#and yet the fate of DA hurts

[spawnofbhaal]

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[indecisivemuch]

Lovesick & Lovelorn

Pairing: Luke Castellan x Reader

Summary: You thought that Luke Castellan, your best friend, did not reciprocate your feelings for him. To cope, you wrote letters addressed to him and kept them in a box. What happens when one of your sisters finds it? Inspired by 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' (fluff, best friends to lovers; you thought it was unreciprocated feelings, happy ending).

Note: Ahh, I'm so happy the show got renewed for season 2.

Word count: 3.3k

You were deeply convinced your fate was tied to one with eternal lovelorn. 

Three years ago, you arrived at Camp Half-Blood and settled into the Hermes cabin before you were claimed by your Godly parent. It was there that you met Luke Castellan - one of your soon-to-be best friends. Though, you knew you were doomed from your first glance into his eyes. Then came his friendly smile and an offer of a handshake, where his hand engulfed yours.

At first, you thought that silly little crush would dissipate. But over time, as you became close friends with the Hermes cabin counselor, you were almost convinced he was faultless. You seemed to adore every little thing about him. Along with the fondness that grew in your heart was also self-pity. At one point, even looking at him hurt because you knew he did not return your feelings.

Hence, the letters.

In between your memories of Luke were letters you wrote throughout those years just to cope with the unreciprocated feeling. It was painful, but what else could you do? You truly believed confessing would put your friendship at risk. Neither did you feel like dealing with the heartache of a rejection. So you never uttered any of your feelings to him, continuing to imprint it on lined papers instead.

You scowled as the pen you were using ran out of ink, leaving the latest edition of unspoken words unfinished. Wordlessly, you fold the incomplete letter into an envelope and shove it into the turquoise box you bought while returning from a quest once. You neatly put the box under your bed.

“Y/N, it’s time to head out,” one of your sisters repeated. Two minutes ago, people were starting to leave, so those on cleaning duties could clean up your cabin. Since you were mid-writing, you hastily asked for a few more seconds. Now, you were the only one left besides two of your sisters.

“Yes, sorry,” you quickly muttered, exiting the cabin and almost immediately bumped into Luke. “Hey, what are you doing here?” you asked.

“I’m here for you. I thought we should hang out,” Luke answered ever so casually. Yet, your heart swelled at the thought that he was there for you. Before you could reply, you two were interrupted by another camper, who told you that one of your other best friends needed you and that it was an emergency.

“I’m so sorry, we’re gonna have to take a rain check on that hangout,” you informed Luke. You slowly started walking backward and away from him. “I’ll see you later, though?”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. Come find me whenever you’re done, yeah?” Luke requested, hoping to spend time with you later. His soft look made you pause mid-step, almost as if your foot had been cemented to the stones beneath. You nodded absentmindedly before snapping out of that state to comfort your friend.

After two hours of listening to your friend and comforting them, you finally left their cabin to search for Luke, who previously told you to find him after. However, around half an hour later, you slowly gave up at the thought of doing so, feeling almost defeated.

As you turned to head back to your cabin, you spotted the Hermes counselor exiting his. You called out his name, watching his back stiffen before he turned to you. You ignored the odd behavior and recalled, “I’m free now if you’re down to hang out.”

“I’m so sorry, but I’m really busy right now.”

“Uhm, well, I guess I’ll just meet you at our spot whenever you’re done then?” you suggested. You and Luke fell into a routine of star-gazing every night.

Laying under the dark sky that painted your whole horizon often made you feel small. But something about that was so calming, especially considering most of the time, you were suffocated by the weight and duties of being a Demigod. You wondered if it was the moment or if it was Luke’ presence that aided your momentary peace.

“I really, really can’t tonight, I have a lot of things to do.”

“Oh… that’s okay. I’ll see you around?” you replied, watching as Luke fidgeted and gulped while attempting to look normal. It was futile, really, because being best friends meant you could sense when the slightest thing was even off. He nodded, and you retreated to your cabin with thoughts swirling in your head.

Then came the next few torturous and confusing days. For the last two years, Luke would always approach you - almost daily, and vice versa. Being best friends with Luke has been wonderful. Every day together felt like a blessing.

Now, it seemed almost like he was avoiding you. He would find a new excuse whenever you approached. He wouldn’t even look in your direction. Yesterday, you made eye contact with him, and he turned away abruptly, facing his back towards you.

You had enough after day three. You went to your cabin after dinner and reached under your bed with one hand. You did not want to, but this would perhaps be your first-ever letter of anguish about Luke Castellan.

