think you're real close to figuring out why she lied about something so small. and equating "she said a tattoo meant something different than it does" (<- normal thing considering she apparently had friends stop being her friend over it) with "she's going to cheat on me" is insane.
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Arlecchino x Reader
Includes : Tartaglia, Wanderer, Charlotte, Lynette, Lyney, Freminete, Navia, Chiory and ofc Arlecchino
Note : This has been rotting in my Samsung Notes since months lol
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Tartaglia
- Have you heard about the Knaves poor spouse? Sneznayas Darling? No? Well, I have seen them only a few times since they decided to reside in Fontain. Or since she made them, it wouldn't suprise me, the woman is intimidating and knows her way with words, who knows what she did or does with them...
Wanderer
- Who? Hmmm, they usually are always by her side, she had never move them an inch from her, or atleast that was before she had them stay in Fontain. But the last time I saw them, I could swear that the ligth had dissapeared from their eyes. And who can blame them, with that wolf of a wife... hehe, she must have ripped them limp from limp by now.
Charlotte
- The Knaves spouse! Of course! They are a hard catch these days! Not that I could Photograph them though, they're the same as the Knave in that regard. If they are dead? I can assure you they are not! I always see them at the mornings when I run to work! Sometimes alone, sometimes with the Knave, but I only have ever gotten a wave out of them. Such a mysterious figure...I wish I could just get one interview, I even tried to write to them! But only the Knave responded, denying it...such a shame.
Lynette
- Huh, I will assume you got that information from Childe. 'Mother' is...different from 'Father' to say the least, they are gentler, have a softer voice. Though if you upset them, that soft voice will turn solid. I've seen it before when a few of my siblings tried to slack off to much. They are even more strict than 'Father' in some cases, but, none of us blame them and whoever talks bad about them...well...you don't wanna know.
Lyney
- So you have heard about them? Was it from the rumors that 'Father' has killed them? Or from Childe? Childe, really? Interesting. Well, when Lynette and I were younger, we have noticed that 'Father' would treat them differently. Just not in a positive ligth, while we liked them. They were... different from the other caretakers, and so we spun a little matchmaking with the help of Freminete. I remember it all quite fondly.
Freminete
- You've heard of 'Mother'? They are kind, I think. Sometimes...sometimes when I wanted to cry when I was younger, they would pull me aside and have me silently cry in their lap, even let me stain their clothes...they would never mention it to 'Father', and act as if it never happend.
Navia
- I thougth they were dead for the longest time! That was untill I overheard the Knave ask one of her soldiers to deliver the message that she'd need to stay a bit longer and for them to prepare the soldiers. I never meet them in person, but...I'd suggest you to be careful with them too. I don't think a Harbinger would choose their Partner ligthly.
Chiori
- I am not really one for rumors, let us just say that I thougth they were made up, but that was untill they came into my shop just five minutes after I opened it on a Monday. They were very adamant about the fabrics I should use and what they wanted, also having their measurements along with them already. I like customer's that know what they want. How I knew that they were the 'Mother'? The presence of the Knave in front of the shop was a big indicator for it, as for some other clues, like the ring, and the fact that they kissed, and maybe because they called her their Husband.
Arlecchino
- My spouse, of course, I've gathered that you have already heard about them.
What I can say about them? Well, as the 'Mother' it is their duty to stay by my side and support me in my work. They do so quite well. You say that, that sounds as if they function as the 'First Lady' or 'First spouse' in this case? Well, I suppose that's true.
- Oh? You wanna know even more about them? Maybe I should get you to meet them then, they have been asking me if they could meet that famous traveler everyone has been talking about, we could arrange something, just be careful, they have been quite timid lately. But I'm sure you'll get along well.
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the-badger-mole · 3 months ago
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Duty, Honor and Love
Zuko paced the room, stopping every so often to let out a string of swears and kick something. Iroh watched his nephew in equal parts concern and amusement. It was the amusement that bugged Zuko the most.
"Do you think this is funny?" he demanded, rounding on his uncle. "They are telling me I have to choose between my throne and...and...reaughhh!!!!" Zuko shouted in aggravation and kicked his desk. A long crack appeared in the side, which Iroh noted with some consternation.
"I promise, I am not laughing at your situation," Iroh said placidly. "I don't find that at all funny."
"Then why are you smirking at me?" Zuko glowered at the older man, feeling moments away from knocking the teacup out of his hand.
"After all these years, the lessons I've tried to teach you about diplomacy still haven't stuck." Iroh sighed and shook his head. "If I am amused, it's only because I'm reminded of you at a younger age, and I'm remembering those days fondly."
"Why do you always have to be so...so mellow?" Zuko threw his hands up and resumed his pacing. "Do you understand they're trying to force me to choose between my people and the one person I don't want to live without? I've had to fight for every inch of ground I've gained since I took the throne, and now the one choice that should be mine. Completely mine! They say that it's not possible? That I can't do what I want? It's my personal life. And it's not even like-"
"Not like what?" Iroh pressed. Zuko shot him a mutinous scowl, and Iroh was reminded of his nephew, ten years younger, and still not ready to hear the truth about his "honor restoring mission". It was a flicker, though, and gone almost as soon as it had come. Iroh was Zuko's best ally, and they both knew it. Zuko sighed and sank down into the chair across from his uncle.
"The role of the royal consort hasn't been more than symbolic in generations," Zuko said. "Not since well before grandfather Sozin's reign. I know I can't keep Katara from making her mark, but they don't know that. For all they know, she's planning on being like the consorts before her. Quiet, demure, unobtrusive-"
Iroh couldn't stop the peal of laughter that burst from him if he wanted to. And he most certainly did not want to. His stomach had begun to ache before he could gather himself and meet his nephew's petulant glare.
"Please forgive me, Fire Lord Zuko," he said, wiping his eyes. "It's just I think you give your council far too little credit. I doubt anyone who's spent more than half an hour with Master Katara would think that she would be a quiet and demure Fire Lady. She is not one to fade into her husband's shadow, no matter how powerful he is. And anyone who's spent more than half an hour with you would know better than to expect you would ever allow that."
Zuko groaned and let his head roll back against his chair. He knew Iroh was right. He knew his council saw how often he would defer to Katara, especially on matters she was passionate about, like education, health and foreign affairs. He loved her for himself, but he also loved her for his people. But the idiots who served on his council were too concerned with how the other nobles (who'd only just kept their titles by the skin of their teeth) would feel about her with a crown on her head than what the rest of the citizens would feel about Katara on the throne (and he knew for a fact that at least a handful of villages already considered her some sort of saint. One of them had built a statue of the Painted Lady with Katara's face). His citizens would grow to love her, he knew, regardless of what his councilors thought. And yet, they had given him this ultimatum.
"I can't abdicate," Zuko said, finally. "But I can't lose Katara, either." Iroh sat quietly for a long moment. He poured himself another cup of tea.
"Is this your way of asking for my help?" he asked. His face was serious, but mirth sparkled in his eyes. It pissed Zuko off endlessly, but he knew he had no other choice.
"Yes, Uncle," he sighed. "I'm asking you to help me find a way for me to be able to stay with Katara and not abdicate my throne. And do not even think the word concubine. Advisor Wong suggested it in front of Katara, and she nearly castrated him. And then I got an earful for not "shooting the idea down fast enough" even though I was just gathering my thoughts." Zuko shook his head at the memory with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Iroh chuckled. "I have managed to stay off of Katara's bad side, and I intend to continue that. Besides, i can't imagine a better co-ruler for you than her. No, I have something much less....complicated in mind."
-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Iroh had gone over his plan with Zuko several times. It had made sense in the comfort of his private office, without the weight of his council's eyes on him, but now, Zuko was less certain. Katara was not here today. She had no idea this meeting was even happening. This, Iroh had assured him, was for the best. Zuko wasn't sure that Katara would see it that way, but he figured his uncle could take the heat for it, should she be upset about it later on. Right now, Zuko was content to let Iroh take the lead here. Midway through the meeting, once the other business for the day had been discussed, Zuko gave General Iroh the floor.
"Gentlemen," Iroh said, gravely. "We have an issue to discuss." The council members, the majority of whom had a deeply rooted respect for Iroh, leaned forward anxiously. He took a heavy breath and clasped his hands together. It was all very dramatic, Zuko thought, but made no attempt to speed the proceeding along.
"A very serious issue, indeed," Iroh continued. "As you know, I have some ties with several leaders from around the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes." Acknowledgement rippled through the room. Iroh waited until everyone grew silent again to continue.
"Has something gone wrong?"
"No," Iroh said, slowly, with less finality than anyone found comforting. "Not as such. There is no immediate danger, except perhaps...financial." If Iroh had failed to get everyone's attention before, he certainly had it all now. Zuko watched his councilors closely, biting back a smirk. Iroh had said the magic word. The bait had been taken. Now he just had to reel them in.
"As you know," Iroh continued, "there are several trade agreements- things that the Fire Nation must rely on to be imported from the Earth Kingdom- like their metal goods, and building supplies. The Northern Water Tribe has been negotiating on sending us healers to help get our hospitals off the ground, and the Southern Tribe, as you know, has recently begun trading raw oil, something we need to help move our own industry along.
"And what is the issue?" a councilor demanded. "Are we not paying enough for these goods? Are we not treating the Northern healers like royalty?"
"We are," Iroh agreed. "But there have also been complaints about the exchange-" his gaze hardened and landed on a select few, "-and they have not been discreet enough for some very important people to ignore. There have been some concerns voiced that the Fire Nation is still too insular for comfort. There are those who fear that the Fire Lord is in danger of being cut off from the concerns of those who this country not only relies on, but owes a great deal to in terms of reparations."
"What would you have us do?" another councilor demanded. "Are our treaties and trade agreements not enough?" Iroh regarded the man with a placid smile.
"I begin to fear they are not," he said. "And can you blame them? After all, before Sozin began his war, the Fire Nation had had treaties and agreements with all the nations. Now, Fire Lord Zuko has proven his willingness to deal fairly with the other nations-" this set off a round of grumbling at Zuko's idea of fair, but Iroh ignored it "-but the they are still understandably skittish."
"What do you suggest then? Don't speak around the issue, tell us what your plan is!"
"I suggest," Iroh said slowly, "a closer tie than mere paper. A marriage contract with a proper match would put the rest of the world at ease about the Fire Nation's continued insularity."
"And let me guess," the room spun toward Advisor Wong, who sneered at Iroh from his seat at the opposite end of the table, "is Master Katara the right choice?" Zuko bristled at the man's mocking tone. He would've said something then- something hasty, and inflammatory that he probably would've regretted later- but Iroh stayed him with a hand on his forearm.
"I believe so, yes," Iroh said, meeting Wong with his same benign smile. "After all, she is not only Chief Hakoda's daughter, Master Pakku's granddaughter, and the Avatar's guardian, she also has the ear of King Bumi, King Kuei and is an honorary member of the Foggy Swamp Tribe's council. Not to mention how much support she's gained amongst the citizens of the Fire Nation. I'm sure you've heard about the statue in Jang Hui." The room fell silent. Iroh looked from one advisor to another. A few of them looked disgruntled, but many of them seemed to be taking their time considering Iroh's words.
"We have to think of the future," someone said. "Suppose she has no firebending heirs for our Fire Lord. What then?"
"We've had non-bending rulers," Iroh pointed out. "Some of our best, in fact, had no firebending. It's never been an official requirement for taking the throne, though it has been preferred, especially recently."
"What if all her children are waterbenders?" someone else asked boldly. "A non-bender on the throne is one thing, but a waterbender?"
Iroh had diplomacy down to an art. Zuko sat in awe of his uncle. Every argument that had come up Iroh had been prepared for. This particular concern was one that Zuko had himself brought up. After all, this hypothetical waterbending heir to the throne would be Zuko's child, too. He would die rather than see his son or daughter fight the way he'd had to for his birthright. Iroh's solution to that was... scary to say the least.
"Do you love Katara?" Iroh had asked Zuko.
"Of course, I do!" Zuko replied without hesitation. "And I already know I'll love our children whether they're firebenders or not."
"Then you'll have to accept the possibility of having all waterbenders," Iroh said. "It'll cause a stir to say the least. But you're both young. You'll have many years to figure out how to navigate that particular issue should it come up. And of course, I'll spend my remaining years helping you secure my grandchildren's futures."
"And if it comes up in this meeting?" Zuko pressed.
Iroh had a reputation for being a very wise man. And he was very wise. He was also very shrewd, and very skilled at the complicated dance steps that were required to make it in the Fire Nation's court. No one could fairly call him a liar, but he did on occasion take liberties with the truth.
"Fire is a very powerful element," Iroh said the the councilor who'd raised the question of Zuko's potential waterbending heirs. "As is water, to be sure, but the Fire Lord comes from a long line of powerful benders, and he himself is dragon-touched. The chances of none of Zuko's children being a fire bender is small."
This was a stretch. Thanks to Druk, many in the Fire Nation saw Zuko as especially blessed by Agni and the dragons themselves. There was no real way of letting his subjects know that there was nothing special about his connection to the dragons without giving away the secret of the Sun Warriors, who preferred to remain undisturbed for as long as possible. Still, Iroh's words were enough to make the council think. Zuko watched their faces carefully, and saw one by one as they considered what Iroh had said. In that moment, Zuko didn't care at all which part of Iroh's argument had made the biggest impact. All that mattered were the looks of resignation on his staunchest opponents faces. Even Wong seemed to acknowledge his defeat. After a few moments, one of the councilors asked Zuko and Iroh for some time to discuss the matter.
"Of course you will need the time," Iroh agreed. "I believe that would be wise, don't you, Fire Lord?"
"You can have the rest of the day," Zuko said. His tone was severe, and his face impassive. He declared that day's session over. As he left, he heard Iroh asking a servant to bring up the popular Earth Kingdom drink that had been all the rage in the Fire Nation for the past five years. Coffee would serve as both a reminder of why trade with the Earth Kingdom was so important, and as a stimulant so the councilors would stay up as long as they needed to come to the right conclusion.
"We've done what we can," Iroh said when he caught up to Zuko. "The rest is up to them. I'm sure it will work."
"Just in case," Zuko muttered, "I should ask Katara how she feels about eloping."
-:-:-:-:-:-:-
It didn't take the council as long as Zuko feared to come to a conclusion. The request for an early meeting came to Zuko's suite as soon as he was awake, and he and Iroh reconvened with the council just after breakfast. Iroh's points had won out, and while Zuko's council didn't quite demand that he marry Katara, they had put up much less of a fight than Zuko had prepared for. They conceded to Zuko's greatest desire, and gave him their blessing to ask Katara's hand in marriage. He didn't have the heart to tell him they'd been engaged for nearly two months already.
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imthepunchlord · 4 months ago
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So, out of curiosity, what's Zoe's set up in the Zodiac Heroes story? Is she still Chloe's half-sister, or are they full siblings? Is she a stepkid, an affair baby, or maybe an orphan/adopted kid the Bourgeois family adopted for good PR and only really picked her specifically because she just happened to look like she could fit in with family (appearance wise)
So, this answer will also extend into the future Rewrite, as Zoe's whole thing is (from what I've heard and gathered) is really vague, confusing, and inconsistent.
But Zoe I'm ultimately going to go with being a stepsister, as, ultimately, it really feels like Audrey and Andre should just straight up be divorced. And Zoe just wants to keep and get along with her stepsister, which is why she joins her stepmom to Paris to connect with this extended family.
I think that's the best solution working off them being sisters, and the messy relationship that is Andre and Audrey, and working off Audrey being gone for so long. Especially as the wife of the mayor of Paris, I would expect the spouse of a big political figure to be more present. So them being divorced just makes sense, and it can work off Andre spoiling Chloe even more to make up for it, plus she's now the remaining precious family member in his life.
I will say, I did consider having Chloe and Zoe being cousins, having Audrey's last name be Lee and Mr Lee is her brother; but wasn't really sold on the idea. I think I'd rather do that for the Couffaines, especially as I did think Jagged was potentially Anarka's younger brother and he just felt younger than her (so canon's choice of making him the dad was so awkward, and from the little I've seen, I don't really like it so I'd rather skip out on that romantic history from Anarka and Jagged, just overhaul it).
And, yeah, recently, adoption came to mind, given what I learned recently on how s5 ends. Only thing, by set up, that can give Zoe a lot of attention and investment plot wise, and this is a character I just don't really have strong feelings for, and I'm not that interested in her at all. I also don't like the outcome of Andre adopting Zoe.
Like, wth ML crew.
I know Mr Lee isn't really brought up much, and we don't know anything about him as a person or parent, but he was established. But you can't just hand wave away his existence so Andre can adopt her. If this is keeping Zoe in Paris, just have her attend school abroad.
And I also call bs on Andre dropping the monster of his own creation for a "better" child. I know Audrey gets a lot of rightful blame for how Chloe turned out, but between the two, I blame Andre more as he's the active parent in her life, and we see he spoils and enables her. To me, he's more at fault for how Chloe came out as he actually raised her. He can't just wash his hands of her and have a different kid. That's not how it works.
Especially when this show confirms over and over again how terrible he is as a person. Honestly, this whole family sucks. Andre should've just ended up in jail for corruption. I don't like this route of him being a victim/the good Bourgeois cause no, he's terrible. He's freaking ending s5 kidnapping a kid. And given his history of parenting, I'm not sure I'm going to like where Zoe ends up.
Anyway, the adoption thing could've been better if Mr Lee didn't exist and Zoe was an orphan and picked for publicity and because she looked like she could fit in, but they didn't plan far enough ahead for that. And I guess decided they liked Andre enough to be officially adopt Zoe?
But that set up does mean she should get a lot of attention for her situation and I am just not invested in her that much.
So, stepsisters it is!
Attending school in Paris for at least a year (for ZH anyway, not for Rewrite as Zoe is not going to stay) and to get a chance to bond with her sister. It just makes the most sense to me given her initial intro, Audrey and Andre's relationship and them being divorced just makes more sense, and you can still get that same sort of drama you expect between the two very suddenly now sisters.
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nonuggetshere · 10 months ago
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I shared my (and my friend's ocs) that are related to PK SO-
This is A LOT and I'm kinda embarrassed but I'll fucking "cringe culture is dead" through life or so help me GOD
I like imagining backstories for characters and making cool little nonsensical and completely self-indulgent AUs
(Also for the few people subscribed to my patreon there's more stuff after what I've posted there, just scroll a bit down 👍)
F9r the record I also mangled mine and @demonicintegrity 's thoughts and ideas into one post so it's somewhat comprehensible but jsyk they contributed a lot
An AU where Adamas has her last clutch in her small form
As a refresher Amanita is White Lady's name and Ebur is Pale King's name. Adamas is Pale King's mother, though wyrms use dame and sire for their parents so that's what he calls her. I am yet to properly share Quercus but he's WL's father. Flower is my name for the Pure Vessel in this AU, Hallow is their birth name. Amaryllis is an oc, they're Flower's twin. Any other names that appear here are PK's siblings.