The box…where is the box?

You peered under your bed, mouth hanging open when your eyes could not spot it either. You looked up and around, hoping maybe you had misplaced it somewhere, even though part of you knew you had put it under your bed. You have always done so.

“Hey, have you seen a turquoise box?” you asked your sister as she walked by.

“Oh, the rectangle one, about this big?” your sister reconfirmed, using her hand to show you the size she indicated.

“Yes, that one.”

“Oh, I gave it to Luke.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I was cleaning the cabin three days ago, accidentally knocked it over and saw letters addressed to him. He was right by the door, so I thought maybe I should just deliver them to him.”

Blood drained from your face, and your heart plummeted. Anything else your sister seemed to be talking about started sounding like murmurs, and you could not focus on a word she was saying. Your worst nightmare seemed to have arrived. Somehow, your friendship with him had ended without you knowing. No wonder he has been avoiding you these past few days. He has read them all.

“I need to go,” you quickly muttered, storming out of your cabin. You could feel your body slightly shaking from the panic. No amount of Demigod training had prepared you for moments like these. Then you saw Luke walking over you…with the box in his hands. You took a deep breath and practically forced your voice box to work.

“Listen, Luke—”

“I didn’t think you’d buy birthday gifts that early, Y/N,” he interrupted.

“What?” you questioned and observed the sweet smile gracing his Adonis-like face.

“This?” he gestured to the box. “Your sister gave it to me and said it was from you. Though I thought I should give it back ‘cause it’s not my birthday yet, you might have wanted to give it to me yourself.”

“Oh…” it was the only thing you could utter as it dawned on you what he had perceived the situation as. “Wait, so you haven’t opened it?” you clarified.

“Nope.”

“...So we’re ok?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?” your mouth hung slightly agape at his words. As you scrunch your eyebrows, you could see how his fingers fidget somewhat, almost as if he could tell you would bring his odd behavior up.

“You’ve been acting really odd the last few days, Luke. It had me worried. I thought I did something wrong. It seems like you were avoiding me.”

“I was just really busy with counselor duties,” he dismissed it. However, something about it made you a bit hesitant to believe his words. You did it anyway, nevertheless. You blamed it on your stupid heart.

“Yeah, but—” you stopped, not wanting to stir anything. “Ok then, I’m going to put this away, but I’ll see you later, yeah? Maybe we can finally not rain check again?” You hated how hopeful you sounded. You’re glad that the sun had set a few minutes ago, blessing you with enough degree of darkness to hide your facial expressions from being as evident as they would be in daylight.

“Of course, I’ll see you later, Y/N,” despite the dark and only dim lights from nearby, you noticed there was something different about him. Luke was wearing a nervous smile, almost sheepish like a schoolboy. There was a glimmer of amazement in his eyes like he was in disbelief. Though it was definitely overpowered by a glaring degree of warmth. He was looking at you like all those writers have written down in the books you have read before - something along the lines of adoration and love.

You shook those thoughts away again, refusing to somehow fool yourself into believing he could reciprocate those feelings.

“Yeah, see you,” you muttered, hand gripping tightly on the box as you took it from his hold. As soon as you reached your cabin, you opened the box to peer inside. You immediately sighed in relief upon seeing the copious amount of letters with your handwriting on them, all with Luke’s name on the front.

However, your eyes landed on one unfamiliar one. It had your name on it, written in a familiar wonky handwriting that you have always found endearing.

You sat on your bed, taking the letter out delicately, almost in disbelief. Then, dread overtook any other emotion. Was this Luke’s way of letting you down easy? By pretending to not have read any of your letters and rejecting you through the form that you express your love to him? — you had to physically shake your head at that thought.

You took the letter out of its envelope and started reading: 

‘Dear Y/N,

This is probably the 40th time I tried writing this letter. It feels impossible to try and convey everything onto one piece of paper.

You deserve someone to at least view you as their muse rather than always being the writer. 

Hence why, for the past few days, I had to physically drag myself away from you every time you tried approaching me because I knew if I didn’t, I would just end up spilling my feelings out right then. I knew if I even looked at you, I would have just abandoned this letter idea and run to you. You should have seen me yesterday. When we made eye contact, I had to turn away from you because having the knowledge of you liking me back was enough to knock all the air out of my lungs. I was a flustered mess from just that eye contact.

I doubt my words could rival what you have written about me. You once wrote how it hurts to love someone this much and to always be the poet but never the poem. Well, I’d like to thank you for making me your poems. However, now it is your turn. Allow me to be your poet.

You occupy my mind like it’s your castle. If I had to name everything I love about you, this letter would never end. But for starters, here are some of the first times:

The first time Chiron introduced you to the Hermes cabin, I could not take my eyes off you. Chris had to nudge me away. Just from that alone, a part of me knew I was in trouble. I think I came to the conclusion that I did not want to hold anybody else’s hand after just shaking yours.

2.5 years back during a campfire in June, even when the fire had died and the air grew cold, our voices still filled the air. Conversations just flow when I am with you. I remember never wanting that moment to end. Then you started talking about constellations and told me about the ones above us. Right there and then was the first time I had the urge to kiss you, and to show you that I was just as obsessed with you as you were with stars.

The first time I realized I was in love with you was while coming back from a quest 2 years ago. I remember feeling so numb coming back. The world almost seemed monotone, and I wondered for a second, what if I had made one wrong move? Just as I returned to camp, you bolted and hugged me. Somehow, it felt like I had just taken my first bit of fresh air after drowning for so long. I vividly recall shutting my eyes as I hugged you back because I felt like I was finally home. I remember never wanting to be away or out of your hold as others approached and rushed to get me into the infirmary for checkups.

It was only when I was lying on the infirmary bed that it hit me like a train that lost control. A large proportion of why I fought so hard was to come back to you. You’re my best friend, Y/N, and my place of solace and peace. Then came the realization that I was in love with you. I remember everybody else’s voice drowning out as I focused on that thought. It was strangely calming, as if my heart had known all along but was waiting for my head to catch up. Then I remember just smiling as I looked at the ceiling, unafraid of the new feeling.

Last year, the day we went on a quest together lapsed with Valentine’s Day. Every moment felt extra sweet. Us sitting on the train, staring outside the window together like a couple going on a trip. My mind savoured the small things like you falling asleep on my shoulder with my coat around you and us holding hands as we walked through the crowd to not get lost among couples - which I like to imagine that others had thought we were one as well. It was the first time I allowed myself to pretend this is how it would feel like if you were mine and how our lives together would be if we were not Demigods.

I thought for sure you would have realized something by the way I was staring and acting around you that I was irrevocably in love with you. After reading your letters, I realized that you did see it. But you refused to believe that I could ever be in love with you. Well, I hope my letters will reverse all your doubts, because Y/N, it is so easy to fall in love with you. 

In fact, the world I built up in my head during last year’s quest had consumed my thoughts enough to make me frown at the idea of returning to camp, where it would not just be the two of us anymore. Loving you has never been something I was afraid of. Loving you has been an honour every single day, even if you never knew of it. 

It’s also somewhat funny that I was heavily lovesick while you were lovelorn. But I promise, Y/N, that from this second on, I intend to make you know that you are loved and that I am so deeply in love with you.

Again, I never intended for you to wait for three days, but I ended up throwing away every letter I started because I felt like none had suffice. I didn’t want to mess it up and give you something less than you deserved. I wanted to do something nice for you. I promise I’ll make it up for those three days if you allow me to. But one chance is all I need.

If you are willing to give me that chance, you know where to find me.

Sincerely,

Luke Castellan’

Upon reading his last words, you immediately left your cabin with the letter in hand. You jogged to the spot where the two of you would always meet to stargaze together. Almost instantly, you saw his tall figure under the moonlight. As if he could sense your presence, the Hermes boy turned around and gave you a sweet smile.

“You meant it?” you asked as you raised the letter up, slowly approaching him.

“Every single word, including all the unspoken ones I intend on telling you from now on,” the way he said it felt like he was swearing it on his own heart. “In fact, I would have written more down, but I knew I was keeping you waiting for too long,” he explained as you stopped right before him.

Something about this moment felt cathartic. Three years of dancing around unspoken words and yearning led to this moment. Luke grabbed your hand and rubbed his thumb over your knuckle. You peered up at him, and it was then that you finally accepted what his looks meant: he was in love with you, and there was no doubt about that. There was no more denial on your end that Luke Castellan was enamored with you.

“Will you let me be your poet, Y/N?” he breathlessly referenced the words you and him had both previously written like he had been waiting for this for a lifetime.

“Of course,” you answered almost without hesitation, watching his eyes soften even more, if possible.

“Is it ok if I ask you another question?” he asked again, his other hand caressing your cheek.

“Yeah?” Your face flushed as you saw his brown eyes dart to your lips.

“Can I kiss you?”