Also using they/it for Ebur and the rest of the family bc as wyrms they don't really have genders
Ebur and Amanita meeting while Ebur's family is travelling and Amanita still lives at the edge of her father's territory and her root system is connected with his but she's getting ready to leave hopefully in just one or two years when she's gathered enough strength and the spring's kind and abundant
Adamas' little group settles near her groove since it's brimming with life and there's not many people to get in the way or compete over resources with aside from the occasional traveller or two, and Amanita tolerates their presence for now, they give her something to do since her father is quite busy with his new seedlings now that she's grown and she doesn't have much company or things to do other than to listen to the occasional mortal passing by and watch the nature, so this small group of wyrms that's mostly composed of ones not much younger than her with all the hubris and boldness of young wyrms is the most interesting thing that's happened to her in a while
Some of them would probably push too far before Adamas had to smack them upside the head and reprimand them for ever thinking about taking over this territory, after all they're really on the larger territory of an ancient God, and even though Roots aren't known to be the most attentive of parents she still doesn't want to tempt fate and check if this one is the same by attacking his daughter
Either way, Amanita notices the younger wyrm isn't quite like the others and seems very intrigued by him
Although their first in face meeting wasn't the best, with her attacking him and managing to stab him in the ribs (you bet your ass Adamas chewed out his ass when he returned to their densite all bloody and holding his side), he kept returning to study her
Seems they both found each other intriguing
And eventually they get to talking, Ebur seemed excited to meet the first rootfolk in his life and actually to get to talk to her, he asks so many questions and she's amused with his curiosity, and eventually actually grows curious about the wyrms (and especially him) herself and asks him things in turn
They grow into unlikely friends though there's definitely more to it but neither is willing to acknowledge it yet
He often sneaks away from his family just to talk to her, and eventually they start sneaking into the more private parts of her groove with the excuse that they wouldn't want Ebur's family finding out they're friends, both of them just ignoring their glaringly obvious attraction to each other
One time Ebur brought her a kill he made and she hoped to GOD her blush wasn't noticeable (it was, not that he'd know because he was also avoiding eye contact to try and hide his own)
Ebur and the bad bitch he pulled by being autistic 💜
The group spends enough time around there for the two idiots to stop dancing around the subject and not only admit to their mutual attraction but to start to fall in love
Enough so that Ebur decides to stay when Adamas decides it's time to move on
At first she was about to talk sense into him about staying permanently in this place but he quickly corrected her
"No, no, it's not like that! I don't want to stay here permanently! I just..." He quieted down and looked away
"...You want to leave?"
"...mh..."
"Are you sure about this? Life as a lone wyrm isn't easy out there in the Wastelands, perhaps it'd be better if you stuck around until we find a suitable territory for you to stay at-"
"No, dame, I- I want to leave now. I think it's time. I love you all and I'll miss you, but...I just...I want to see what's out there for myself. Every year, every day, feels the same now; find some place, stay for a bit and hunt, move on. I- I can't live like this, it feels...suffocating."
"...You were always the curious kind, weren't you? I should have known this routine would bore you eventually," She sighed heavily and approached him, "I always knew this day would come, I just never expected it to be my youngest and smallest wyrmling that leaves the nest first..." She pulled him into a tight hug, "...Stay one last night with us, and if you're still sure about this after tomorrow's hunt I'll leave some supplies for you when we move on."
He smiled and hugged her back, "...Thank you..."
"Just promise me you'll be safe, okay?"
"You taught me well. I'll be alright, I promise."
He spends lots of time with his siblings and mother the next day, maybe Melpomene proposed she could come with since they were always the closest but he reassured her he wanted to be alone
The goodbye is very tearful, even Adamas cries and she's not the type to do that often
Ebur feels a little broken seeing them go, it feels weird being completely alone, strangely quiet too - he usually likes the quiet, but not this time. He goes to hunt to keep his mind off it then that evening he gathers his things and moves them to a densite way closer to his root's (his root, saying that makes him so giddy) and goes to share his kill with her
And that night, for the first time in their lives, he goes to sleep curled up around her amongst her roots. It does help him feel much better about having to say goodbye to his family
He spends the rest of the year in her groove with her - from summer to winter - before she's finally ready to move on next spring and he happily follows her to look for a new home for the both of them
Despite the new normal being hard to get used to at first he was still so unbelievably happy with her
And Quercus was considerably easier to hide their relationship from than his own family, considering they're on the outskirts of his territory and Ebur never saw him in person. As far as Quercus is concerned, Amanita just has a mild wyrm problem that she's handling well on her own
A few different  things could happen from then on
Could either go canon compliant or pull out one of my fav moves, a cute domestic AU where they don't found Hallownest or do it later down the line after already having children and just live for a while as a happy family
And also the Drama Flavour where Ebur ends up pregnant despite them not trying to, they say fuck it and have them but he gets very sick and she brings him to her father for help, cue him being appalled that she's partners with a wyrm and her telling him to suck a dick and she'll take care of him herself, then they have the worst luck ever after finding a brand new territory and stumble onto Ebur's family, and Adamas has some very strong opinions about him being mates with a root (she doesn't even realise he's expecting otherwise it would have been. Worse). Fucking Romeo and Juliet up in here
For the last idea, I like the idea of Adamas questioning if that root can even provide for him or any possible clutches he might have in the future and he gets so pissed off he bristles, tells her to drop it and he's done with her attitude and to get the fuck off his territory. She bristles and calls him out on being so cocky as to tell her to get out
"If you're so confident then come on, defend your territory! Kick me out yourself!"
"Stop it-"
"Come on, boy! Show me you can actually protect yourself and yours! If you want me out them force me out!"
"I'm not going to fight you, mother!"
"...Tsk, you even talk like her."
"...Just...Just leave...please."
She circles him, "You should know words won't be enough to protect your territory from intruders, and that young root definitely doesn't have it in her to do it. You promised me you'll stay safe, so show me you can actually take care of yourself!"
Instead she gets violently thrown back by a white root after Amanita returns to check up on her hubby <3
Puts herself between them, ready to snap their necks with her roots if she has to
"He told you to leave, so leave. Or should I make you, you old bag?"
"Amanita-"
Of course, it was 25% him not being willing to fight his own mother and 75% him being sick and not willing to risk the pregnancy, but he's not gonna tell her that when she reacted so negatively about him being mates with a root (and his siblings def teased him before the situation got serious)
He's gonna be SO fucking depressed about this later though
But I also just like the idea of them finding the place that would later become Hallownest and founding the kingdom together
Ebur: Babe do you want me to beat up this old slug for you?
Amanita: Oh how romantic~
Unn:(live slug reaction)
Unn: Just take the damn territory and leave me alone, you brats
I also made an entire AU with Integrity where PK moves on with his family with a promise that he'll be back next spring for her, only to realise he's expecting. And I am obsessed with this version, it's cute and domestic (in a wyrm kind of way) and I am sucker for these things.
Ebur leaves with his family, promising to return to her next spring so they can leave together, but what he DIDN'T account for was him getting pregnant
So now he has to think up an idea to sneak away and keep his pregnancy hidden until he's back with her. Very hard to do with his mother around, an old wyrm with decades worth of clutches she's reared into adulthood by herself, she sussed him out embarrassingly quickly
Ebur, trying to sneak out: 💦💦💦
Adamas, like she’s scolding a teen: where are you going at this hour?
Ebur: …. A walk to clear my head?
Adamas: do you think that excuse worked with your siblings back then?
Ebur: … no
Adamas: do you think it’s gonna work now?
Ebur: ……… no
Ebur, quickly thinking of something else: ......hunting...
Adamas: Hunting?
Ebur: Hunting.
Adamas: At midnight? With your white, glowing ass? After we just ate?
Ebur: .........I'm hungry.
Adamas: Uh-huh
Ebur, bristling: Well! I'm a grown wyrm, I can do what I want!
Adamas: Oh can you now?
Ebur: 💦💦💦
Adamas: You're an adult but I'm still this group's leader, including yours
Ebur: Yes, dame. I'm sorry, dame
He does his best to mask his scent and keep his hormones and instincts under control, tries to sleep a little further from the group, is very careful on hunts and starts eating away from them when food aggression starts kicking his ass
One time Adamas finally approached him at meal time, throwing him her portion
"Here, eat up."
He looks at her, confused, "...I...what?"
"Just eat, kid."
He hesitantly takes it and leaves it near as he continues with his portion, "Don't you need to eat also?"
"Eh, I've eaten enough. Besides, I'm not the one who's eating for more than one right now."
"HRK-"
He looks at her, horrified, and she can't help but laugh
"What? You think I haven't noticed? Come on, you could fool your siblings with your excuses but I've had plenty of clutches of my own," She pats him on the shoulder, "Come on, eat up, kid. You need to put some meat on these bones."
He sighs heavily and goes back to eating, red in the face and a little awkward, unable to look her in the eyes as she's just observing him
"...If you copulated around the time of your first heat last spring-"
"HRNK?!"
"Oh, don't be like that, you're not a child anymore. Anyway, your due date should be in winter...not the ideal time to have a clutch, but we could make this work. You'll need to eat a lot if this kid is to have any chance of survival, though," She looked back st him, "...If you want to keep it, that is."
He goes quiet, his tail curling in close, "...I...y-yeah, I do..."
"...Alright, if that's what you want."
"You seem nervous."
"...How- how could I not be? I mean, all of this, it's...it's my first brood, and if they're due in winter..."
She scoots closer to him and wraps her tail around him, "Hey...you're not alone in this, okay? You have your siblings and I, we'll take care of you and your young. It's going to be alright." And she nuzzles him gently
Obviously they figure out the children are part root, but only some time after they're born
At least now Ebur has an excuse to return to her, saying she'd have valuable input on caring for them
That doesn't stop his siblings from teasing him about possibly wanting to see her again and being in love (they're right, but he's not about to admit it)
Also the moment he accidentally let's her name slip he's not gonna hear the end of it
Adama: So you want to return to the groove?
Ebur: Yes. I mean, she taught me a lot about rootfolk, but-
Io: Uh-huh, I bet she did. Close and perso-
Ebur, slapping him with his tail: ...Anyway. She told me a lot, but still, Amanita would kno-
Adustus: YOU KNOW HER NAME?!
Ossum: OHHH, LITTLE LOVERBOY IS ON FIRST NAME BASIS WITH THE ROOT~?
Ebur: You're killing me
God can you imagine what kind of pains in the ass these cunts were when Adamas and Ebur broke the news to them
Constant teasing and asking who it was
Ebur gets no rest
Adamas takes her little shits on a training hunt again
"Why do we need to train anyway? You've taught us how to hunt seasons ago."
"I did, but not with two members down. You need to practice now before your sibling stops being able to join us on hunts."
"...two...?"
"Yes, two. It'll be safer if somebody stays behind with Ebur when he's further along and carrying for his young, so I need to know we'll be able to provide for this family with two hunters down and more mouths to feed."
"...Can't I join your hunts anyway? You hunted by yourself while pregnant, didn't you?"
"I did, but I was also alone, I had no choice. You shouldn't have to choose between your children's safety and finding food. We live as a family for a reason, what would we be but animals if we don't take care of each other? I'm not letting you or your young live like lone nomads when you have us."
They also hunt more since Ebur needs more food, especially later down the line, and if anybody complains she's gonna cut that shit down SO fast
"I don't want to hear it! Ebur and the brood they're carrying are your kin, so start acting like it and have some damn respect. Do you think Ebur would be here complaining if the roles were reversed? Do you think they wouldn't care for you when you need it? We're a family, we take care of each other, in sickness and in health. Your sibling and his children need you. If that's a problem for you, you're free to leave and live as a nomad, but as long as you follow me and are a part of this family I don't want to hear any complaining, got it?"
"...yes, dame. I'm sorry."
"Instead of apologising to me make yourself useful. And treat your siblings kinder, one day you might be the one who needs their help so you better hope your words don't come back to bite you then."
Adamas is a strict parent but very much loves her family and it's so important to her that they take care of each other <3
She's a good mum, if a little bit hard on them at times
Melponeme, loafing in front of Ebur: ….
Ebur: …. What. Go away
Melp: im not touching you
Ebur: what do you want
Melp, loafing, staring: ……….
Ebur: ………………
Melp: you’re gettin fat
Ebur: no shit it’s almost like a have a litter growing inside me
Melp, reaching over to poke his stomach:
Ebur, batting: stop that!!!
Melp: how many do you think they’re gonna be?
Ebur: I dunno
Melp: probably like. A lot of you keep growing at this rate
(And then it's just two. Absolute menace <3 won't give him a break)
Ebur, growling:
Adamas: Dear, if you keep poking at a predator like that it's gonna strike
Melp: Nahhh, they're harmle-
Ebur, pouncing on her:
Melp: !!!
"Don't be too rough with your sibling, they're expecting."
"Oh come on! They started it! They can't keep holding the pregnancy thing over our head constantly!"
Ebur sitting there like >:3
“Well they’ve got a few more months and then it’s fair game”
"Oh, so you'd beat up a new parent and leave my children orphaned? How cruel"
"I'm not gonna kill you, you maniac?!"
Also once he's much further along he digs himself a separate den and slowly moves in there, it worries his siblings but Adamas assures them it's normal, wyrms prefer to be alone in the first few days before and after giving birth
"Are you sure they're okay? Can't they stay with us?"
"Pff, would you prefer to get growled at and possibly mauled every time you come into your den? They'll be fine, don't worry."
His siblings go out hunting and gathering more often after that and finally give him lots and lots of warm and soft bedding for his new den
"Since you'll sleep alone we thought you and the baby could use some warmer bedding."
And he can't help but smile and wag his tail
Wondering if wyrms would have a word for aunt/uncle and what would it be?? Obviously not auncle, since aunt and uncle aren't wyrm temrs
Currently they don't have any, anybody beyond your parents, siblings and young are just "kin"
Maybe they'd use cousin? (As in. Also use cousin, not a replacement for aunt/uncle. I realised I worded this weird)
Half of this is Ebur's siblings fretting over him and Adamas having to keep them straight and from freaking out KDBDJRB
“GET OUT OF MY DEEENNNN”
“Oh but we worry about our poor lil sibling!!”
“FUCK OOOFFF”
Gonna get hissy and pissy and Adamas will just shake her head and say she warned them
“Can we see the babies now— UAGH”
“-HISSSSS-“
Glaring at them from the entrance of his den before the babies even arrive
"You're so lucky I'm round and slow right now"
“Hehe spherical”
“Shut the fuck up”
Also been thinking about the delivery. This sounds weird,,
TW for childbirth, pregnancy, etc, and mention of near infant death
Anyway, his siblings would notice he stopped eating, only stays in his den, and would bring it up to Adamas
Her ear just twitches and she looks over at his den, "...Seems the little one will arrive any moment, then."
"Huh?"
"How can you tell?"
"I also stopped eating like two to three days before I had you or any of my previous litters. It's normal. Just give them some space, they're going to be especially irritable now."
Then one night one of them wakes up and immediately wakes the others, as Adamas isn't in the den. They peek out to look for her and find her just sitting nearby and staring at Ebur's den
"...Dame? Why aren't you in the nest?"
"Quiet down. Do you smell that?"
They pause to scent the air
"...blood?"
"...It's been a while," She gets up and dusts herself off, "I'll go check up on your sibling, you keep watch for me. Don't come too near, he's probably stressed as is."
She approaches his den and they see her quietly talking before she disappears inside. They keep watch as promised, though all of them are fidgety and uneasy, pacing and shifting around, trying to chat to pass the timd
After what feels like forever though one of them tells them to shut up for a moment and when they do they can hear very faint cries coming from the den
They wait with held breaths and eventually Adamas stalks out of the den holding bloodied bedding (to a group of nervous wyrms looking at her like 👁👁 👁👁 👁👁 👁👁 👁👁, almost makes her laugh)
"...so?"
"So what?"
"Dame, please-"
She snickers, "There's two."
They all seem excited, which makes her smile
"How are they?"
"Ebur is fine. One of the wyrmlings is strong, and the furstborn..." She trails off, swishing her tail, "They'll make it, if they survive this night."
The five visibly deflate at the news
"...Are they gonna...?"
"Only time will tell. Like I said, if they survive this night they should be okay. Don't repeat this to Ebur, though, they've had enough of hardships for one night," She turned to leave, "I'll go burry these sheets. You five, go hunt for your sibling and their young, they're going to need the strength. I'll look after them."
They hurry off, a hunt seems like a good opportunity to blow off some steam
When they return, Adamas shows them how to thinly mince the meat for the the newborns before she delivers the food to Ebur and his kids
That's pretty much the norm for the next few days, Adamas is the only one who he allows into the den so she updates the siblings on the situation and stays with him while they go hunting
The day after, after they made their hunt for the day and Adamas once again disappears into their sibling's den with the food, was probably the most stressful. The five waited for her for what seemed like eternity and immediately pounce on her for info like young wyrmlings the second she's out
"Won't you five calm your tails?! Your sibling and their young are fine."
"And the firstborn?"
"They're doing much better and seem strong. You can stop panicking."
Though they're less intense about this afterwards, everytime Adamas leaves the den she's met with five wyrms staring at her and eagerly awaiting any updates
"Do they have names yet?"
"Ebur said they did pick already, you'll learn them once you meet the younglings"
"UUUUGHHH"
"MAAAAN"
"Stop being dramatic, it's only a few more days"
The five also get an idea to make the twins little clothes so they can stay warm and cosy
They get to gift them to Ebur once they finally meet the little ones
One day, after nearly a week, Adamas leaves the den to see the five wyrms once again waiting on her and she sighs heavily before smiling
"Alright, who wants to meet the babies?"
And they all get SO excited, before she has to remind them to keep calm to not spook their sibling or his kids
They go into the den one by one, which is thankfully big enough for all of them, where Ebur is laying in the corner, curled up around two little sleepy boundless and purring to them
His siblings are just awe struck at the babies and coo to them, showering them and Ebur with so many compliments
"They look a little odd for wyrmlings though, don't they?"
Io proceeds to get very roughly jabbed in the side by Fossor
"Ow, what the hell?!"
"Don't be an ass. Obviously they're not full wyrms, idiot, they're going to look different."
Though none of them is yet to clock that they're half-root
They get the babies thick clothes so they can crawl outside the den (under incredibly strick supervision by all 7 of their family members) once they're big enough
"Ebur, quit grooming them! They won't combust into flames if they have a speck of dirt or snow on them!"
"Mrrrr"
Melpomene: So, how did you name them?
Ebur: The firstborn is Hallow and the second born is Amaryllis
Io: Hm, weird names for wyrms
Ebur: 💦💦💦
Fossor, readying to hit him again:
Hallow, crawling towards Io with intent to Bite:
Io: Ohhhh little lad on a mission, what will they do? Beware the big bad wyrm
Hallow: Grrrr
Io:*casually just rolls away*
Hallow, flopping down and looking at him offended before SCREAMING angrily to voice their displeasure at inability to bite and maim uncle: EEEAAAAAAAAA
Gonna crawl towards him with even more determination
Adustus: Snrk- Stop giving the poor kid a workout and let them bite you
Io: If they wanna bite me they should prove it by getting me the legitimate way
Adamas: that one has a strong set of lungs
Ebur: mhm
Ebur: ...Was I this loud at their age?
Adamas: Absolutely. The loudest
Ebur: .......oh
Adamas: yeah. oh. Little snot
Ebur: hey!
(Mean to him <3)
Just wait till they figure out the connection between Amaryllis and Amanita
Of course loverboy would name the baby after a flower LMAO
".....snrk"
"shut up. shut up. shut the fuck up. I dont wanna hear it. Shut your bitchass up."
Start teasing him that he is SO smitten and in love
None know just how right they are
He's gonna die or commit murder at this rate
Ebur being all "it's not like that, it's not like that" and then when he sees Amanita again they're all lovey dovey and cute
I think Adamas' group was in the groove for like 2 years so they did have time to develop a meaningful relationship, though it's still nothing compared to how they're gonna be in a few years KFBDJFH
Io: not like that my ass—
Ebur: Shut the fuck—
Amanita: :? Not like what my darling?
Adustus: he’s been swearing up and down it isn’t love and he hasn’t totally been courting you
Amanita, amused: aaaww my dear Ebur, so now you’re shy with your affections~?
Ebur, sputtering: Ami, please not in front of my family...
Ossum: AMI
Ebur: I BITE
Ossum: Yeah, I bet ~your Ami~ knows a thing or two about that, huh~?
Ebur: GRRRRR
Amanita, laughing a little: I haven’t heard you growl that loud since we first met my wyrm~!
Ossum: good gods y’all are nauseating
Adamas: Her wyrm, huh?
Ebur: NOT you too
Amanita, not helping as she nuzzles him: My wyrm~
She's having so much fun <3 He can't help but smile though
Ebur: You're...impossible, my darling
Amanita: 🥰
Adamas: So, how long have you been together?
Amanita: Officially? Only one year, but we've been courting for much longer than that~
Adamas: Oh, you're official hm? Ebur, you never told me you've found yourself a mate. Look at you growing up on me, my youngest wyrmling has a mate and children already
Ebur: My dame, please
Amanita: ....children?
Adamas: ... you didn't know?
Ebur: Hey i was suppose to surprise her with that dame!
Ebur: Plus, I only found out after I left, not like I could tell her I was-
Amanita, grabbing him: Darling, what's that about children?
Ebur: .... We have two my darling.
Amanita: We have children!?
Ebur: yes. Our...... time together has resulted in me becoming gravid. We have two healthy children
Amanita, shaking him: Show me!!
Ebur, laughing: Well, stop trying to give me whiplash and I will!
(They're so adorable it makes me sick <- Ebur's siblings probably)
Presents her with the two little guys with a big smile. Tells her their names and she kneels down to hold them both and nuzzle and give kisses and be so so emotionally happy about it
The rest of the family give them some privacy so they can have a proper reunion and Amanita can meet her children
She's so SO happy
Scoops all three of them up and nuzzles him, looks at them as if they're her whole world
"Oh, my darling, they're so beautiful, so perfect...I love them..." She whispers, her breath caught in her throat for a moment, "...I love you."
His heart skips a beat and he nuzzles in close and kisses her cheek, "I love you too..."
And the babies are gonna ruin the moment and squeaking in protest about being held <3
"ooohhh my little sprouts, I need to plant you in my den and watch you grow big and strong youre so precious~"
"wait like. Actually bury them??"
"A little yeah. They should be able to root I think"
"...hm!"
"...Unless they're more wyrm in that regard?"
"Well, they seemed to do just fine on meat, but there's no harm in trying other things. Maybe a combination will be best for them?"
"Oh dear..."
"Don't worry, my love, we'll figure it out together"
Theyre rowdy and like to run around and play
but for sleepy time they get to be buried in the dirt. Makes em giggle and keeps them warm
OH the convo between Adamas and his siblings in the meanwhile
Adustus: ...He's gonna leave, isn't he?
Adamas: Hm?
Adustus: I mean, with our group we can't stay anywhere for too long, especially in a small groove like this, we'd run out of prey. And a root wouldn't be able to keep up for long, they're stationary. And...I doubt he'd leave her, just look at them.
Adamas: ...He seems happy. It'd be good for the little ones to have both parents too.
Amanita, planting the babies for the first time:
Quercus, waking her up at ass o'clock after he sensed two new seedlings near her: 👀 👀 👀
Amanita: huh wh
Quercus: KIDS?? KIDS?? DO I HAVE GRANDKIDS PRINCESS???
Amanita: pfft. yes.
Amanita:
Amanita, internally: wait shit fuck
Quercus: oh hey that wyrm problem came back. Lemme drop by and see how my daughter is doing since im not busy
What a fucking reunion that would be huh
Adamas: I've heard you want to leave? Maybe you should come with us, then, it'd be easier for you
Amanita: Ah, but would you like to leave now? Because it's already almost the end of spring, I don't think it'd be a good idea for me to leave now, I might not survive winter if I'm not rooted down somewhere by autumn. We were planning to leave early next spring, if you'd like to live in my groove until then you're fully welcome to
Adamas: But what of your parent? Wouldn't they notice?
Amanita: It's alright, he didn't came by last time you were here for over two years, I'm sure it's fine now, he won't even notice 😊 (narrator voice he did notice)
"Hey sweetheart how are you.... doing...."
Amanita, with the family of wyrms just hanging out in her den: .......... Daaaadddddddd what a suuurrrppprriiissseee💦
Her just trying to cover up this fairly large family of wyrms
Adamas getting defensive when Quercus is questioning Amanita
Starts growling and pushes to the front of them
Quercus: Stay out of this, wyrm
Adamas: Like hell I am! I'm not letting you step all over my family or my daughter
Amanita: It's really not nece- daughter??? 🥺
Quercus: Daughter?!
Adamas: Yes, daughter, she's my child's partner so as much of a family to me as my own children!
Amanita's just trying so fucking hard not to get emotional and cry over this now
too bad Quercus is bristling at that
Amanita and Quercus are emotional over this but in completely opposite directions
Amanita has to get herself together to step between them before it ends in a fight
GOD. I AM SO EMOTIONAL OVER THIS. AMANITA BEING ACCEPTED INTO HIS WYRM FANILY AFTER THEY SEE HOW MUCH SHE AND EBUR LOVE EACH OTHER 🥺 SO CUTE
She gets to root in and do some wyrm watching with her tubers
Amanita, to the kids: look how silly your father can be. Look, watch
Amanita, wiggling a root:
Ebur: 👁️👁️
His siblings watching him paw at the root
Adustus: ...Dude...
Fossor: Good fates he's domesticated
Adamas: …… oh how the mighty fall
She always knows how to embarrass him in front of his family 🥰
Zooming through her roots to play while Adamas wonders how he inherited such weird quirks
Adamas: I should have judged my mates better, what is this...
Ossum: hey they're the only one Like That
Melp: yeah we’re normal about things
Ebur: Snrk- Yeah, just wait till you find your own mates
Io: I think you're just weird, actually
Ebur: At least I have a mate and children, you lonely ass
Amanita delights in how silly the tubers are. Truly the most delightful thing
Ebur's family think it's funny how the twins have been dubbed the tubers since they came here
But hey, it fits
I bet Amanita sometimes just casually steals her wyrm away
Just picks him up with her roots like "I'll be taking that~"
They're so lovely dovey it's nauseating
Even Adamas teases him about her swooping him off his feet
And he can't keep the smile off his face when he talks about her or hide the blush when they tease him so he really can't hide it
Ebur and the tubers also sleep in her den, keep in her tangle of roots.
The others can set up a den as they please
He at first set up a den near her instead of with her but it was literally abandoned on night one
It's his den in spirit
The second his siblings realise its been abandoned and how fast he's getting teased AGAIN
“Shouldve just saved the time and effort and not done that altogether.”
“I didn’t ask you”
Adamas: No, I bet they tried really hard to use that den but really couldn't help themself be apart from her, didn't you?
Ebur: ...grrrr
Adamas: Snrk, seems I got it right
Amanita: you made a separate den from me???
Adamas: case n point
Ebur: Ooooh, God forbid I want to sleep with my partner! You insufferable twats
Adamas: You’re such a fucking sap
Amanita: Oh but they're my sap~ And I think it's so cute~
Gets a collective "Bleh" out of them
The two looking over their tubers playing with Ebur's siblings
Amanita: Oh, these kids are great, I love them so much
Ebur: Mhm
Amanita: We should have more~
Ebur, sputtering: Amanita!
Io: HEY WE HEARD THAT YOU FUCKING WEIRDOS
Amanita: what? You didn’t think I was going to want just one clutch did you love?
Ebur: w-what—
Amanita, curling around him: I have an urge for my seeds to spread my wyrm~
Io, gagging:
Fossor: What the hell, you two
Ebur: Not- not in front of my family, my love...
Io: literally traumatizing. What is wrong with them both
The rest is pretty much just VERY half assed future stuff and this is long enough as is 😐 So like. Yeah.
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oldxenomorph · 28 days ago
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nyx and the emperor things i often think about. and i am often thinking.
the emperor forming a seat/bench with her larger tentacles for nyx to sit on. especially when nyx levitates so she can be eye level with the emperor.
before nyx leaves for her shift in the house of hades, the emperor always gives her a kiss. and when nyx returns to the ziggurat, she is always greeted with a kiss from the emperor.
even though the emperor's robes are way too big for her, that doesn't stop nyx from wearing them, especially after they've had sex. her favorites are the ones from nyog'sothep, cthulhu, and hastur.
nyx has another form that matches the emperor's height and size. she sheds her pale skin and becomes an entity full of darkness and glittering stars, the true form of the night incarnate.
(but she doesn't use is that often, mostly for very special occasions.)
all of the nectar and ambrosia that zagreus and melinoë have given nyx and the emperor are kept in a safe cabinet within their imperial bedchambers within the ziggurat.
speaking of their bedchambers, it smells like shai-hulud's spice. the emperor will burn it as incense. and after long and intense sessions of sex and lovemaking, she and nyx will often relax by burning some, enjoying each other and falling asleep in the haze of blue.
(the xenomorphs associate the smell of spice with the emperor and lavender with nyx.)
sometimes when the shifts in the underworld are longer than usual, nyx lets her mind wander. when there's a lull in activity, she'll summon the emperor to their little dark sanctuary in persephone's garden.
nyx loves running her hands through the emperor's hair. she loves kissing her dark lips and red scars. she loves feeling both of her wife's bodies around her.
the emperor may not display a lot of emotion on her face very often, but nyx knows that where she really displays her emotions is in her tentacles and tail.
sometimes nyx will softly tease the emperor that she looks like a scorpion mother when she's asleep on her stomach and the younger xenomorphs all gather on her back amongst her tentacles.
nyx adores the emperor's true shape, as it is was what she first fell in love with. when she returns from a longer than usual shift or if she's especially tired, nyx will go straight to the black palace. the emperor's centipede body will encircle her and tightly wrap around her and nyx will fall asleep in the center, protected and safe.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ under the cut
nyx has commissioned several eldritch accessories and jewelry in the style of collars, restraints, dresses, and biomechanical neck corsets. the earrings weren't enough, she wants everyone who looks at the emperor to know who she belongs to.
(and the emperor greatly enjoys this. she loves it when nyx dresss her in dresses and jewelry that nyx wants to see her in, clothing that is purely for nyx's enjoyment. it's also a real testament to the mi-go craftsmanship whenever nyx fucks her and claims her while she is fully dressed.)
back when i used to lurk on twitter, i saw multiple fanarts of nyx with nipple piercings that's always lived in my head, so i've made it part of my canon. anyway, the emperor loves to gift her multiple pairs at a time, often gold with jewels of darkness, pulsing with stars.
even if the emperor's robes are too big for her, nyx loves wearing them while being completely naked underneath. as a treat for both of them. she often does this when she wants the emperor's true form in the black palace.
as happy as the emperor is when nyx rides her, she is perhaps the happiest when she receives nyx's material and produces more xenomorph daughters with both of their characteristics. she plans on giving nyx several queens and thousands more daughters. she loves feeling nyx melding with her black tar, loves feeling her wife deep in her veins, her core, her body. indescribable pleasure. anything for her wife. anything for nyx.
at the same time, there is nothing like being able to love nyx in ways that bring her unfathomable amounts of pleasure and joy. there really is nothing like hearing nyx's voice moan her name, her titles, commanding her not to stop and sink herself into her as deep as possible, feeling her unspeakably beautiful body reach her climax and then hear her, the night incarnate, come undone.
also, height different. with my own height for reference and scale.
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sonofbhaal · 3 months ago
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headcanon - gale: mystra the bwitch and the folly of men
Hello, I've arrived in the fandom and immediately choose violence. Just kidding, I choose research and talking too much, as does my muse. I'll start this off by saying I disagree with the fandom take of Mystra "gro/oming" Gale due to various reasons, and it's important for my portrayal of Gale so thank you for coming to my TED talk. There's plenty wrong with their relationship, but that's a story for another day.
Here's what I've gathered so far that makes people think in this direction: a) they had a love affair when Gale was younger; b) she is the reason he had his little netherese magic mishap & folklore has it that Mystra likes to snatch little wizard boys for ambiguous reasons.
Okay, let's get into it. (And yes, I am using wikipedia as a source among other things, sue me. This is not an academic paper. Even if it kinda looks like one.)
Here's the literally TLDR (I don't want to call it an abstract): wizards are arrogant and at high risk to overestimate their abilities and importance in a grander scheme of things, so Mystra, as falling into the kind of feminism-inspired archetype of a witch, lays out the possibilty of greatness as a trap to test them and they tend to fail. Gale brought about his own doom and though Mystra had a hand in it, he chose it of his own volition and was not coerced into it. He was also 23/30 years old when he started sleeping with Mystra so I don't understand the collective desire to infantilize him.
a) Gale and Mystra's carnal relationship
Let's start with Gale's age. Gale was born in 1457 DR.
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Now, there are two separate sources stating different years for Mystra's return but the core argument for Gale's age does not really change.
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This is taken from the Magical Histories: The Spellplague and it suggests that Mystra was restored in 1480 DR, which would put Gale at 23 years old.
Alternatively, the Forgotten Realms Wiki states that Mystra was not restored to power until 1487 DR. Which puts Gale at 30 years minimum when he and Mystra had their relationship.
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He wasn't a child, he wasn't a teenager, he was 30 years old. (Or 23. Either way, an adult by all laws and standards.) I suppose one could argue that Mystra (or rather Mystryl at that point) had reached out to him prior to her return, as she did with Elminster, but in my opinion that's not what Gale's story suggests. This also means that Gale's time with Mystra may have been pretty short, because in 1492 DR the events of BG3 start, which was only 5 years after Mystra's return/reincarnation (if we go by the wiki). This is the bit I am undecided about at present and I'm almost leaning toward making him 23 when she started mentoring him, simply because the nature of their relationship makes it sound like more than 5 years have passed. 12 years is not much for a goddess but it would leave a notable influence on Gale's life - and give him actual time to learn and grow enough to impress Mystra into paying attention to him in the first place. It also sounds like he's been without her but with the orb in his chest for a while, so maybe their affair lasted 5ish years and then he was alone for 2 prior to the game storyline.
With that said, a 5-12 year relationship with a grown and consenting adult is not behavior that I would describe as gro/oming. Even if there's a power imbalance (due to god - mortal) and even if there are elements of not-so-kosher intentions involved. Which leads me to..
b) Mystra the WITCH - a somewhat feminist reading
Here's what Minsc said about Mystra that has a lot of people's alarm bells going off:
Weave-touched boys were hidden away, trained to work their craft in silence and secrecy. It is an old custom, not well-observed. In truth I thought it born of caution after some catstrophe wrought by wizardly (?) menfolk of old. Now I wonder if it was not done to hide them from Mystra and the snares she sets for young and prideful boys, hm? Oh, this suggests that Mystra has never tempted a witch into foolishness. Not that I would blaspheme by suggesting otherwise.
Okay. I understand why this sounds wrong as hell when you're already thinking in that direction. But let me offer you a different interpretation for Mystra and what she symbolizes in this case specifically, and please note that I could write a whole paper about Mystra's symbolism but this will be a one-sided reading because I am focusing on her in constrast to Gale, not her as a character by herself.
[Preface: I am not claiming that Mystra represents female liberation, it's just an aspect necessarily tied to the point I'm about to make about her connection to male wizards.]
Mystra - or Mystryl - is an inherently female character, in my opinion, as understood in literary history (not in a modern philosophical way), and more specifically she is inspired by the archetype of the witch; however, trapped between the old archetype - the evil temptress witch who corrupts and attacks good pious men and the (good) "patriarchy" - and the modernized version - the untamed free woman who opposes and threatens the (bad) "patriarchy". This could be in part because DnD was created in the 70s and the sources speaking of Mystryl that I found are from the 90s as well, so her character is bound to have changed up to the creation of BG3 in 2023. And because our narrator in this specific story is a man.
Some quotes that I find useful for this discussion from a thesis:
"The figure of the witch mirrors—albeit sometimes in distorted form—the many images and selfimages of feminism itself." (Source, page 12)
and about the "witch" as a character type in literary history in general:
In other words, the feminists that participated in the creation and dissemination of the myth did so because of its significance as a story that offered an alternative to male-centred history. Purkiss (2003) sustains that the reason why it is significant is that it allows the readers to distinguish the roles of the characters very easily. The myth outlines a story with a clear opposition between men —the oppressors, the bad ones— and women —the victims, the good ones.