This time, you didn’t say anything. You’ve written down way too many words in the past three years. You decided actions would speak louder in this case. So you pulled Luke down by his camp necklace, hands gripping the beads on it as you tiptoed up to reach his lips. 

Luke physically melted as he brought one hand to your waist to hold you up as he leaned down from the height difference. Everything Luke had imagined before could not match the kiss he was finally sharing with you - the kiss that seemed to seal his lips into a spell that would forever leave them unable to belong to anyone else. It felt like heaven and hell combined because he knew that this was going to ruin him forever, and every second he spent with his eyes shut would be one where he had this feeling and moment sown behind his eyelids. 

You had the same line of thoughts. The wait was long, but you felt like it was worth it. Under the stars, you may feel small. But standing there next to Luke, you finally realize it doesn’t matter. Because he was holding you like you were the only thing that mattered.

You were his sun, moon, and everything in between - no constellations could ever measure to you.

--------------------

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[officialdaydreamer00]

✦ If I may ask, is it wrong for a mortal to wish for a god? May my hopes and dreams to embrace Idia be brought to fruition? Or will they just be scattered like stars in the sky..?

I apologize for two Idia asks already, sadly he is on of my favorites ✧

"... Child of mortals, one truth you must understand

To love a god, a great risk you put in your hands

Tragedies shall ensue, for the ichor you lack

For love should a god falls, there is no turning back."

pairing: idia shroud x reader

content: short drabble, hurt/probably no comfort, character death, ichor's effect on humans is probably inaccurately described (on purpose btw), idia has yet to meet his persephone here, angst :) , greek mythology

the oracle speaks — this hurts my soul to write (not really but still)

The Fates cannot save you now. I am sorry, my child.

— you couldn't breathe.

each inhale was a wave of pain you had to endure. your lungs felt like they were burning, it made everything physically hurt to just breathe.

tears poured out from your dulling eyes like rivers, its coolness was like a salve to your burning skin. but it wasn't enough.

what had you done to deserve a fate like this?

"no... no, nonononononono—" you heard a familiar voice muttered, then a pair of arms wrapped around your sore body, cradling you in his hold. "this- this wasn't supposed to happen—"

his cool hand cupped your cheek, sending yet another painful throb to your brain. it took you everything to even open your eyes, bloody lips stretched into a pained smile as you saw his distinctive glowing blue hair. wisps of blue fire caressed your skin, light like feathers.

"i'm sorry, my king." your throat felt dry, the beautiful voice he adored hearing was now reduced to mere rasps. oh, how it felt like godly stabs to his immortal heart, seeing you in such a state.

his mind briefly wandered to just a moment before, when the ichor he spilt had made its way onto your delicate mortal skin. thus, putting you on the line to the underworld for eternity to come. you would be with him, still, it was just not the same.

tears pooled the corner of his eyes, he wondered if this was his fault, or it was a cruel destiny the fates had set for him. his cold lips pressed a kiss on your burning forehead, a grim reminder of your horrible demise.

"you deserve to reach elysium. i will make sure of it." he murmured, holding back his tears as he witnessed the fates snip your cord, ending your suffering at last.

his quiet voice, laced thick with sorrow was the last thing you heard, before you fell into a slumber, never to wake up again.

"I am so sorry, my love."

🏷️ @dove-da-birb, @cave-of-jade, @xen-blank, @lyle-my-beloved, @krenenbaker, @twistwonderlanddevotee, @identity-theft-101, @siren-serenity + idia kissers

remember to reblog if you enjoy my works! ^-^

[browneyesandhair]

Non-Exhaustive List of Soulmate Fics: Merthur

Okay, I'm bored so I'm compiling my favorite soulmate fics. Here's the Merthur edition:

True Love by platonic_boner

Summary:

AU where soulmates can’t lie to each other. (That’s okay, Merlin wasn’t planning to lie to Arthur anyways! Haha.. ha.. ha…)

Don't Know You by platonic_boner

Summary:

Arthur can't wait to meet the voice inside his head.

Sharing is Caring by platonic_boner

Summary:

Arthur hadn't really given his soulmate much thought, until he beat a peasant with a broomstick and every blow hurt like he was hitting himself.

Thousand Times Worse. Or Better? by elirwen

Summary:

Forced by Morgana's nagging, Arthur visits soulbond guidance office. Merlin Emrys is asigned to be his guide. That's where the simple ends and complicated begins.

Deeds by the5leggedCricket

Summary:

Arthur is coming of age, and that means he’s about to get Deeds—marks on his body telling him of his soulmate’s greatest accomplishments. But as he tries to find his soulmate, he also makes some worrying discoveries about the kind of person his soulmate is.

Take Your Pain Away by BlueGrassSax

Summary:

Merlin was young when he came to realise that his soulmate was either really clumsy or lived a chaotic existence. Being able to take on the injuries of your soulmate is just a fact of life, a fact that Merlin happily accepts as he learns the ins and outs of his healing magic. But coming to Camelot has disrupted his long held trust in the Fates, for how can someone as bull-headed and arrogant as the prince wear his mark?

Now I Will Unsettle the Ground Beneath You by nu_breed

Summary:

Merlin's dreams have always fuelled his art, but they've always been abstract and removed from reality. Soon after he meets Gwaine, he starts to see vivid images of a past full of death and magic and love for a King who was ripped from him. Things only escalate further when he spends a weekend in the country with Gwaine and meets his group of friends, which includes aristocrat and It Boy, Arthur Pendragon. Merlin soon realises that no matter how hard you try, one thing is certain, you can't fuck with destiny.

Heart Lines by PeaceHeather

Summary:

Everyone is born with a heart line, a pigmented mark running from the heart down the left arm to the palm, which turns color when the person comes of age, telling them when it is time to seek their soulmate. Red indicates a romantic love, while blue is for platonic "heart-friends", as the minstrels called it. Uther had always told Arthur to ignore his heart line, that it wouldn't matter who his soulmate was; princes did not marry for love, after all. If was lucky, he'd be able to keep her as a mistress, so long as he did not get any children with her. Uther hated magic and would have urged Arthur to ignore the heart line anyway, if he could. Arthur wasn't sure his soulmate was really a woman despite Uther's assumptions. But Arthur's heart line hadn't even come into its full color yet, which meant he hadn't come of age in the eyes of the gods, despite being named crown prince by Uther. So it really didn't matter: whoever his soulmate was, he wasn't yet ready to meet them. Then one day his heart line comes in, and it's neither red nor blue.

the gold of you that can't be seen by Fleetling

Summary:

Arthur grins at him, waves his chubby hand. "Father!" he says, because he knows he should be formal with his father. There is no Pa here, no Dad or Da. There's something shiny on his father's head. He points to it. "What's that?" "Prince Arthur!" hisses the woman holding him, but his father only chuckles. The woman relaxes, just slightly. "It's a crown, my son. One day, you will wear one just like it." Arthur tilts his head, curiously. "What colour is it?" He thinks it's grey, just a shade off of the silver of the swords. It's the same silver-grey as half of the household's shiny jewelry, a not quite true silver. He doesn't think he likes it. "It's gold," says his father. "There's a lot of gold here in Camelot, my son." Arthur nods his head, and labels that silver-ish colour gold in his mind.   (Or: in a world where you can't see the colour of your soulmate's eyes until you meet them, Arthur can't see gold, and it makes his life as a prince much more difficult.)

Of All The Planets In All The Galaxies, He Walked Into Mine. by supercalvin

Summary:

On Camelot, the base planet of the Albion Intergalactic Alliance, the people have a unique gift where the name of their soulmate appears on their arm. Finding one’s soulmate could be as easy as taking a shuttle over to the next planet or it could take years for destiny to find its way to their side of the galaxy. Ten years ago, Ambassador Arthur Pendragon found out the name on his arm wasn’t from any known language in the galaxy. He hadn’t had much faith in love ever since.

The Druid Consort by bluevalentine69

Summary:

27-year-old Alpha Prince Arthur has been married off to 16-year-old Druid Prince Merlin to unite their kingdoms. Meeting for the first time at dawn to be handfasted by the customs of Merlin’s druid people - and expected to mate that night by the customs of Arthur's wolf-people - neither prince is best pleased by the situation. Tomorrow they will belong to each other in body and soul. Turns out, married life's not so bad ...

Four Days To Fall In Love. by CupCakezys

Summary:

In a world where everyone has a soulmate (or two or three), Arthur Pendragon knows he is destined to be alone. For Arthur can see his heartstring, could follow it to where his soulmate lived, and that could only mean one thing. His soulmate had magic, and should they ever meet, Arthur would have to kill them.

the world entire by schweet_heart

Summary:

The world is very still, and it occurs to Arthur suddenly how quiet it is. The bells don’t toll for dead manservants, only for princes and kings, but that just makes the clamour of his heart seem louder.   “Very well,” he says, pushing himself to his feet. “Then I’m going to have to save him.” Episode 1x13 AU. Nimueh accepts Merlin’s offer to exchange his life for Arthur’s. Arthur does not.