Make of that what you will. I am not here to make a point for or against feminism in literature - the idea of it as a basis for Mystra's archetype is simply necessary to get to my point of what she represents in Gale's story. Look at how Mystryl's character is described in the FR wiki:
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This is very reminiscent of how authors and philosophers have written about women in the past - fickle nature, capricious, irrational, but also innocent, dedicated and emotional. Going in to that would reach too far here, but historically women used to represent emotion and impulse whereas men represented logic and reason. This description of Mystryl sounds like it was written in the 18th century by a man who is confused by femininity.
Normally I would say Mystra is inspired by Hecate but this point is a little tricky to make considering DnD lore has its own version of Hecate. However I'll still dump it here, because DnD Hecate is a very negative reading of her myth, as she is a chaotic evil goddess not native to Faerûn. That said, a quote about a modern interpretation of Hecate:
In women's eyes, Hecate holds positive intent, though to men she can be destructive. Hecate is the Goddess invoked by women who desired freedom from male tyranny. The goddess Hecate is presented as a resistor of the male and patriarchal. [...] Within mythology, Hecate is deemed too fearful (to men) to be provided with a husband, and thus represents female sovereignty and freedom. Moreover, Hecate shares gifts of magic, inspiration and understanding and governs the creative, unconscious mind; she offered women the power of awakening or dampening male desire and can curse conquerors or unjust rulers. (Source)
Two things I find important here: 1) she is not evil but she can be destructive to men, which is my main point in this entire ramble and 2) she shares magic and understanding with both men and women, but does not tolerate when they overreach - which I'd argue targets male wizards, such as, in our case, Gale. I think she can be destructive because in addition to the witch, Mystryl/Mystra holds elements of the archetype of the temptress.
Here's one take on that archetype from an article on literary devices:
Although allurement is the key element of a temptress archetype, some of her character traits are unique for such a lady. She has her beauty to add to her allurement with seduction, intelligence, and wit to help her in her beauty. [...] However, it is interesting to note that the negativity with her title does not match her real character, as she could have positive character traits despite being a temptress. [...] It seems that she lures characters to her, causing them to be blind to the danger lurking in her. [...] This allurement lies in her femininity and sexuality.
Another inspiration for my take on this is a fun source for a change, one of my favorite songs from Karliene, titled "Witch". Aside from being a banger, this song has lyrics that describe a very specific aspect of men's relationship towards "witches" and how they're seen and treated as evil and deranged and yet desirable (implied) for reasons so extensive they'd blow up the scope of this already too long post.
You’re a foul heathen A demon of malevolence Venomous bitch, old witch You’re the reason for all our sins[...] Vile succubus How you beguiled And defiled my innocence You’re a bitch, you’re a witch You’re the reason for all my sins
The man accusing the witch in this story/song is not even hiding his own transgression: "succubus", "defiled my innocence" and "you're the reason for all our sins" implies that he sinned but instead of taking accountability for his actions, he blames it entirely on her as the archetypical temptress. This is the type of man that Mystra's temptation targets, the type of man her "snares" are created for. (Though not all of them are necessarily vile enough to want to execute her/the temptress for it. It's a concept of male self-importance, not a defined character trait.)
And this is what I think Mystra represents in the context of Gale's story. She showed him a path to greatness, great knowledge and power but she didn't force him to walk it. She even denied him when he asked to gain more access. Yet he chose to do it anyway and it led to his downfall and her punishment. So is Mystra entirely innocent in Gale's fall? No. I believe she has tempted him - and other men before him - to seek more knowledge and more power and eventually fall to their doom, because it was never meant for them; but instead of recognizing that and accepting their place, they all fell victim to their own hubris and self-importance. As did Gale. Even if he says he did it to impress her, he first and foremost thought of himself. He wanted the knowledge and the magic and the proof that he can walk on spheres meant for gods alone. And he had a rude awakening.
If anything, this is what I think Mystra does to "young wizard boys" and what her danger really is. It's not about her seducing young wizards for her own sexual interests - though in some cases her relationship to them may take on this nature because temptation and seduction historically looks a specific way in art and literature - but about luring and seducing them into revealing their own arrogance and hubris and falling victim to it. Which is a not a nice thing to do, but it's a very different thing from what the fandom makes her out to be. They could also resist, but within their inability to resist lies the reason for Mystra's justification for doing it in the first place.
*In addition and to place some more responsibility on Mystra: she might also like to see if they can rise to a certain power, but if they do she loses interest. And if they can't then it proves a point. None of what I wrote is meant to present Mystra as a nice goddess - I just find the way she is spoken about kind of misses the mark. She has obvious flaws but I see them in other places.
I'm so sorry, what a nightmare to read. If you made it this far, have some chocolate: 🍫
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wangsejabin · 2 years ago
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Chapter 56
As a matter of fact, the distance between the stands and the theatre building would have affected the sound amplification.
The sound amplification was not affected at all by the construction of this pavilion, but it had the effect of gathering sound. It was only after looking at it for a while that Pan'er could see it, and felt as if the green clothes were whispering in her ears. The prince seemed to see what she was thinking and pointed to the water, and Pan'er realised that the water was used to amplify the sound.
If you want to talk about theatre, Pan'er really doesn't know anything about it, she just watches it. But the Prince knows a bit, even if he doesn't know everything, he knows that the key to watching a play is the stature, singing and costume of the playwright. The costume is not only the dressing and make-up of the opera singer, but also the decoration of the stage. These are the most costly things. The lotus flowers that bloom in February, the rosewood in the water pavilion, not only the furniture, but also the fence and the flooring that the Prince saw, were all made of rosewood and were worth a lot of money.
It has to be said that watching a play in this kind of place is a pleasure, and Pan'er, who was impatient to watch this kind of babbling play, actually enjoyed watching it. She was particularly attracted by the young lady who played Du Liniang. The Prince saw her eyes glued to it. "Was it good?"
"Not bad, I've never seen much of the play before, but this time I can understand it. And Master, look at this Du Liniang's costume, it's so pretty, this body, and this face, with the autumn water in her eyes, yet she is delicate but not charming ......"
"He's a man." Eh? Well, Pan'er had only just responded. She knew that many opera singers were counter-actors, that is, men playing women, and she also knew that there were many fops who bagged opera singers, and this 'bag' was not meant literally, with the suspicion of good male style.
And then she thought about what the Prince's words meant. She raised her eyes to look at him, but he turned his face away from her, so that she could only see the side of his face. He was not angry, was he? She muttered to herself, and after some thought, she suddenly waved to the Prince, smiling brightly again, "Your Highness, Master......"
"What for?" The prince was finally willing to reward her with a proper face. "You lean over a little." The prince leaned over, but she wasn't enough and continued to beckon.
Only then did he grab her sleeve and pull him towards him, and then he came up to his ear and said, "Master, I look at him because he is good-looking, better-looking than me, and I am a bit disconcerted. In Pan'er's heart, His Highness is the most handsome man, the most attractive and dashing." The prince was amused by her, and then whirled around, slightly bashful in his old face.
"Just watch the show, sit back and watch, you have no rules."She hurriedly went to sit down again, her posture extraordinarily dignified and virtuous. When the Prince saw her like this, he smiled again. The play was soon over, and Pan'er was still a bit impatient after watching it. The old man was lean and dressed like a scribe, the young one was just ordinary looking, but also dressed like a scholar.
The younger one was no more than an ordinary-looking man, but also dressed as a scholar. To be here, and dressed in this way, one would naturally think of nothing else but Jiangcheng father and son. The father and son walked up to the prince, saluted respectfully, and then bowed to Pan'er. Pan'er didn't dodge and accepted it all. Only then did Jiang Cheng say, "Your Highness, your servant has set up a banquet at Cuiyunzhu, would you like to go and taste it?"
The Prince looked at Pan'er sideways, and Jiang Cheng said, "I have also prepared a banquet for Her Ladyship Feng Yi, and the view from Cui Yunzhu is beautiful, so it is perfect for enjoying the moon. The Prince raised an eyebrow, meaning to ask. But Pan'er shook her head and said to him, "I'd rather not go, I'm a bit tired after a long afternoon's stroll."
The prince nodded and said, "Then you should go back first. Dr. Wang should be here too, so have someone ask him to take your pulse." When this was mentioned, Pan'er remembered this matter and nodded her head in response, and told the prince not to drink, and then hurried away with Xiang Pu Qing Dai. When she left, she even forgot to curtsy.
Jiang Fu secretly smacked his lips, and could not help but sigh that his father was still old-fashioned. If he had really been unwise enough to serve two beautiful girls, not to mention whether the newcomer would be favoured, this Su Feng Yi would probably have had to give him a hard time, just by looking at the way she was getting along with the Crown Prince, it would have been too easy to say that she was quite favoured.After that, the group went to the Cui Yun Building. When Pan'er returned to her quarters, Aunt Qing came to report that Dr. Wang had been waiting for a while. She called him up.
In the palace, there are rules for the doctor to ask for a pulse, but there are not so many rules when you are away from home, so Pan'er did not ask anyone to draw a curtain or anything, she just put a silk handkerchief on her wrist and let the doctor come forward to ask for a pulse.He stood with a respectful half-bend, his face stoic, but from the way his eyes moved from time to time under his half-lidded eyelids, it was clear that he was making a careful diagnosis.
Not long afterwards, he took a step back and arched his hand in congratulations, "Congratulations to Feng Yi, congratulations to Feng Yi, this is a slippery pulse." If a woman had never given birth, she would naturally not understand what this slippery pulse was, but Pan'er had given birth in her previous life, so she naturally knew that this slippery pulse was a happy pulse.
"Can you tell how long it has been going on?" She asked with a happy expression on her face. "In reply to Feng Yi's words, a month or so, less than two months, but the pulse is already obvious and ......" "How?" "Although I am good at generous pulses, my family's medical skills are in gynecology, so I also have a few unique skills. Feng Yi's pulse is solid and strong, slippery...
This means that the mother's body is healthy and the foetus is stable. But when I feel it, it doesn't look like one pulse, there is another pulse that is not as obvious and strong as this one, but it is also faintly visible, so I suspect that Feng Yi's birth is probably a double birth.
"The woman's elbow suddenly slipped off the table, thanks to her quick reaction, but she also gave a lot of fright to Aunt Qing and Xiang Pu. "Master, did you hit yourself?" Pan'er stroked her elbow unconsciously and shook her head, "Nothing, nothing ......" All could see that she looked a little dazed, but if she said she was happy, it was a little forced.
Aunt Qing couldn't help but feel a little worried, but with Dowager Doctor Wang still around, she couldn't say anything. After a while, Pan'er regained her composure: "Are you sure?" The doctor hesitated a little, but after looking at Pan'er, he hung his head and said, "Feng Yi knows that when the doctors work in the palace, they dare not say too much, for fear of inviting trouble. But Feng Yi's pulse is more than 80% positive, but the days are still early, so we can't be sure yet, we'll see in another month or so."
"That's fine, I'll invite you to come back for a pulse after a while, don't tell anyone about this beforehand, it's better to wait until it's confirmed, lest we have an empty joy."
"Yes." In fact, she knew all these things, but she always felt that she was a half-wit, so it was safest to ask the doctor. The two silly girls laughed so hard that they couldn't keep their mouths shut for half a day, not noticing that Pan'er's face was not very happy. In fact, this was not something Pan'er had expected, but when it came to it, she was still a bit dazed. In her previous life, not many people knew that when she was pregnant with the third prince, Pan'er was not carrying one but two babies.
Even she didn't know that she was carrying two babies, but only when she was in labour and couldn't come out did she realise that she was carrying two babies. But by that time it was too late, she had taken too long to give birth to the first one because her belly was too big, and only after the first one was born did she realise that there was another one in her belly, and that the one after her had come out of her mother's womb and died without even crying.
The midwife told her that the baby had been in her belly for too long and that she had taken too many supplements during her pregnancy. The most important thing is not to supplement your body indiscriminately when you are pregnant with a twin baby, because if you are not careful, the baby will be too big and you will easily get into trouble.
She remembered that when she was first pregnant, she was afraid that the Crown Princess would know to hide it carefully and did not dare to eat her own food, so she ate Baijiao and the girls'. The first thing that happened to her was that she was not able to hide it anymore and the Crown Princess found out about it.
She thought that the Crown Princess would be unhappy, after all, the second prince had not been well since he was born and her pregnancy at this time was undoubtedly a blow to her heart, but fortunately it did not take long for Hu Liang Di's side of the family to find out that she was pregnant, so she was relieved.
The Prince visited her once during that time, and unknown to her, he told the Prince Consort that her meals had changed dramatically since then.According to Fuqiu, she was given whatever the Crown Princess ate during her pregnancy, so that some people wouldn't blame the Crown Princess for treating her badly if they didn't grow their own flesh. She ate with fear and trepidation, but she thought that the Crown Princess would not do anything else, and there were advantages and disadvantages to her being in the Crown Princess's palace. So it was until she went into labour, during which time nothing happened to her.
It was only later that she realised that it was too easy to take the life of a powerless woman in the palace, just like the food, and no one could say that the Crown Princess had done anything wrong by singling her out and treating her with sincerity.
But the end was that the child was too big and died, and although she was lucky to give birth to one, it hurt her body and she never met with joy again. After more than twenty years of recuperation, she did not want to have a baby, but at the age of forty, she gave birth to a sixteenth son.
This is not even known to the Crown Prince, remember what Fuqiu told her at the time? "The Crown Princess has just lost her second son and has been in a bad mood. You know that the Crown Prince is having difficulty with his heir, and now the Empress is ill and has just been grieved by the death of her second son. The East Palace is now at the top of the tide ......"
She knew that this was the Crown Princess' intention, and in order to preserve her son, she was foolish enough to agree. The poor daughter has no name and no family, not even the incense can be worshipped, except for her to burn some paper money privately on the anniversary of her death.
In her previous life, she had always avoided this matter, and few people around her knew about it, and when Bai Jue was released from the palace, no one knew about it. She only occasionally recalls it when she tosses and turns in her dreams. If there is any question as to when Pan'er began to hate the Crown Princess in her previous life, it was from this time.
She was born lowly, shallow-eyed, and simple and cowardly, which is the common problem of lowly people, that they are too easily satisfied with the status quo, always getting by, too tolerant, and easily able to live on their own. She did not hate the way she was treated by the Crown Princess, because she felt she was a tool, and occasionally she felt resentful when she was favoured, but she felt she had to accept her fate.
She was not resentful either, for it was the Crown Princess who brought her to the Forbidden City, and she could steal the limelight from anyone but the Crown Princess. But from this time on, she began to hate, to resent, to resent, to rebel ......
Later, when she was finally able to move to another part of the palace, she told herself countless times that she should have known.
Had she known ……
There is no such thing as early knowledge in this world, and no amount of money could buy regret.Now the early knowledge has come.
Lost in thought, Pan'er hadn't realized the prince, who had been drinking at the Cuiyunzhu, had returned. It was only when the Crown Prince walked up to her that she reacted."Master ......" The crown prince hmmed and tried to touch her head, but found that she was wearing her hair in a bun, his hand fell on her shoulder again, finding that a pat was not appropriate, and finally fell on the back of her hand. "Nurture your body well, and give me a ...... healthy child."
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truly-morgan · 1 year ago
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[JZX coming home to his wife after a party (18+)]
XuanLi | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU + Sub/Dom dynamic 12-02-2022
[#xuanli modern nsfw-ish]
Jin Zixuan who has to attend one of his father's parties and is just wanting to go back home. It's all people linked to Jin Corp in some way, be it shareholders, partners or people interested in the company.
It's also mostly all older men like his father.
Jzx has never been good with social gatherings, not when he was younger, and not today either. It seems even worse when his wife is not by his side tonight, since it's a "man-only party".
He can't wait to go home partly because he doesn't know how to deal with the old men who keep commenting on his married life, making inappropriate hypotheses about them.
Truly he was never good with them, not when he was young and still not interested in his fiance, Even less now that he was married.
They kept talking about him as if he was someone very manly and dominant, who already had a mistress like the many his father had.
As if he could have anyone else than his wife!!
But he did not respond to any of them, keeping to the facade he had created over the years. Looking disinterested and giving short and vague answers was usually enough o drive some away because he "was no fun".
The night was going by way too slowly for him and he made his escape when the people left were all a bit too drunk and now around his father. He was not needed anymore and just wanted to go home.
He went out, calling for his driver. The ride was quiet, but this was all he needed after being at such a noisy place for so long. Still feeling tense from the prolonged unwanted social interaction. The alcohol in him not helping at all.
Yet, all this built-up stress quickly melted away once he got home and was greeted by jyl.
He followed along when he was dragged to the living room, jyl making him sit nearly on her, hugging him close to her, helping him relax. "How was it?" She asked.
"Tiring, and it's always the same ild1men coming to me to see if I am finally following in my father's steps" he replied, jyl understanding what he meant due to jzx having already complained about it before. She had also witnessed how they could be.
"They even asked if I had already found a mistress," he snorted "as if cheating was such a prideful thing to do and brag about".
There was a moment of silence as he simply leaned on his wife, letting her pat his hair.
"They even asked me if I was being dominant in bed like him" he added, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips.
"Did they?" Jyl asked with a rather amused tone, "yet you are a very dominant man" she chuckled.
This made jzx chuckle quietly against her, shaking his head at her remark.
"I am sure their idea of dominant sucks too" he ended up saying after their little fit of chuckles.
🔞
jyl then shifted around a little bit, bringing her husband's legs over her lap, keeping him close to her.
"Then should we show them what a good dom is?" she asked, hands gently going from his hair to his neck, caressing his skin.
"To have you all tied up on a chair, exposed to everyone in the room, taking your favourite toy just for me while you moan sweetly~" she started.
"Or maybe I could have you parade around while wearing your prettiest lingerie? I am sure they will find you more pretty than any woman they had, my A-Xuan is the prettiest after all" she continued, smiling when she felt him shift around a bit, his breath starting to be heavy.
"I would also take that pretty chair of yours at the end of the table, sitting in it while you kneel between my legs, using that pretty and skillful mouth of yours to pleasure me until I've had enough. Of course, I would bind your arm behind you so you cannot touch yourself unless you beg correctly for it".
jyl couldn't help her chuckle when she noticed the tent that had created itself in her husband's tailored pants, teasing the erection through the clothing.
"look at you, getting so excited at the idea of all these people seeing how cute of a submissive you are for your beautiful wife, I am sure no one would see you as the dominant man in bed they think you are"
jzx couldn't help the moan that escaped his mouth when she teased him, bucking his hips up a little bit.