Hear Your Heart Sing (Love, Love, Love) by schweet_heart

Summary:

Merlin used to like the idea of finding The One – until he fell in love with Arthur Pendragon. Now he has a boss he can't date (but can't stop thinking about), a soulmate he can't find (who has terrible taste in music), and a best friend who can't believe he still hasn't got his act together (even though it's seriously not his fault). Sometimes, life is unfairly complicated, even without your soulmate singing painfully catchy tunes in the back of your head.

Dreams Don't Turn To Dust by goodluckgettingtosleep

Summary:

In a world where every person starts dreaming about their soulmate on the day of their 16th birthday, Prince Arthur is expected to be the soulmate of a beautiful princess. But when the big day finally rolls around, it turns out that his true soulmate is as far from a beautiful princess as one could get... a peasant boy with magic.

Let it be you by amithia

Summary:

This is all Gwen's fault. Merlin never wanted a stupid smartphone in the first place. Now, he has a smartphone and a supercilious, posh git bullying him on Whatsapp. He really should block the prat. or The one where Merlin doesn't block the prat and finds out that, maybe, smartphones aren't so bad after all.

Feather and Fang by 0hHeyThereBigBadWolf

Summary:

Everyone knows that magic users have magic dæmons. Creatures of myth and legend. Some appear normal but have hides in unnatural colours. It's a way to pick them out of a crowd, find them, even when they try to hide in plain sight.

The Worst Wizard by bluevalentine69

Summary:

Merlin is the worst wizard in wizarding school: his spells are accident prone and he is generally a walking disaster. When the time comes for his class to summon their familiars for the first time, many of the students summon powerful magical creatures. However, upon Merlin's turn, he summons a very unamused, regular human as a familiar: Arthur. Based on this prompt: https://kinksofcamelot.livejournal.com/1806.html?thread=557070#t557070. Now with original artwork!

Strangled by the Red String of Fate by idlestories

Summary:

“It has its roots in a legend from the east, sire. I believe it’s called the red string of fate.” “Fate?” Arthur said incredulously. “What, is he going to be the one to kill me?” “Getting more likely by the minute,” Merlin supplied. “Shut up, Merlin.” Gaius held up a weary hand. “Legend has it that the string connects people to the person with whom they are most compatible.” There was a beat of silence. “You have got to be kidding me.”

octarine by schweet_heart

Summary:

Merlin isn't Arthur's soulmate, and Arthur isn't Merlin's, yet somehow in spite of themselves they're everything to one another. Which is why, when Arthur finally starts seeing in colour, he isn't willing to let Merlin go without a fight. Written for Merlin_Holidays Fest 2016.

you are my favorite mistake (it can only be fate) by muItifandomjess

Summary:

When Merlin accidentally creates a mental link between himself and Arthur, they discover far more about each other than they could ever have imagined.

[yingleis]

I would like someone to write a story of when Zhu Yan comes back, he is his white-haired, younger self. Very mischevious and maybe accidently hurts one of the other, his memory of the previous life gone?

Thankyou 🤩

They were the only ones left– the mortals in their ragtag group of demon hunters, who by all means, had lower chances of surviving than the demons and demigod– and yet fate seemed to love playing its tricks.

(Fate really loved to laugh at them, it seemed).

—

“That’s a good blade,” a familiar voice says, it's owner materialising before Zhuo Yichen, who narrowly manages to change his trajectory before the Yunguang Jian can pierce through Zhao Yuanzhou again.

It can’t be, it has to be another demon, one that preyed on a mortals dreams and desires–

And yet they wouldn’t get Zhao Yuanzhou’s styling and hair so horribly wrong, if that were the case.

How dare this demon wear the face of his bear friend, how dare they steal his identity, how dare they cruelly appear before him with Zhao Yuanzhou’s face.

So Zhuo Yichen asks, levelling his blade to the demon’s throat. “Who are you?”

“Zhao Yuanzhou,” the demon says indifferently, instead watching his sword glow blue with a barely concealed interest. “Or, maybe you know me better as–”

“Zhu Yan.”

“Oh? So you do know me.”

“You’re not Zhu Yan or Zhao Yuanzhou, stop lying,” Zhuo Yichen bites back, but finds himself stopping short, unable to truly kill Zhao Yuanzhou.

(Even if it isn't Zhao Yuanzhou, as long as he wore that damned face–)

The demon raises a brow, visibly confused, but he manages to hide it smoothly. “Unable to kill me? I doubt the great Demon Hunting Bureau would be afraid of a small demon like me.”

This Zhao Yuanzhou is much more transparent, easier to read, but still just as infuriating and cocky as his Da Yao, it seemed.

“I won't indiscriminately kill demons,” Zhuo Yichen forces out. “You haven't done anything yet.”

“Haven't I?” Zhao Yuanzhou hums, as if deep in thought.

Zhuo Yichen frowns, a chill running down his back as he turns to check that the Demon Hunting Bureau was indeed still untouched.

“You–”

Zhao Yuanzhou is gone by the time he turns back.

—

He doesn't tell Wen Xiao about the strange encounter, for fear of getting her hopes up about the damned demon. She'd been heartbroken when he left, giving her a false hope would only break her heart once more.

(Besides, despite his deepest wishes, he knows that without an intact soul, it would be hard for a demon to regain their form in such a short period of time.

Da Yao or not, even Zhao Yuanzhou couldn't perform such a miracle).

But Zhao Yuanzhou had always liked to be contrary.

—

“You're a descendant of Bingyi,” Zhao Yuanzhou says, flying right at him with his umbrella. “And you've mastered the art of turning water into ice.”

Zhuo Yichen hadn't expected to see Zhao Yuanzhou again, hadn't prepared himself to meet the demon again, but he falls into step anyway, drawing water from the pond around them and shaping it into sharp, deadly icicles.

They meet in the middle, clashing in a burst of ice and malicious energy, sending leaves rustling and dust falling off the eaves of the Demon Hunting Bureau.

You taught me how to wield it, Zhuo Yichen thinks, searching Zhao Yuanzhou's face for any hint of recognition and stifling the hurt when he finds none.

He'd thought about it the night before– it was unlikely that a lesser demon would dare to steal the identity of a Great Demon, and Cheng Huang was well and truly gone– he'd done another thorough check, startling Wen Xiao when she found him haunting the records room in the middle of the night.

Besides, he'd felt it the first time.

The inner energy, the little mannerisms, it was all Zhao Yuanzhou, Zhu Yan himself.

Another well timed blast of energy catches him off guard, taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, and Zhuo Yichen goes flying, landing painfully on his back.

“Oh,” Zhao Yuanzhou says dumbly, as if he hadn't meant to hurt him. “No, wait. Why won't my one-word spell work on you?”

Zhuo Yichen barely registers the question, still attempting to make the ringing in his head stop– he'd hit his head as he fell, but it didn't seem like a concussion was likely.

“You,” he says, half a beat late as he wonders how to phrase it. Zhuo Yichen didn't like to lie, much less to those who he considered as his friends. “We've met before. I saved your life. You gave me immunity to your one-word spells.”

Zhao Yuanzhou looks disbelievingly from his Yunguang Jian to him, and back at his sword again. “A demon hunter saving the Da Yao Zhu Yan’s life?”

Well.

He had once thought it unlikely as well, but fate often worked in mysterious ways.

“Interesting,” Zhao Yuanzhou says, his lips quirking into a half-smile.

[mako-neexu]

“Y’know what? Someone really ought to stop Master. Because at this point? They’ll suffer somethin’ far worse than death.”

The Servants look at the young gunshooter with mixed expressions. Raised brows, tired faces, condescending smiles--

“And you don’t think her hundreds of Servants know that? Even Heracles once stopped Master from going out to train before pointing to her bed to rest a little more.” Hundred faces responds from the shadows, their outline barely visible against the dark corner.

“Of course I know.” The blond young man rolls his eyes as he watches their Master’s form clutching her hand with the command seals, screaming her Servants’ names as she lost them to the creature that advanced with terrifying speed.

What a mess. 

Even without thorough knowledge of magic, everyone could practically see that Fujimaru Ritsuka’s nervous system is barely supported by the hundreds and hundreds of blessings inside her body. 

At the same time, the lethal curses and poison inflicted by her own Servants just marginally fought back the impurities that do not belong to her body. 

What of her mental state? Billy catches sight of black flames rounding the corner, followed by a pair of bright butterfly wings.

Shit really is fucked if incomplete people, ghosts- weapons like them want to chain this human down to a bed and have them get a good eight-hours worth of rest. Vacation time outside of their bullshit shenanigans that cause the Master serious headache too.

Geronimo pursed his lips as he looks sadly at the Master who was crying yet growling out orders of attack, never letting her knees touch the ground with the Zemlupus boy protecting them from stray debris and onslaught, “All that we can do is support her no matter what. For that is her will, we must obey.” 