All her idea were only riling him up, craving for her touch. It would be terrifying to do for real (although if jyl was here he could probably do it), but the idea was still pretty exciting. so many eyes on him seeing how much of a good boy he was for his perfect wife.
"Why don't you go and put on your pretty outfit for me?" jyl whispered against his eyes, smirking when she felt him shiver in her arms, nodding obediently.
He managed to get out of her embrace, his erection now even more visible to her.
jzx made his way to their room, changing out of his formal wear to find the leather harness he has, enjoying the feeling of it hugging him around his torso and waist. He found some pretty underwear to match it.
He was patiently waiting for his wife, erection tenting his pretty underwear. He looked up the moment he heard the door open, eye curious on the box jyl was holding.
"look at you, so eagerly waiting for me~" she teased, walking over and gently stroking his chest.
her eyes landed on his nipples, looking pleased "You even wore the pretty jewel I gave you" she noticed, looking up when she didn't receive a comment on it.
"I... I was already wearing them" jzx said, blushing.
this surprised her, yet made her smile even more. What better than to hear her husband was wearing piercings while at a formal event? This made her really happy. "What a naught boy you are, wearing such lewd thing at your father's party" she commented, enjoying the shiver she felt under her fingers. "your nipple must be sensitive after rubbing against your dress shirt all night, it's a surprised no one noticed them" she smirk, "Let me kiss them better".
all jzx could do was moan and whimper at her kissing and sucking at his nipples, making them even more sensitive than they already were from the night of rubbing. It's only made him harder, hand gripping at himself to not touch himself.
When jyl had enough of teasing his nipple and kissing his chest she instead went to kiss him, making him bend over a little to do so.
"I have a surprise for you" she whispered against his lips, clearly catching his full attention again. She took the box again, opening it to reveal a new collar.
It was a leather one with a golden trip accent to it. what caught his attention though was the tag.
It was a golden dog tag with his name on it. this made him blush even more. They had other collars, but somehow this one was really special.
It was /his/ collar with /his/ name on it.
something in him was even more pleased when he noticed the lotus emblem of the jiang family carved on the other side of the other side of the tag. The symbol his wife very much still used.
This meant one thing: he was /hers/.
He bent down again without being asked to, letting her fasten the collar around his neck, a spark of excitement passing him when he felt the tag touch his skin.
"This looks perfect on you" she commented, making him even more excited about wearing it.
He was then gently dragged towards the bed after she hooked a finger on the ring holding the tag, smiling at him. "Now, why don't you show me how much of a good boy you are?".
====
that's it >:3 I love my xuanli dynamic, but it's even better if we have femdom!jyl and sub!jzx, this man will do anything for his wife and will love it
also here are some references pic of the accessory I had in mind, if anyone is curious
ofc, make the piercing gold since it jzx 😌 
[reference picture for what he's wearing]
with this kind of collar, but add some golden details to the thinner leather parts (maybe I could doddle it later when I am home 👀)
[entering the collar idea + maybe the fanart I did]
Original
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nancypullen · 6 months ago
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Entering My Crone Era
I'm making decisons, y'all. Left and right, I'm making choices and changes that will hopefully serve me well. Some are bigger than others, but they all feel like progress. Here's a sampling.
Work. I left the library for a number of reasons, and I'm comfortable with that choice. My coworkers were wonderful and I feel fortunate to have retained those friendships. I mentioned that I might have a different opportunity with a local magazine. I let myself get excited about that possibility. After a breakfast meeting with the owner of the magazine and a very generous and tempting offer, I knew in my gut it wasn't right for me. The owner is a vibrant, smart woman with a vision and she is looking for an assistant editor, someone who will do everything from gathering local info (building permits, marriage licenses, etc) to creating a monthly puzzle, editing advertising and content, and so on. Younger Nancy would have jumped on that. Nancy who is turning 61 soon just wants to tap out little stories on her laptop. I have no fire in my belly, no need for a career, and definitely no desire to worry about deadlines. Maybe those are failings, but I'm honest enough to know that I'm not what she needs right now. She's way too nice for me to give less than 100%. I told her that I was flattered to have been considered and that's true. So, I remain unemployed, unmotivated, and oddly happy about that. If you need me I'll be painting, writing, making my snarky cards, and playing with clay. So that was a big decision, now here's a small one that I've made. I have an appointment tomorrow to get all of this hair cut off. It may be temporary insanity due to summer heat, but I do believe that I am finished spending too much time coaxing this mop into something resembling human hair. No matter how hard I work at it, I look like an alpaca.
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I figure that if I'm getting rid of the length, I might as well get rid of the color too. Why burden myself with that never-ending upkeep? For decades I tried to keep up with my naturally brunette hair as the gray and white crept in. When the pandemic hit I let the white win. After getting feedback that white hair made me look older, and allowing myself to give a damn about that (whyyyy?), I went blonde. So for the last couple of years I've been regularly bathing my head in chemicals so society might think I'm 55 instead of 60. How stupid is that? Anywayyyyy....this is the photo I sent to my hair magician.
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I have taken into account that I am not beautiful like Helen Mirren, that I have twice as much hair as Helen Mirren, and that I do not own that spectacular sequined gown and cardigan combo that is an absolute dream come true. I am 100% certain that I will look less like Helen Mirren and more like Mrs. Claus, but I'm sticking with my decision.
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I've had this tumble of waves (coaxed into being with a big, round brush and a flat iron) for so very long. It's run its course. Not going to lie, I get plenty of compliments on my hair, but those people don't know the battle. The drying time alone is a grind. I want minimal upkeep, and if that makes me ugly I'm willing to take the hit. Let the youngsters worry about that sort of stuff. In pagan religions there are three phases of a woman's life - maiden, mother, and crone. Those are also known as youth, warrior, and sage. The maiden stage signifies youth and growth, think springtime. You're a rosebud! The mother stage puts us firmly in our nurturing years - wiccans celebrate this chapter of fertility, power, and responsibility. They associate it with the full moon. Lastly, we become a crone. Our work is mostly done and we have gained insight. We know ourselves better, we understand more about life and people, we're emotionally and mentally stronger, and hopefully all of this has given us wisdom. It's a shame that the word crone has become associated with physical appearance, a synonym of hag. Once upon a time it only meant an older woman who was intuitive and wise. I'm not as wise as I hope to be, but I'm much wiser than I used to be. I am firmly, happily, and gratefully in my crone years. I mean, to be truly happy I'd have to live in an enchanted cottage in the woods and have the power to communicate with animals - but there's still time. I'm an entry level crone, plenty of years ahead of me. That, my friends, is the nonsense that I needed to shake out of my head and onto this keyboard today. The Edgewaters left on Saturday afternoon, Mickey and Matt jetted out of Baltimore early this morning and the house is quiet. The cats are napping in sunbeams and I'm going to sit down at my desk and make something with my hands. I haven't had a chance to do that in ages and my soul needs it. I hope you're feeding your soul something healthy as well - kind words, acceptance, forgiveness. Get rid of junk food like the opinions of others or ridiculous expectations of perfection. Take it from a wise, old crone, your soul will flourish if you feed it right. I'll be back tomorrow with photos of the impending hair disaster. Until then, stay safe, stay well, and be kind to yourself. XOXO, Nancy
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@enjoyer-of-shiny-things Okay okay but only because I do like storytelling. But in summary:
The Sledding Incident: I was seven and left unsupervised. My mom had taken my sister and me to a nearby park with a large sledding hill. It's been two days since it last snowed so one side of the hill is looking a bit worse for wear from all the sledding. This is the side that is smooth and gentle. There is another side of the hill, one that is steeper and looks over a lake and, most importantly, has more snow on it. My sister is like four at this point so my mom is watching her pretty closely, trusting that I won't grievously injure myself. This trust was misplaced. I immediately went onto the steep side of the hill, which as previously mentioned, overlooked a lake. There was a fence around the lake to prevent idiots from trying to skate on it in the winter. The fence was right at the bottom of a very steep hill, just to clarify. And seven year old me thought he could jump off the sled before I hit the fence. I was very wrong and came out of that encounter with a broken nose, two missing teeth, two black eyes, and a concussion that means I don't remember most of that day. I was ecstatic because I got x-rayed at the hospital and this was the coolest thing that had happened to me since the Quadcycle Incident. No scars from that one but it does get brought up at family gatherings.
The Quadcycle Incident. My dad was not a smart man. He thought letting a seven year old ride on the four-wheel cycle that my older cousin left at his house was a sound decision. It was not. I stayed on for an impressive five minutes before falling off and getting dragged behind it via the bungee cord he'd attached to my wrist. Unsure how long I was dragged behind it for, as I also do not have a clear memory of this day. My clearest memory is my dad cleaning me off in the bathroom after, telling me I was very brave and mentioning that I should NOT tell my mom. I have a faint scar on my wrist from this that used to be bright pink but is slowly fading.
I've almost drowned in two separate lakes and at the shore. The first time I was four and got caught in a rip current, the most recent time I was fourteen(?) and got tangled up in someone boogieboarding. Cannot count the number of times I've almost drowned actually. It's a lot.
That Time I Got Jumped On Halloween: I'm sixteen in this story. Two weeks prior to Halloween, I am playing flag (american) football with some kids from my neighborhood and their younger siblings. At some point, all the little kids went home and someone suggested we do tackle (american) football. One of the kids, a visiting cousin of my neighbor (i.e. did not interact with me regularly and thus did not understand the magnitude of the shit he was getting into) said that I should not play tackle football bc I'd suck at it, because I am small and looked like a girl. I took this as a challenge bc what else can you do and the second we called play I full body tackled this boy who was a full five inches and probably fifty pounds heavier than me and I did have that boy on the ground in under three seconds. His friends laughed. My friends laughed. It was awesome and I was vindicated. Fast forward two weeks later to Halloween. I am chaperoning my younger sister and two of her friends around for trick or treating and we run into a big group of kids, some of whom start chatting us up. Except one guy is giving me a really weird look and it's bugging me because I can't remember where I know him from. Until I do. So in a fit of 'aha I remembered' I shout out "I know you! You're that guy who's ass I kicked!" The atmosphere immediately turns rancid. I try to lead my sister and her friends away but the guy who's ass I kicked had a little girlfriend apparently and she decides to tackle me into a bush. I immediately trash talk her taste in men, shove her in the bush, and start running. Me, my sister, and her little friends got chased home by a pack of kids who really hated my ass. I regret absolutely nothing about that one because I did make it home safe. It's also vital you know I was dressed as a wizard.
I decided skateboarding down a hill was a great idea and ran into a tree. Was unconscious for at least a few minutes according to my watch but no permanent damage! Probably! This happened twice once with a skateboard once with rollerblades I was eleven/twelve maybe.
The treadmill incident: I am maybe twelve in this story? My mom has a treadmill in her room. We are in a second story apartment that has a little balcony in the back of my mom's room. The treadmill is facing away from the balcony. This is important. Also a good thing to know about me is that I sing very loudly when I run and also had a tendency to close my eyes. So I am twelve, belting my heart out to probably Billy Joel? Actually wait this was middle school it was definitely Mayday Parade. Anyway I'm belting, my eyes are shut, and my mother had wandered in from the other room to check on me. I didn't know she was standing there. So when I open my eyes again, I ger terrified, SCREAM, and fall back off the treadmill. My mother tries to help me up but I dragged her down with me, and the treadmill is still ON. So I get shoved back, knocking out the screen door to the balcony, and my mother gets her arm stuck between my ass and the moving belt of the treadmill. We get out within a minute but yeah that's why my mom has a scar on her forearm now.
I have a normal amount of childhood incidents I SWEAR
the thing is i've always hated subay surfers. it's been around since i was way younger and as soon as i saw it i hated it
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tubbohno · 3 years ago
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when the seasons change
sbi & child!gn!reader
1 // part 2 of 4
a/n : welcome to the fall special pt 2! thanks to everyone for showing so much interest in this little series :) I've decided that this series will span 4 separate parts (this is subject to change, of course.) ((ALSO its practically December by the time I post this but...yes....fall...))
warnings - mentions of death (minor character), abandonment, child neglect(...technically), situational angst
notes - tommy is around six / reader is a bat hybrid, and eight years old / techno and wilbur are 19 / art above by austinpardunart on Instagram! check out their stuff, its super snazzy!
p.s, I am not a Chiropterologist, and therefore my bat knowledge is limited </3
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As planned, Phil and the boys set out toward the familiar clearing just as the sun rose entirely above the horizon. For all his previous worry, Tommy was pouting at having to walk so early - even though Phil had waited as long as he morally could.
"Phil," Tommy whined, "how much longer?" Phil grinned at Tommy's sleep puffy eyes glaring up at him from where he clutched onto Wilbur's hand.
"Not much longer, mate. Here, walk in front of me, and I'll fix up your feathers." Phil invited, slowing his pace slightly to allow the boy to rush in front of him. Phil gently straightened Tommy's small feathers, colored almost like pearls in the soft early morning light. He was not exactly preening, as Phil always made sure to groom Tommy's wings at home. Preening often overwhelmed Tommy, and they found it safer to take care of the younger's wings in a secure environment.
Techno traveled just ahead of them, hands occupied by a dark oak crate. The young hybrid was also notably sporting a grey cape lined with winter fox fur. Phil eyed the fabric as it bellowed softly behind the pink-haired boy, amused by the dramatics of the younger. Techno would never admit it, but he could be just as dramatic as his brothers.
Wilbur sped up a bit, setting his pace to match Phil's. Wilbur struggled for a second; mouth pressed in a thin line as he thought of what to say. Phil let his son collect his thoughts, used to Wilbur's pauses. He had not always had a vocabulary big enough to express his feelings, after all.
"Phil...what do you think happened to Lucielle?" Wilbur asked, gaze glued to the dirt road beneath their feet. Phil sighed, giving one last pat to Tommy's wings and letting the younger blonde run ahead to bother Techno.
"Not sure, Wil. Last we both saw her she was happy and healthy. We'll see if she's home once we get there, all right? She wouldn't just leave a child alone for more than a day." Phil replied, rubbing Wilbur's back softly to soothe the piglin hybrid. Wilbur nodded, furrowed brow relaxing just a touch.
Wilbur fell into step with his brothers, all three boys traveling ahead of Phil. Tommy and Wilbur quickly found something to argue about, Techno silently continuing his pace even as Tommy hung from his arm to scream at Wilbur.
Phil smiled tiredly at the familiar sight of his boys and their antics.
He hoped Lucielle was okay.
━━━━ ̥◌୭˚➶.
The clearing is as Phil remembered it, if not a bit messier with its long grass and piles of fallen leaves. Puddles scattered around the area, mud and murky water gathering in uneven areas of the grass.
"Woah," Tommy gasped, eyes glued to the rickety iron lanterns that lit up the area's perimeter. Tommy stepped forward, wings fluttering behind him as he took in the small decorations scattered around and the old, wooden cabin.
The cabin itself was quiet, windows dark and creaking in the soft autumn wind. The wood looked dark with moisture; the storm no doubt testing its capabilities.
"…The windows are dark again," Techno noted out loud. They had moved closer, now standing at the cabin's porch as a group, with Tommy huddled near Wilbur and Techno.
"That they are… I'll knock first, okay? You three stay out on the porch and stick together." Phil instructed, patting Wilbur on the shoulder. Minute grumbles arose in response to his command, but his boys stayed in their positions.
Phil's knock echoed through the clearing, and he couldn't help but swallow nervously. Even as he strained his hearing, he couldn't hear any noise from inside the cabin.
"Can I try?" Tommy whispered, tugging on Phil's coat. Phil smiled at him and nodded, letting the boy closer to the door to knock.
Tommy's hand struck the wood quickly and much louder than Phill would have liked, and it seemed the sentiment was shared as Tommy's brothers flinched from the loud bang the boy produced.
"Hellooooooo? Is anyone there?" The blonde hollered, deciding Phil had been too quiet in his approach.
"Tommy, have you ever heard of subtlety," Wilbur hissed, pressing his fingers into his temples. Beside him, Techno shook his head quickly with a soft snort. Tommy responded only by blowing a quick raspberry in Wilbur's direction.
Phil motioned to settle the two (who would no doubt break into a spat any second) when a rustle from the cabin startled him. Quickly, he put a finger up to his lips and motioned for them to quiet down.
Another rustle sounded from inside the home, and Phil quickly pulled Tommy behind him when he heard soft footfalls staggering toward the door.
The door opened slowly, small grunts accompanying the creaking hinges. Phil felt his heart ache at the sight — a small bat hybrid stood precariously at the doorway, hands gripping the mahogany door as best as they could with the tremors racking their frame.
"Hello?" They croaked, blinking slowly at Phil and his sons. Their eyes fell on Techno eventually, and they quickly straightened themselves.
"Hello Phil, I think I left your potions somewhere..." The child reassured, letting go of the door to stagger into the house. Techno followed after them carefully, after idly waving a hand at Phil's expression.
"Hey, Mate. How long have you been alone for?" Phil asked, stepping into the cabin with his other two sons.
The house was a mess - books and pages strewn across the floor forced you to step over them precariously, dirty dishes piled high in the connected kitchen, and dust collected on higher appliances, cupboards untouched, and top bookshelves dusty.
"Uhm, I dunno. The seasons changed..." The kid responded eventually, trailing off as they struggled to climb up a step ladder in front of a wall of potions (which he noted as half-empty). Phil grimaced as he watched their frail arms shake from the effort exerted.
"Are they labeled correctly?" Wilbur asked gently. The little hybrid startled at the sound of his voice but nodded anyway. Wilbur stepped closer to them, a soft smile on his face.
"I'll grab it for you." He reassured, waiting for the child to nod once again before skimming the potions on the wall, flipping their tags over to read them idly. Eventually, he pulled two bottles off of the wall and stepped away from the collection entirely.
"Who are...you?" They asked, squinting at them. Phil figures they must have just processed the three extra people present.
"I'm Phil, the boy with wings is Tommy, Wilbur helped you with the potions, and the one with pink hair is Techno." Phil clarified, watching the smaller one nod along. Then, groggily, they turned to Techno.
"Not Phil?" Techno shook his head slightly, still holding on to the crate he'd carried from home.
"Not Phil."
"Ah…" They nodded, blinking blearily. Phil realized with a slight frown that their eyes were glassy, unfocused.
"What's your name?" Techno asked, taking the potions from Wilbur and setting them in the padded crate.
"Y/n." The hybrid muttered, not looking up. Their tiny wings were almost limp behind them, making Phil's worry increase.
"Y/n, do you know who Lucielle is?" Wilbur's tone was gentle, with a bit of urgency. The hybrid blinked slowly but nodded. They shakily made their way over to the kitchen table a few feet away, the rest of them following slowly as not to crowd them. Phil could tell Tommy was getting antsy, twitching at every opportunity and pulling on the edges of his clothes.
"She...she's in her room. Won't let me come in." They mumbled, resting their head on the table as they spoke.
"Phil," Tommy whispered, pulling on his pant leg. Phil shushed him softly, patting his head.
"In her room?" Phil asked, looking over to the door shut down the hall. There are claw marks near the doorknob, dark wood peeling away to reveal lighter peels of wood, coarse and unsanded.
"Said she was sick...told me I couldn't get sick, too. So." The hybrid shrugged, eyes drooping. Phil nodded, watching them worriedly. They weren't in the best condition either, it seemed.
"Phil!" Another hiss from Tommy, and this time Phil just placed a hand on the boy's shoulder to stop the kid from pulling any harder on his coat.
"She...magic..." The kid slurred, closing their eyes. Wilbur placed a hand on their back, panic seeping into his expression. A quick press to their neck allowed Wilbur to relax, pulse thudding gently against his fingertips.
"They're out cold." He hummed, looking back up at Phil with a frown.
"Phil!" Tommy was shouting now, hand gripping tightly onto Phil's arm.
"Yes, Tommy, what is it? I think they're hurt..." Phil finally addressed the youngest, trailing off in concern. From the looks of it, the child had just passed out.
"They're a bat, right?" Tommy asked, approaching the sleeping hybrid.
"That's right, their wings match, and so do their claws," Wilbur confirmed, staring at the thin, pointy wings draped across Y/n's shoulders. Tommy approached the table, staring curiously at the hybrid.
"Wilby, you said some bats hibernated when it got too cold," Tommy said, poking the hybrid's cheek. Wilbur stopped short, mouth ajar just an inch.
"It would make sense...but there's no heat in here; they must be freezing," Techno spoke, crate settled in his arms once again. Phil shot a look at the mangled door a few feet away from them - it was clear that the kid had tried to enter the room by force. From what they had said, Lucielle had sealed herself into the room about a season ago. Could she have slipped out when Y/n wasn't looking?
The witch Phil had seen grow old would have to wait - now he had a sickly kid to take care of.
After ushering Wilbur to the side, Phil gently scooped the hybrid into his arms, wincing at the feeling of their cold, clammy skin in his hands. Their clothes were far too thin for any child, let alone one that relied on warmth this time of year. Phil shifted his wings so they would cover y/n, at least marginally. He did not want to think about what would happen to them if he carried them through the bitter cold in their current clothing.
"Come on then, boys; we'll come back as soon as we know Y/n's healthy again," Phil instructed, inclining his head toward the doorway. He observed his sons - and the way they hesitated—Techno and Tommy, still curious about the cabin and the story it held. Wilbur, still bearing a furrowed brow as worry surrounded him in a suffocating aura. Phil sighed softly at the way his boys stared silently in response.
"Come on, let's go home." He said - softer this time. This time, he seems to jolt them out of their heads, and they quickly file out before him. Tommy closes the door after they've exited, and Phil watches as he slips his small hand back into Wilbur's.
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tag list: @imuziawi @orkwardx0 @chaoticotaku <3 (feel free to send me an ask or anything if you'd like to be part of the tag list!)
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sinclairesimblr · 3 years ago
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Extract from Giannina's diary:
Spring, 1893.
Today was a beautiful sunny day, the farm is growing non stop, not only we are filling every room in this house, but also, the crops are growing at such an incredible pace. Each year I find myself even more amazed at the size they can reach, and it seems I am not the only one!!
This week we were visited by a man who says he is a reporter, he wanted to take a photography of James to make a story about a giant pumpkin, and they took one of the entire family too!! I was so happy when I learnt this, I haven't seen a camera since the days I lived with my father. I've always wanted to have a portrait of all of us together.
Naturally, I made everyone wear their best clothes for the occasion. I even convinced James to let me cut his hair, I must confess I was even more excited about this than having our picture taken. At first he wasn't quite sure about it but I told him this is how men style their hair nowadays and I was able to get with it because I flattered him a bit by saying he was an important man now and he had to look appropriate.
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It is true after all, we are not in a bad place in terms of money anymore, and it's all due to his efforts. I was getting worried that everything was too much work for him, there was a time when Ernie was just a toddler and Gil was a newborn that I barely got to see his face during the day. But now, he has help, I'm so glad to see Ernie helping him in everything, sharing with his father and learning so much, I'm not going to lie, he is still a mama's boy and I suspect he always will, but but he has shown so much interest in farming and he enjoys gathering the eggs every morning and milking the cows.
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He is still a boy and you can't count on them to be as responsible as you would like. They would still prefer their little games than anything and a lot of times Ernie would be playing around with Gil and they would break half of the eggs they collect. I can't get that mad, seeing them bond it's my greatest gift.
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As for my littlest one, my dear Josephine, what can I say? She is just learning how to walk, she is always trying to see what her brothers are up to, but she is still too young to be included. I don't worry too much about it, since she is soon going to be having a much younger companion... I am, once more, pregnant, we haven't told the children yet and I'm still not showing, but it won't be long until I do... I'm hoping for another girl, how wonderful would that be? A best friend for little Jo too. I'm so happy right now, and everything is turning out to be as I always dreamt it.
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forcebewitht · 4 years ago
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Maybe The True Poor Unfortunate Soul...Was Me Before I Had You (Aftermath Overblot!Azul Ashengrotto X Reader) 
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It all happened too fast. One moment, Azul was going on a rampage and stealing the prized possessions of other students with his Unique Magic, and the next, he was Overblotting- and then kissing you? It was all rather sudden, to say the least. Azul's tentacles remained rather possessively wrapped around your waist after his lips had floated off yours. His eyes were wide and wild, a mad grin now tugging at his lips as he gazed at your expression. Some grunts from your previously unconscious friends were soon heard as they began to stir awake once more. Your friends were now rising back to their feet and glaring at Azul, preparing their magic pens for another assault. Azul soon locked eyes with Jade and Floyd after briefly tearing his piercing gaze from yours. He began to reach out with a hand to his childhood friends, his grin only extending further. "Let's make a deal, my friends...come on….make a deal with me…" Floyd was the first to speak up, now taking a step closer to Azul. "Ummmmm, normally, I'd be tttoootttaaaallllyyyy okay with a deal. But right now? Not a chance!" Jade gave an affirmative nod, now stepping up beside his twin. "I agree!" Leona glanced over to a nearby barnacle attached to a rock. The gazes of the lion prince and Ruggie met, the pair now beginning to gather them into a pile. The Savanaclaw duo began to smirk, Leona sharply whistling to gain Azul's attention. "Oy, calamari. Put the dumb Herbivore down, okay?" Without waiting for a reply, Leona and Ruggie began to pelt Azul with the barnacles. You had to shield your head with a hand, one of Azul's tentacles assisting. However, one soon made bare contact with the male's forehead. He grunts out in pain and utter shock, now allowing his tentacles to unfurl from your form. 
You soon drifted back down to the ground, now making your way over to your group. Ruggie and Leona shared a chuckle and a high-five. "Shishishishi~.....that'll show him!" With Azul distracted from the barnacles and your retreat, Floyd and Jade move in with their own attacks in an attempt to calm Azul down. Azul's tentacles lashed out in an attempt to subdue the gang again, to no avail this time. Given how effective it seemed to be, Ruggie and Leona went right back to chucking barnacles at Azul once more and mocking him all the while. You couldn't help but to shake your head a bit at the antics. It didn't take too long for Azul to be overwhelmed. Now, the male allowed a hand to trail to his chest, gripping it tightly. He heaved out a breath, his eyes looking deeply pained. Already, you could see those odd sparkles emanating from the very heart of the octopus as you had with Riddle and Leona prior. "Whyyy….why….why does everyone bully me…? Because I'm just a stupid….clumsy octopus? I….just wanted to be strong and show them all that they're wrong…I-i...I just..." Your eyes widened as you glanced behind you. Leona was the only one who fully met your gaze. An encouraging nod from the prince was all you needed. You swam over to Azul, now slightly bending your knees to get to Azul's now rather shrunken level upon the ocean floor. Azul had tears streaming down his cheeks, a few light sniffs being heard. You extend your hand to the male, casting a shadow over Azul. The octopus allowed his head to tilt up, a light from up above lighting up your features. You looked beautiful…like a stunning little mermaid-like angel…Although it took Azul a moment, he soon wiped away a tear with a tentacle. His hand lightly shook as it reached out and soon interlocked with your own. You lower yourself down to the male's level, now bringing your arms around him in a hug. Azul's body shook as he gripped you tightly, the tears now flowing as his sobs increased. A bright light began to shine over the both of you, your friends having to shield their eyes from the massive glare. And just like with Leona and Riddle before, your vision soon began to turn as white as the light around you and Azul…
Your vision slowly began to return as you found yourself being surrounded by memories of a younger Azul. You could soon hear Azul's voice echoing around you as scenes from his past played out. "I was only ever meant to be inside an octopus pot." You turned your head to a memory directly in front of you. Some mer-children seemed to be teasing Azul and calling him names for being an 'ink barfer'....you also couldn't help but notice that Azul was the only non-mer-child in the room...your lips thinned into a line at the names. You couldn't stop your heart from clenching at one of the children mentioning Azul's 'creepy legs'. It clenched even further once you saw the baby version of Azul, rather tiny and a bit chubby, crying at the remarks. "Unlike other merfolk, I had legs covered in suction cups. I was an introverted child who could never speak his mind…no good at school or sports, I was left all alone." You turned your head to stare at Azul, who was now standing directly beside you and watching right along. His gaze was pained yet cold and relaxed as he went on. "...A dumb...clumsy octopus." Your head turned back to bear witness to even more accounts of Azul being bullied. Azul had placed his hands upon his hips at the mention of him being 'lame' for not being able to play tag as easily as the others. His eyebrows furrowed at the sight, his tone taking on a slight growl. "...Ohh, really? Then why don't you just leave me be and go run around playing your pointless games!" Azul seemed to take a moment to inhale, then went on once more. "...I lack the tail to swim quickly. But, instead, I have 10 arms and legs that I can move at will. That means that I have five times the ability to write than those two armed fools. I can spit out the ink needed to write spells at any time." Azul's voice began to increase in volume as his rage flared. "Just you wait. Someday, I'll put you insolent mers in YOUR PLACE!" Your head soon whipped back to watch as you heard a familiar yet slightly higher pitched pair of voices. It was the Tweels. Just from seeing his friends appear, Azul seemed to relax a little more beside you. Floyd swam up to Azul first, Jade following. Their paired gazes were curious, and maybe even a little concerned. "Heeeyyyyy, little octo~ why are you holed up in there?" The child Azul seemed to curl up into a little ball even further, yet partially turned his head to the twins. "Go away….shut up and leave me alone…" Jade swam a bit closer, now glancing around in wonder at what Azul was surrounded with. "Wow...amazing! All those shells are covered in spells and curses. Magic to shapeshift, magic to steal someone's voice...Have you been using those 8 legs to write all these this whole time?" Though the child version of Azul's gaze seemed to soften lightly at Jade's words, he soon curled up protectively once more. "Don't touch them! You wanna get inked?! I'm gonna keep studying and become just as powerful as the Sea Witch! So don't get in my way! Just- go away!" Azul was allowing his tentacles to curl around his lower body in a self-hug, his eyes flared with a great passion as he turned back away from the Tweels. Floyd elbowed Jade, motioning to Azul. "Jaaaddeeeeee...that octopus kid is pretty funny!" Jade turned his head to Floyd and nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, Floyd. He is very interesting." You felt your heart melt a little bit at the warm smiles Floyd and Jade had when staring at the back of Azul. 
"I kept studying like that until several years later…" The scene began to shift to Junior High. Floyd was the first to begin to speak in this memory. "I heard that a kid in another class got sssuuuupppeerrrrr skinny and even got a girlfriend!" Jade nodded at his twin's statement. "And in exchange, his beautiful tenor tone has gone completely silent. In another class, someone with frizzy, unruly hair suddenly became a silky blonde." Floyd nodded, now chatting away in his own bit of curious excitement. "In exchange, she lost her tail that swam so fassssttt~" The Junior High version of Azul glanced up every now and then, the faintest of smirks tugging at his lips. "Mmm...you don't say?" Floyd and Jade shared a look, Jade arching a brow at Azul. "And, Azul...isn't this all your doing? I can't imagine any of those airheaded fish being able to pull off such impressive spells, after all." Floyd nodded again, now leaning a bit towards Azul. "Yeeaaaahhhh, and you've been studying magic fooorreeeevvveeerrrrr!" Unable to hold back his own mischief any longer, Azul covered his mouth lightly as he erupted into snickers. "Hehehehehe...ahahahahahaha! Is that so? Aaahhhh, I can't believe I've been found out already. You two are correct, nonetheless. I finally perfected it! All I need is for someone to sign this magic contract...then I can take whatever ability I so desire from them...I call it- It's A Deal! With this, I can make them all kneel before me...everything you've ever taken pride in..its now mine!" The Azul in the memory erupted into cackles as the scene began to fade out, Jade and Floyd both smirking at each other and Azul's triumph. The Azul standing with you took a moment to adjust his glasses, his gaze lightly trailing over to meet yours. "...I haven't forgotten what happened for even a moment. Those who made fun of me. The faces of those who bullied me. I bid my time, closely observing them from a distance. Their weaknesses, their desires….I know it all! Press on their weak points and I can take their little fast tail. If I know what's bothering them, I can take their beautiful singing voice." Azul soon fully turned to face you, his eyes growing rather crazed once more. "With those golden contracts, I am unbeatable! I am no longer the dumb, clumsy octopus left all alone!" A sense of calming seemed to wash over Azul as his eyes flickered up and down your form in silence. "...Everything is under my control with this power. All those who ever made fun of me...will now kneel before me." A rather warm, sweet smile graced your lips. You calmly stepped towards Azul, whose eyes lightly widened at the sight of you growing nearer. You soon brought your arms around him once again, removing the fedora from his head to pat him soothingly. Azul allowed his eyes to flutter shut at the sensations, and both of your visions soon faded to black as you remained in each other's arms…
"Aaaazzzzzuuuuulllll, Shrimmmmmmmpppppyyyyyyy~" You soon heard Floyd's voice directly above you as Azul startled awake beside you. Your eyes flutter open as both you and Azul sit up, now sparing a glance down to your still interlocked hands. A swift blush seemed to overtake Azul's features at the gesture, already gently removing his hand from yours. Jade and Floyd both began to smile at Azul and tell him just how happy they were that he was okay. Your own friends, along with Ruggie and Leona, checked you over. Floyd began to tease Azul as to what he had said and done, to which Azul seemed rather worn out and confused. You and Jack soon began to tell Azul just how intelligent he was for his notes. After a few more remarks from the others, a geek out from Azul over his old elementary photo, and Grim devouring another odd black stone that had appeared after Azul's Overblot, you and your group soon went your separate ways. 
A few days later, you all met back up again to head back to the museum to see the sights and return the photo you had stolen for the deal. Floyd and Jade began to rattle on about dinglehoppers amongst other things. Azul took the photo in his hands, now turning the corner to return it. You soon follow, allowing your hands to tuck behind your back. The octopus soon stopped, turning his head to face you. "Ah….[Y/n]. First of all, may I formally apologize for my….rather odd outburst. And secondly, there is no need to doubt me….I will properly return it." Azul placed the photo back onto the wall. He placed a finger onto the section where he had used to be on it, now letting said finger slowly drag down the painting. "....I thought that if I could erase all of the photos from my past...my time spent being bullied as a 'dumb, clumsy octopus' would fade along with them. The Sea Witch never hid her dark past but faced it and worked to overwrite her reputation. I kept saying that I wanted to be like her, but...in the end, I couldn't even accept who I was and tried to act like it never happened." Soon, you smiled, tilting your head to the side at Azul. You gently took one of his hands in yours, now gazing into his eyes. "You have a strength greater than any magic. I honestly think you're pretty great without having to steal from others! We cannot change the past, Azul. We cannot change the harsh words that those children pelted you with in your youth. But...we learn to keep our heads and move on. And look at you! You do it in spades! You're intelligent, savvy, have a literal business that you're running within the school...you don't have to steal anything to be a great person. You just keep being who you are." Azul seemed taken aback by your sweet words. His eyes began to water, a swallow being seen that the male took in. A soft, relieved smile soon graced the lips of the octopus as he held your gaze. It was the most genuine you had seen him yet. "...There is no need for you to flatter me, dear. I...only wanted to get back at those who had made fun of me for so long." You tilted your head to the side as an eyebrow perked up. "Can no one say anything without you thinking it's some sort of trick? Hmmm. Anyways, I thought you were pretty cute in that form, anyways." Azul choked, his eyes widening. A blush had taken over his face again, to which he raised his hand and mockingly adjusted his glasses in the hopes of hiding it. "C-c-cute?" 
You couldn't help but giggle at Azul's reaction. Azul's lightly coughed into his arm. "Right. I….must admit, [Y/n]. You are certainly more sly than I took you for originally. Though I am not pleased with the result, that plan with Leona and Ruggie was a work of raw genius. I am almost a bit peeved that I did not come up with it myself." Your eyes roll as you meet Azul's gaze once more. "Yeah, and I didn't need to steal anyone's Unique Magic to do it. Just grab some pots and pans and start banging them while he's trying to sleep- and you're set." You and Azul began to laugh in unison at the image, Azul nodding his head. "Mmmm...mental note, swiftly close doors when you spot [Y/n] with a pot or some pans." You jokingly raise your free hand and begin to swish it in the water to illustrate your point. That got Azul cracking up all over again. "Mmm Mmm Mmm. Keep that up, [Y/n], and I may have to kiss you for such underhanded methods." "You already did." Azul chuckled and hummed, allowing a finger to tap at his chin. His free hand seized you by the waist, now pulling you towards him. His gaze was locked onto you below him with a devilish smirk now tugging at his lips. "Mind if I jog my memory for a moment, Angelfish~" Your lips met, Azul sweeping his opposite hand that held you over your hair to brush it out of the way. Some baby seahorses suddenly swam into the museum and swam in a circular motion around the two of you, sweeping both your hair and clothes up around you. Azul's lips soon floated off yours as he met your gaze once more. Right as he was about to speak, a wolf whistle was heard from behind the two of you. "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH SNNNAAAAAPPPPP, AHAHAHAHAHA! AZUL AND SHRIMMMPPPPYYYY SWWWIIIIMMMIIINNNGGG INNN THE SEEEAAAAA~" Azul's face erupted into a blush as he released a startled grunt at Floyd, who was now making hearts with his hands. Jade soon chuckled and swam up beside him to finish the line. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Heheheh~" Azul was quick to facepalm and now regrab his fedora, placing it upon his head to cover his blush. He released you and set you upright, clearing his throat. He muttered under his breath. "...They will never let me live that down." You giggled once more. Soon, you were called over by Ace and Grim, who were now all marveling at some sort of sea dragon. As you swam off, Azul puffed out a breath and watched you swim off, a warm smile gracing his lips. "...Maybe I was the true, poor unfortunate soul all along...before I met you." 
((Hey Hey Hey, everybody! The second part to the Overblot!Azul x Reader is now here! I hope you all enjoyed! Next up is the part two for Leona, so stay tuned and stay awesome~ 💖🌹
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bbugyu · 3 years ago
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of all the views you had seen, there was little that could compare to him.
6.2k | cavalry captain!jeonghan x gn pyro!reader, genshin impact au, fluff, adventure, drinking, so much flirting, mentions of trauma, honestly this is the sweetest i'm ever gonna write jeonghan
happy inazuma release day!!! it's your local kaeya trash, because i predictably fall for gay bastards that lie straight to my face (example: jeonghan), and i'm here to give you a fic i wrote AGES ago and just polished up a bit to celebrate the release of what is likely going to be my FAVORITE region in genshin impact. i'm japanese so 😅 i have a soft spot. if there's any other gaymer carats out there, enjoy this one. if not, sorry! you can actually probably still read this and understand it for the most part, though you might miss a bit of context of the landscape and the lore.
ps. go tell @babiemingoo that wonwoo xinqiu 🤭
~
your work with the adventurer's guild was always efficient. you received your commissions, you carried them out, then returned for your reward, usually before the sun had even peaked. the rest of your day was generally spent either basking in the eternal sun of mondstadt, feeding cats in inazuma, or enjoying a hard earned meal in liyue, depending on where you decided to stay that week, finding board and paying for it with the commission you had earned that day. your tendency to wander came less from choice and more from nature - you could call yourself a nomad, but generally, you just got bored, and preferred seeing everything teyvat had to offer rather than settling in one place. adventuring was simply what you were meant to do, your mother had told you at a young age.
she, too, had wandered for most of her youth, and didn't stop just because you had come into her life. you remembered getting scooped up because you had wandered off a bit too close to the railing at wangshu inn as a toddler, playing with dogs at the docks of liyue harbor. you remembered the ludi harpastum and the first time you had ever had a sweet honey roast, and the way it made your eyes grow ten times in size before you dug in for more.
when your vision was bestowed upon you, you already knew how to use a sword. it was important, your mother told you, that you knew how to protect yourself. she had a vision as well, younger even than you had, and you had come to recognize the static in the air as a sign that she was angry - whether it was because of an altercation with someone on your journey or because you had secretly eaten the last hashbrown without consulting her first.
she used her vision and a sturdy blade she had owned since before you were born to protect the two of you on the road, but when she felt you were old enough, she taught you how to weild. a two handed weapon that was far too big for you when you were only fourteen, but when your reckless abandon got paired with a spark, you suddenly became far more dangerous than even your own mother. she scolded you for nearly starting a forest fire when you tried to pair the two skills for the first time after receiving your vision, and you both agreed that training was a beach activity from then on.
your mother settled eventually, after you were old and skilled enough to take on the road alone, pulling the many favors she had gathered in her travels to build a home in a small neighborhood south of liyue harbor, nestled in the foothills of mount tianheng, where you visited as often as your wandering allowed.
you had become much better with your vision. more careful but just as hot. quick to scan situations and strategize in the moment, hardly taking a second before jumping into action, slaying hilichurls like you were getting paid. well, you were, you supposed, but you had been doing this long before you had discovered the benefit of joining the guild. you were good at it. you were built for adventure, but revelled in leisure. there was good reason you were able to take afternoons off, and you milked every last second of it.
"you're back in town?"
you grinned, leaning your sword against the wall and dropping your bag off your shoulders before settling at the bar. "for now."
rubin often served you alcohol - when you were in mondstadt, at least, however often that may be - but never questioned you deeply. he would ask how your travels were, and listen to your stories from regions beyond his knowledge, of the cultures that he had only heard of from people like you. he enjoyed them just about as much as any, if not a little more, purely because your tenacious personality brought something more to the table. he wondered, though, how long you intended to keep living day by day, sleeping in different beds every week.
"what's wrong with sleeping in different beds?" you teased, laughing into your wine glass. "if i didn't know any better, i'd think you were shaming me, rube."
rubin simply laughed, knowing your tone by now. "i just wonder if you ever intend on digging in your roots, or if you'll continue travelling forever."
"if i dig roots, you may never see me again. is that what you want?"
"what," he said. "you don't like mondstadt?"
"i love monstadt," you assured him. "but i also love inazuma. and my mother is in liyue, though she might be upset with me if i try to settle too close to her. perhaps natlan would suit me more?" you shrugged finally, the door behind you opening as you finished with "i suppose i'll settle when i've found a reason to love one place more than the rest."
rubin shook his head, a chuckle falling from his lips. "a wanderer through and through." his attention was quickly drawn to the man entering the bar. "ah, captain! the usual?"
"please," the decorated man said, quickly taking a seat beside you despite the rest of the bar being available. "would you like another, wanderer?"
you eyed him cautiously, studying what you could see if his face around the black eyepatch, gaze skimming down his elaborate clothing before looking down at your emptied drink. "sure."
"another for your wandering friend, rubin, on my tab, please." your brain swirled, considering the brief information you had been given and wondered how you had never managed to meet this regular during your past visits. "are you just drinking dandelion wine, or something more fun?"
"more fun?" you asked. "what are you drinking, then?"
"well, a death after noon, of course," he stated. "don't tell me you haven't had one."
you blinked at him. "i haven't."
you turned towards rubin when he laughed at the back and forth. "shall i make two, then?"
"definitely," your new drinking buddy said, then gestured to you. "you trust my taste, right?"
you said nothing, but he accepted your silent smile as an agreeance. "captain," you said finally, thinking of how rubin had addressed him. "of?"
the man turned towards you, his elbow planted on the bar and his cheek on a fist. despite his get up, he had a playful smirk across his lips. "you mean, my reputation doesn't precede me? you really are a wanderer. everyone in mondstadt knows my name."
"everyone but me," you corrected. "as i'm currently in mondstadt."
his teeth shone behind his smirking lips before he sat up straight. "well, allow me to introduce myself." he saluted, his arm extending from his side at an angle - a salute you recognized from the guards around the city. "i am jeonghan, the cavalry captain of the knights of favonius."
"ah, the knights," you smiled briefly, before letting your eyes wander as you thought, crossing your arms over the bar. "i don't see much of a cavalry in the city, though."
he let out an amused exhale. "so i have a bit more free time these days."
"i'm sure the acting grand master is jealous of all your free time," you teased. "poor guy, looks like he's staving off a panic attack every time i see him. you should probably help him more."
"so," he sighed, leaning against the bar again. "you know of the acting grand master but not me?"
"jihoon?" you asked. "of course i know of him. he's all anyone ever talks about around here."
jeonghan nodded once, thanking rubin when he placed two drinks before you. "people talk about me, also, you know."
your lips stuck out in a pout. "jeonghan, you said? doesn't ring a bell."
he rolled his eyes and picked up his drink, holding it out for you to cheers against. you giggled, clinking your glass against his before taking a sip. the golden liquid was sweet, but not like the dandelion wine you had grown to love in this region. it had more depth, a subtle bitterness to it, and a refreshing bubble. you stared after the glass when it left your lips, then looked over to find jeonghan grinning at you.
"i see why it's your usual," you said, taking another sip before placing the glass on the bar. "i could drink too many."
"will you?" he asked.
"not tonight," you replied coolly. "i haven't asked sana to put me up at the guild yet, and if i get there too late, i'll get a cot instead of a bed. unless rubin finally wants to come clean about something?"
the bartender laughed. "how many times do i have to tell you? we don't even have rooms to board."
you squinted at him. "i know there's something upstairs. i'll learn your secrets one day, rube."
"i wouldn't be a very good bartender if i didn't know how to keep them."
"so you're in the guild?" jeonghan asked as rubin attended to another patron. "an adventuring wanderer."
you smiled vaguely at him. "i am. i have to pay for my travels somehow."
he shrugged. "there's other ways to make money. probably more profitable, too."
you eyed his teasing smirk. "i'm not sure i know what you're implying."
"as a captain of the knights of favonius, i assure you, i'm implying nothing at all," he said, exhaling sharply and adjusting on his stool. he leaned over towards you before speaking in a quieter tone. "but as jeonghan, i think you know exactly what i'm implying."
you only laughed, recognizing the thinly veiled attempt to worm a secret out of you. "i outgrew those means a long time ago. besides, when mora gets tight, i can always board up with my mother. i like liyue enough."
jeonghan studied you as you drank again. "liyue's home, is it?'
"for her, yes," you said, looking over to him, but you found yourself looking away again when his steely blue gaze met yours. you thought carefully about how much of yourself you were willing to reveal to this stranger, especially considering how important he was in the rule of the city. "she was a wanderer, too, and ended up falling in love with liyue harbor."
jeonghan made note of the way your face softened as you spoke about your mother. "and what about you?"
you met his intent look again, thinking about how his covered eye somehow made him even more intimidating. perhaps that was its purpose. "what about me?"
"what have you fallen in love with?"
a smile crept onto your lips as you processed his question. "oh, archons, what have i not fallen in love with? the smell of the open ocean in inazuma, the breathtaking temples in sumeru - have you ever been to waterfall city?"
jeonghan merely shook his head at you, the corners of his mouth turning upwards as he put his cheek on a fist again, leaning against the bar. "beautiful?"
you exhaled, eyes wide as you thought of the towering falls and the light mist that covered the city, trying to come up with an apt description. "humbling. there's nothing like it."
he watched your expression, head tilting further. "what a wonderful way to describe a place. tell me more."
your gaze went to him, then away briefly, feeling suddenly shy as you noticed his look. "about waterfall city?"
he shrugged a fur covered shoulder, shaking his head lightly. "about anywhere. describe your world, wanderer. i'd like to hear whatever you have to say."
you wondered if the heat that ran through you was because of the alcohol or the man, but you just took another drink and cleared your throat lightly, thinking of more places you had discovered in your travels. you thought of qingce village, one of your favorite places to visit, because the people are kind and welcoming and the fields are so beautiful. you told him about a tea shop owned by an old man - he insisted you call him pops so fiercely that you weren't even sure you had caught his given name - and it was probably the most relaxing cup of tea you ever had.
"it's been a while since i've gone," you sighed. "i think i'm overdue for a chat with pops and his tea."
jeonghan was smiling when you looked at him again. "the tea in liyue is unmatched," he said, reaching for his drink. before taking another sip, he gestured for you to continue.
so you did. you told him about sakura pond, about celestia city, about the volcanic black beaches. you told him liyue had your favorite people, but inazuma had your favorite food. he clicked his tongue at you.
"what about mondstadt? do we have one of your favorites?"
you smiled, genuinely. "sunsets. the night sky is different here than it is anywhere else. i think mondstadt is the closest we can get to the stars without joining the archons."
jeonghan studied you briefly, his blue eye flicking over your face as you finished your drink. "i think that's an apt observation. it seems your eyes are always wide."
"i travel for the views," you exhaled. "i don't plan on missing any."
he thought a second. "have you been to starsnatch cliff?"
your eyes lit up. "not in years," you said, in complete shock that you could have forgotten such a place. you pushed from the bar slightly, turning towards him, and he noticed the flash of a red gem strapped to your right thigh for the first time. "my mother took me there when i was a kid, but i haven't gone since."
"it never gets old," he said, sipping at the end of his drink. "i've yet to see that view and not be in awe."
"i'll go before i leave mondstadt again," you decided.
he looked to you. "when will that be?"
you sighed. "not sure, yet."
he just chuckled. "would you like another drink?"
"oh, no," you said, standing and stretching your spine. "i should make my leave. i don't like sleeping on cots. i just came by to let my ol' pal rube know i was in town again."
jeonghan watched you pull your pack onto your back, grabbing the handle of your sheathed claymore from where it was leaning against the wall next to the bar. "perhaps i'll see you again tomorrow?"
you looked at him, a vague smile on your lips as you strapped your sword back on. "perhaps you will, captain."
"jeonghan," he corrected. "but i don't believe you ever shared your name?"
"that was by design, captain," you said, and he swore he caught a glint in your eye as you bid rubin a farewell and stepped out of the angel's share.
jeonghan spun back around on his stool, immediately looking to rubin. "do you know their name?"
"no, sir," he said, looking at the closed door. "they've never said."
jeonghan's gaze went to the empty glass you had left behind, thinking about your stories, your sword, and the signifier of your vision on your thigh. "fascinating."
you got lucky - sana had a private room for you, and said you were welcome to rent it for your stay. she said not many people were travelling to mondstadt these days, and that more often than not, the adventurer's barracks in headquarters went unused. ever since the fatui had holed up in the grand goth hotel, it had been harder for you to make extended stays in mondstadt, but it seemed that something was telling you to stick around longer than usual. you laid on the hard mattress - a feeling that was more comforting than most, thanks to your continuous travels - and thought of the charming captain that had made a night of questioning you. you wondered if he really had any interest in anything you had to say, or if he had been hoping for details about something pertinent to an investigation.
you packed a lighter bag in the morning, only bringing along the essentials as you set out for your commissions for the day. that afternoon, you wandered around mondstadt and asked questions. questions about the simultaneously well-discussed and mysterious cavalry captain that had listened to your tales of travel, and answers came easier than expected, though they didn't contain all the details you were looking for. that night, you waited up at the angel's share to brag about your newfound knowledge to the captain that never showed, and you did your best to not let that hurt your ego.
the next day, you made a detour on your way back to the city after completing your commissions, stopping by springvale to enjoy a well deserved lunch and catch up with some locals. you sat in the grass with a skewer of grilled meat, watching the windmills of mondstadt steadily spin in the distance as time passed, thinking about how rubin had asked you if you didn't like it here.
you did, you decided. mondstadt felt different than anywhere else you had been. untouched, almost. wilder. freer. despite being born in inazuma, your first memories being in celestia, or your mother being in liyue, mondstadt felt comfortable. felt like a home. you wondered to yourself what that might mean.
sana greeted you happily when you returned much later than you normally did. she told you to go ahead to the guild and come back, filing away your reports and retrieving your rewards. you dropped off your things in your rented room, quickly, practically galloping back down the steps towards the entrance of the city to continue your conversation with the adventurer guilds' mighty receptionist without your sword weighing you down. you crossed your arms on the counter, comfortably lounging as you chatted with her, having always enjoyed her conversations more than most. like rubin, she was a reason mondstadt always felt comfortable.
"fancy meeting you here," an all too familiar voice said, and you pulled your eyes from sana to find jeonghan leaning his side against the counter next to you.
"good evening, cavalry captain!" sana chirped, placing your reward - your room free already removed - on the counter and bowing politely. "can i help you with anything today?"
his icy gaze flickered from your lightly curved lips towards sana. "oh, no, my dear. i'm just coming back from an investigation near springvale"
"interesting," you said, eyeing him. "i was just there and didn't see you."
"i wouldn't be very good at my job if you did, wanderer," he grinned. "knight business, you wouldn't understand. got the assignment yesterday."
"ah," you shifted to your side to face him, making him eye the vision on your thigh. "is that why you never showed? rubin was worried."
he looked you up and down. "rubin was, huh?"
you rolled your eyes and adjusted your posture to face away from his smirk. sana looked between the two of you twice before clearing her throat as quietly as possible, making jeonghan let out a chuckle before he directed his attention to the guild's receptionist.
"how goes holding the post, sana?"
she looked almost frightened when the attention was directed back to her. "good, captain! in fact, one of our most capable adventurers-" she gestured to you, "-just returned from taking care of some of our more difficult commissions - no one else would take them."
jeonghan looked at you. "why did sana have to tell your secret?"
your eyebrows quirked upwards. "what secret?"
"that you're good at this. shouldn't you be bragging?"
a chuckle spilled from your lips, and jeonghan watched you as you looked away. "i'm not the bragging type."
he studied you a moment. "what type are you, then?"
you considered the question, wondering exactly how to answer. what type were you? if not a teller, than surely you must be a shower, but that didn't seem right either. you exhaled. "the quiet type. see you later, sana."
he laughed, pushing off the counter as you tucked your mora into your waist bag, wishing sana a good evening and following you towards the fountain. "you sure talk a lot for being the quiet type."
a smirk landed itself on your lips as he fell into step beside you. "maybe private is a better description."
"that one i can see," jeonghan said, looking over to you. he thought of how you had spent nearly an hour telling him about the best views in teyvat, yet he still didn't know the most basic information about you. "do you share your name with anyone?"
you thought. "my mother."
he scoffed. "anyone else?"
you looked to the sky. "rubin."
"wrong," he retorted. "he doesn't know your name, either."
you laughed, looking over to him as you came up to the fountain, spinning and sitting back on the ledge. "you asked?"
"of course i asked," he said, planting one foot on the ledge beside you and placing his arms on his knee. "i asked other people, too. almost everyone knows you, but they don't know anything about you. bits and pieces, but never the full picture."
you just smiled up at him from your relaxed posture on the concrete. "what's wrong with a little intrigue?"
he just smiled back at you. "nothing. i tend to keep a bit myself. did you know there's a large number of people in this city that were shocked when i said you wield a claymore?"
you hummed, dipping the tips of your fingers into the fountain. "did you know there's a large number of people in this city that consider you the most eligible bachelor in not only mondstadt, but in all of teyvat?"
his lips parted slightly as you spoke. "so you snooped, too."
"i was bored yesterday. it wasn't hard," you exhaled. you flicked a drop of water towards his foot. "jeonghan yoon, the cavalry captain of the knights of favonius since he was only nineteen. who loves wine and whose adopted brother runs the biggest winery in teyvat, yet they're hardly ever seen speaking. who comes from a far off land on a different continent, but has come to love mondstadt like it was his home. who wears an eyepatch but has never told anyone why."
he chuckled at the assessment and pulled his foot off the ledge to sit beside you. "so when do i get to learn about you?"
"i told you about me yesterday," you said.
"you told me about teyvat," he corrected. "and while i was able to infer some things about your character, i still know close to nothing about you."
you thought for a moment, realizing no one had ever noticed how little you truly shared despite always being willing to tell stories. "sometimes it feels like i am teyvat. it's hard to think of things that are just about me."
"you could start with that vision," he said, nodding at the strap across your thigh. you looked down at it, exhaling.
"what's there to tell? you know what it means, and that's more teyvat than me, too."
he leaned back on a hand, looking you up and down in curiosity. "how old were you."
you chewed your cheek. "fourteen. you?"
his lip quirked upwards. "sixteen."
you bumped his shoulder with yours playfully. "beat you."
he laughed. "how'd it happen?"
you paused. "you go first."
he just chuckled and looked away, watching a dog wander past the general store. "another day, then."
"no fun," you sighed, brushing your hands together as you leaned forward. "what about the eyepatch?"
he met your eyes, mouth slanted in a smirk. "another day."
you clicked your tongue. "if you wanna learn about me, you have to be willing to give up some details, too. i value a fair trade."
"then stop asking questions that you know i won't share the answer to." jeonghan noticed the color of the sky, then suddenly pulled a pocket watch out, checking it quickly to confirm that there was enough time and stood. "come with me?"
you stared up at him. "where?"
he grinned, extending a hand to help you to your feet. "you said mondstadt's sunsets were your favorite, correct?"
you generally weren't prone to following mysterious men into back corridors, but jeonghan easily convinced you with no words at all that sneaking around the sight line of the acting grand master was completely normal behavior, sushing you with a grin as you giggled, taking refuge around a corner after the two of you made it up to the second floor of the favonius headquarters. he tugged your hand with his, pulling you into a steep maintenance staircase behind a door.
"this feels like it's against some rules," you said, climbing the stairs behind him.
"nonsense," he said, looking back at you and grinning. "are you suggesting that a knight of favonius would break rules just to impress a mysterious traveler?"
you laughed quietly, wondering if he really meant that he wanted to impress you. "not most, but maybe this one."
he only thought for a split second. "if anyone asks, we're on official knight business."
he opened the door and you found the sky again, beginning to glow orange as the edge of the sun began to hide behind the cliffs. you stared in awe at the way the few fluffy clouds reflected pink and gold, then readjusted your focus when jeonghan spoke again.
"i hope you aren't afraid of heights," he said, walking over to the parapets that surrounded you. "the best view requires a bit of a climb."
you looked up at the tower, and while it wasn't much higher than where you stood, you also recognized that you were well above most of mondstadt already. "you climb up there?"
he paused, studying you. "we don't have to, we can just sit on a merlon-"
"no, we can climb," you said, walking over to where he was and eyeing the small gap between the parapet and the adjacent roof. "hop over?"
he laughed, stepping over the gap and holding a hand out for you. "watch your step."
and though you didn't need it, you accepted the hand anyways, and it stayed on yours as you walked over the roof to the tower, as if making sure you didn't misstep several stories in the air.
"would you like to go first?" he asked. "i'll catch you if you fall."
you rolled your eyes at him, dropping your hand from his grip. "you go first. i want to see where the handholds are."
he just grinned at you. "very well," he said, tugging on the wrists of his fingerless gloves to make sure they were taught against his skin before taking hold of a brick. you watched him as he took foothold after foothold, and he resisted the urge to show off by speedily scaling the wall in favor of making sure you had the chance to see where he gripped. when he reached the opening in the tower, he pulled himself up and spun around, exhaling with a grin as he seated himself at the ledge with his legs dangling above you.
"your turn."
you adjusted your waist bag as you sighed in amused annoyance, spinning it to be behind you and out of your hips' way to climb the wall. it wasn't much - a couple meters, maybe - and you had definitely climbed further, but jeonghan's presence made you slightly nervous. that nervousness, however, just fueled you to prove yourself.
you scaled the wall easily, making jeonghan whistle and jokingly call you some kind of adventurer, and your only hesitation came when his hand was in your face. despite your initial inclination to ignore it, you put your left hand in his, allowing him to help you pull yourself up on the ledge and sit beside him.
"impressive," he commented.
you laughed, brushing off your hands. "you, too."
"c'mon," he said, gesturing his head over his shoulder before making moves to stand. "the view's on the other side."
you sighed, looking over the view of mondstadt shrouded in golden light as he stood and walked to the other ledge. "never a moment of rest with you."
"if you want to miss the sunset, be my guest."
you leaned back on your hands and laughed, pulling your gaze away from the city to look at where jeonghan had seated himself on the other end of the tower, and subsequently the view of the rolling hills beyond him that were glowing golden in the evening sun. you blinked for a second, realizing you hadn't seen the sunset the night before, and quickly got to your feet to join him before you missed this one, too.
he gave you a soft smile when you sat beside him, and you briefly wondered how many he had in his repertoire. the wind was stronger higher, whipping gently through his hair and alleviating any uncomfortable warmth you may have had from exerting yourself on the way up. you watched the dregs of sunlight skip across the grassy hills and the sky turn deep orange and bright pink, feet swinging lightly over the edge of the tower.
"i was fighting with my brother," he said suddenly, causing you to look at him with a start before you realized he was telling you about his vision. there was a slight smile on his face as he looked out on the fields. "hyungwon. it was bad. he already had his - he's a pyro, like you - and we were both young and stupid and just lost our dad. we were sword fighting and it came to me when i needed it. it probably saved my life, honestly."
you blinked at him. "you think he would have killed you?'
he exhaled, leaning back on his hands. "i think if the roles had been reversed, i would have tried to kill him, too. i'm grateful it didn't go that way, though." he coughed abruptly, clearing his throat. "we're on speaking terms, and i do love him as a brother, but i generally avoid him."
you let that thought ruminate as you watched the sun sink, halfway beyond the horizon. "my father was in a gang in inazuma, but my mom ran away when she found out she was pregnant. didn't want to raise a kid in that world, i guess? we ran into him when i got older and he wasn't very understanding." you paused, remembering the detail too well. "they were going to take her vision. that's what they did to traitors. probably take me, too. they weren't expecting me to start setting fires."
jeonghan's gaze was on you as yours was on the horizon. "just a couple of survivors."
you looked over at him, a smirk on your lips. "a couple?"
he laughed waving at your implication, thinking he would have said the same thing in an attempt to fluster you just as you were to him. "like, more than one and less than four."
you only laughed back. "fortune favors the weak, i suppose. the archons saw we needed help and extended a fig branch."
"is that what it was?" he asked, a laugh on his lips. "we were both fighting people. that's hardly an offer of peace."
"look for the deeper meaning, jeonghan. we were fighting for our lives," you pointed out, and he realized it was the first time you had addressed him by his name rather than his title. "i was fighting for family. for freedom. is that not the greatest pursuit of peace?"
he watched you as you pulled your knees to your chest, putting your feet on the edge of the stonework surface you sat on. he studied the way the golden rays lit your skin and made your eyes sparkle. "i suppose so."
you paused in that moment for a long while, and jeonghan allowed the comfortable silence as the two of you watched the sun disappear beyond the cliffs of mondstadt. the sky was turning a deep shade of purple when you told him your name, and jeonghan thought that it was quite possibly the best news he had ever received, but he kept that joy to himself as he confirmed your name, and you rolled your eyes.
"are you gonna answer my other question now?"
he scoffed. "about the eyepatch? is it really that interesting?"
"not any more interesting than my name," you retorted.
"completely untrue," jeonghan insisted. "i've never been so excited to be told a secret, and i get told a lot of secrets."
you eyed his smile warily. "my name may be unknown, but it's no secret."
he sighed and shook his head lightly. "you really wanna know the reason i wear it? it's probably not as dramatic as you're hoping."
"yet you hide it?"
he laughed. "what's wrong with a little intrigue?"
you looked away, recognizing the parrot of your own words. "whatever you say, captain."
"no!" he whined and grabbed your arm, making you start and look at him with big eyes. "you just started calling me jeonghan, don't go back to captain."
you stared at him, only breaking to laugh, dropping your legs over the edge again. "you won't show me what's under the eyepatch, so i thought we weren't on first name basis."
his hand on your bicep was warm and gentle, but his gaze was piercing as he thought it over for a bit longer. you did your best to hold it, but you felt yourself shrinking when he quietly muttered, "go on, then."
it took you a second to register what he meant, and you reached out slowly, fingers hesitating before they brushed upon his cheekbone. jeonghan closed his eyes, resigning to your touch as you gently lifted the eyepatch. his eyes opened again, slowly, and you thought your heart might have skipped a beat.
"like chocolate," you commented, and a smile spread across his lips.
"that's the kindest reaction i've gotten."
your fingers fell upon his temple, brushing down gently as you inspected his singular brown eye. "since birth?"
he nodded, his eyes flicking down to your lips briefly before he spoke. "heterochromia. it's a characteristic of my family."
you studied his face. "not the one here?"
he sighed. "not the one here."
the icy blue of jeonghan's eye had always struck something in you. it made him mysterious. commanding. it felt like he saw more than you despite having one eye covered. but now, you felt warm. you felt his gentleness. there was comfort hidden away behind that black patch, and you told him that you understood why the cavalry captain had chosen to hide the eye he did.
but to you, he was willing to show anything that would keep you around longer, he said.
"why me?" you asked, studying his expression when he looked away. the sun had retreated behind the hills, leaving the sky a deep blue.
jeonghan didn't respond right away, and you wondered if he himself even knew the answer. "we're birds of a feather, you and i."
you looked out to the view again, watching the subtle movements of the wild hills. "did you travel much before you came here?"
"it was all i knew," he told you. "i was thirteen when my father left me here."
your neck snapped, your eyes on his profile when he leaned back on his hands. "left you?"
he almost laughed, a smile on his lips when his eyes met yours. "i was slowing him down, i suppose. hyungwon's father found me and took me in."
"so you stayed?"
"i didn't always want to," he assured you. "i had the itch to leave for years. as soon as i was able, i always told myself." he paused, eyes dropping. "then father died. then hyungwon turned down his position with the knights. and i was their second choice."
you pursed your lips. "you stayed for a job."
he laughed. "it's not that simple."
you smiled at him, enjoying the warmth of his eyes on yours as the sky cooled. "are you sure we're birds of a feather?"
"listen," he said, getting off his hands and brushing them off on his thighs. "i accepted the job so that i could set the story straight. i didn't want to run from the people that believed that hyungwon tried to kill me to avenge our father."
you studied him. "i'm sorry."
"don't be," he said, nudging your shoulder. "i was still planning on leaving, but then i fell in love."
you looked away, trying to sort out the way your stomach flipped. "are they still around?"
"not with a person," he laughed, then nodded towards the now dark hills. "with the views. besides, i get free reign whenever i leave for missions. i have fun adventuring, and come home to the best sunsets in teyvat. there are worse places to call home."
your eyes scanned the horizon, remembering the brilliant rays of sun you had just seen skip across it. "that is tempting."
"how tempting?" he asked.
you thought on that for a moment. "almost as much as a death after noon right now."
jeonghan laughed, slightly proud that he had hooked you on his favorite drink. "shall we go see rubin, then?"
you hummed, smiling at the captain. "as long as i don't have to sit alone again."
"that's a promise," he told you as he stood, holding out a hand that you took without hesitation, though he withheld his intention to make sure you were never alone again.
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lillupon · 4 years ago
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I've noticed that Mingyu has never called Mr. Jeon "baby" before and I wonder what Mr. Jeon's reaction would be, the first time that Mingyu will call him that 💕💕💕💕
Hmm, maybe the first time Mingyu calls Wonwoo baby, it’s after Wonwoo has had a god awful day at work.
(lmao this snip is called "Wonwoo and the the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". We get to see angry and frustrated Wonwoo for the first time! It also ended up being canon-divergent, oops. I almost didn't post this, but then I was like... it's not even part of the actual fic, what am I worried about???)
Wonwoo barely got any sleep the previous night, stressed by all the assignments and tests he has to mark, and all the deadlines he has to meet in time for reporting. Pressure from admin, pressure from parents. Every time a student fails, it's his fault. Apparently, he "doesn't actually teach". So what the hell am I doing in front of the classroom, four hours a day, if I'm not teaching? he wants to demand. Picking my nose? Doing stand-up comedy? The cherry on top: he has a teaching evaluation in two days. His anxious mind keeps him up all night.
He ends up sleeping through his alarm. He jolts out of bed when he realises what time it is. A quick splash of water on the face is all he has time for. He brushes his teeth while relieving his bladder. He loses his balance while trying to jam a leg into his trousers and nearly face-plants. He sacrifices breakfast and his morning drip. Even then, he barely makes it to Pledis on time. It’s not a good start to his morning, and the day only gets worse from there.
A senior class first block is usually a gentle start to the day. But prom is coming up soon, and everyone is talking about who is going with whom, who’s going to be riding in so-and-so’s limo. Students chatter about after-parties; there’s more than one, apparently, and one of them is far more exclusive than the other. There’s gossip about relationships and cheating. One girl bursts into tears in the middle of his lesson because another girl is going to be wearing the same dress as her. She’s a loud crier. Maybe Wonwoo would have handled all of this better if he wasn’t so irritated, but he is irritated, so he doesn't.
He stops dead in the middle of a sentence, lips tightening, teeth grinding. He clenches his fists. He's shaking, he realises. It takes physical effort to unclench his jaw to speak. “Are you serious? You interrupted the entire class because of a stupid dress?”
That makes her cry harder. “You don’t understand, Mr. Jeon. I posted a picture of the dress I was going to wear to my Insta first.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand. And I don’t care, either,” Wonwoo responds coldly. “I need you to leave my classroom. You’re disturbing everyone.”
She swipes a forearm across her eyes and does as she’s told. She makes for the door, wobbling on coltish legs.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, Wonwoo thinks. His eyes flicker to the ceiling, halfway to an eyeroll, but not quite there.
Jihyo stands to go after her friend.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Wonwoo demands.
Jihyo casts a forlorn glance toward the door. “I was just--”
“No, you’re not. Sit down.” Once Jihyo settled, he says, "As I was saying, you have a test next Fri--"
A boy cuts in: "Mr. Jeon, no, that's evil! That's the day before--"
"Don't interrupt me while I'm speaking," Wonwoo says. "The test is next Friday. You are seniors. Get your priorities straight." He turns around the write the test date on the whiteboard. That's when someone mutters under their breath: "Wow, Mr. Jeon needs to get laid."
And that--an indirect insult to his alpha, who is sitting right there--has his anger exploding. He can't hold back the snarl when he whips around and says: "Get out of my classroom."
It's the loudest he's ever raised his voice, and it shocks the entire class silent and motionless. The boy who made the comment gapes at him. Wonwoo glares him down, seething. He holds his body so tight that it quivers with tension. Mingyu is taking care of him, dammit, as best as he can given their situation; he knows Mingyu would do more, if asked, if allowed. Wonwoo jerks his head toward the door. "Get out," he says again. The boy listens this time.
Wonwoo sweeps his eyes over his students, taking stock of his class. He avoids looking at Mingyu.
His entire body feels hot. Sweat prickles at the nape of his neck, under his arm. He wonders if this is a sign of pre-heat, or if he is just this fucking incensed. He draws in a breath, holds it in his chest, and then exhales it slowly.
Already, embarrassment is welling up to replace his anger. He wishes that Mingyu didn’t have to see him like this. There were a million ways he could have handled this situation. Why did he have to react like this?
His grade 9 class doesn't go much better. There’s a group of students that he can't stand, even on the best of days. He finds them rude and disrespectful and entitled; they are popular enough to influence the classroom environment--usually for the worse. Today, they are even more oppositional than usual. They insult him and his teaching, not even bothering to lower their voices. They undermine his authority at every turn. It’s stupid that fourteen year old kids are able to get under his skin like this, but they do.
It's bad karma, he thinks, for the way he acted this morning.
Finally, the lunch bell goes. Students clear out immediately. They don't loiter the way they normally do, chased off by his waspish mood. Wonwoo goes to close the door. The sounds of the hallway are blotted out, leaving his classroom in blessed silence.
Wonwoo's throat feels tight all of a sudden. His eyes blur, hot and stinging. He drops down onto his chair, tears off his glasses, and then puts his face in his hands. Digs the heels of his palms into his eye sockets. His chest deflates with a wet and shuddered exhale.
Three knocks sound at his door.
Wonwoo ignores it. Maybe if he doesn't answer, they'll assume he isn't in, and they'll leave him alone.
His phone vibrates in the pocket of his jacket, the sound muffled. Wonwoo ignores that, too. It isn't until his ringtone goes off with the unique chime that he assigned to Mingyu, that he fishes his phone out of his pocket.
"Hi," Wonwoo says.
"Hey, I'm at your classroom door. Are you inside?"
Wonwoo wipes his eyes with his sleeve. "Yeah."
"Can I come in?"
"Is it just you?"
"It's just me," Mingyu confirms.
Wonwoo goes to unlock the door, cracking it open just enough for Mingyu to slip inside. He knows he shouldn't be alone with a student behind closed doors, but he doesn't want anyone else to see him when he's this pathetic. He doesn't want Mingyu to see him this pathetic either, for that matter, but his desire to be comforted outweighs his shame. He closes the door.
Mingyu takes one look at his face, makes a soft crooning sound, and gathers Wonwoo into his arms. Wonwoo goes easily, melting against a warm chest. His nose instinctively finds the hollow of Mingyu's throat even though he's on blockers and can't actually scent anything.
"Oh, baby," Mingyu whispers, pushing his face into Wonwoo's hair and pressing a kiss there. "I'm sorry. We were such fucking idiots this morning." He goes on talking, alternating between soothing Wonwoo and cursing out his classmates.
The words, spoken in Mingyu's low tenor, wash over Wonwoo without registering in his brain. His mind is still turning over those two carelessly spoken syllables: baby, baby, baby.
Wonwoo tightens his arms around Mingyu's neck and lets out a small whine of need. He wants Mingyu to call him that again, but he doesn't know how to ask. It's a little weird, isn't it, wanting to be called that by someone so much younger than him?
"Hmm?" Mingyu questions with a hum. He runs a palm up and down Wonwoo's back. "What's wrong?"
Wonwoo, face still hidden in the curve of Mingyu's neck, shakes his head.
Mingyu nudges his temple with his nose. "What is it? Tell me, babe," he urges.
It's a long moment before Wonwoo can bring himself to admit it. "I like it when you call me that," he mumbles.
"Oh," Mingyu says, sounding surprised. That obviously wasn't what he expected to come out of Wonwoo's mouth. "That's good." He swallows. Wonwoo can feel his throat bob up and down as he does so. "I wasn't sure how you would feel about it. But that's good, because I like calling you that."
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