And as Servants with a contract, they are influenced by their Master to stand by her side even as something inside them keeps screaming to not let the single human who understood them like a mirror die.

“Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Kiyohime! You guys are up! Please head to the deck ASAP!” Da Vinci’s voice rang out from the intercom. Both Billy and Geronimo nodded to each other, before looking at the female berserker that donned a sad smile.

“In the entire time I’ve been here, not once did Master lie to me about anything.” She raises a hand to her heart, her amber eyes holding a kind of hurt they knew all too well, “Yet when I ask about her feelings and her thoughts, all she did was smile.”

And everyone in the room understood.

With a profound fondness for their friend, contractor, and Master, comes with a hatred that could rival the flames of hell itself. Hatred for her fate, for all the things she was forced to do, for all the things she was forced to become. The only thing they can do is grit their teeth and support their Master to the very end of her life.

Cursed to this kind of life, the only salvation they could think of for her is—

[strayheartless]

Things heard in the land of departure:

Riku: you know sometimes I think I’ve had enough of today. But then Roxas throws his keyblade full force at my head; Kairi manages to flood the training room while I’m the one babysitting trainees and I think “oh! I was wrong! Now I’ve had e-fucking-nough of today!”

Sora: it only kills me if I die!

Roxas: I regret to inform the council that I have settled on being the problem child today.

Aqua: if anyone needs me I’ll be screaming into the void.

Ven: you know, vanitas isn’t all that bad once you get to know him. he’s only tried to take over my entire being like… *starts counting on his fingers*

Sora: you gunna cry?! Oh, shit man your actually crying! Do you need to talk?

Isa: if I mutilate my face again do I still have to participate?

Roxas: 🎶 someone made my best friend cry, do da do da. That punk ass bitch is gunna die, oh do do da day🎶 *jazz hands*

Terra: I’ll admit, historically I have not always made decisions that place me on the moral high ground. Yet today I find myself with the absolute pleasure of getting to say “ I told you so!”

Aqua: *bodily hands Kairi to Riku like she’s a badly behaved cat* Take her before I do something everyone but me regrets.

Kairi: I’m my defence Lea said ‘probably not’ and he should really know better then to challenge me like that.

Sora: “oh sora, why aren’t you a master yet? Oh sora, when are you planning on retaking the mark of mastery?” Well Susan I’d actually planned on not almost dying every month of the year first!

Ven: It scares me that soon I’ll be the grown up kids need to take with them to Disney town.

Xion: wait no! Why does Kairi have a battle axe?!? Parlé, Parlé PARLÉ!!!!!

Riku: After some careful consideration I’ve decided to give up. Thank you for understanding.

Ven: why is the floor talking?!? *Terra pops up from behind a counter* oh, that’s why.

Lea: *after going toe to toe with Terra* “a little master vs student never hurt.” WRONG I am VeRy mUcH hUrT!

Roxas: People often ask me why I decided to train under Riku if I hate him so much. The answer is quite simple really, How else am I meant to ensure is suffering?

Xion: Master Aqua says that the gods give the hardest battles to the strongest soldier. What I wanna know is, is that legally binding? Cause I don’t remember signing shit!

Riku: I’d ask why you are covered in glitter, but at this point I’ve accepted my fate. *gets attacked by a glittery Sora and Kairi*

Isa: do you ever just… regret existence?

Lea: oh yeah, all the time!

Ven: today I made the mistake of telling Roxas to bite me… now I think I need stitches.

Sora: For all I’m famous for being able to fall asleep anywhere, I sure do be allergic to falling asleep in bed.

Ven & Roxas: mood.

Terra: I shall be unavailable until further notice. I’m not busy I’m just sick of looking at all of you.

[allthelittlecreepycrawlies]

Arranged marriage. NHS is going to get married to some good match girl they've found for him, and coming out as cut-sleeve won't save him from this fate. So he stages his own kidnapping and hires a mercenary who kidnaps him all in red attire on his wedding day. The kidnapper he hired turns out to be MY, who became a mix of wandering cultivator + mercenary after being kicked out of the unclean realm, and NHS first secret love. (You can make MY go to do the deed dressed in red too)

Once they'd finished practically binding him into his robes, the servants had left the changing room, meaning there was nothing Nie Huaisang could do except sit and stare despondently at the lanterns as they burned through their store of incense.

His wife to be was pretty; he could accept that in an aesthetic sense. She was kind, with a cute laugh; up until the betrothal had been announced, they'd been good friends.

But the idea of marrying, of sleeping with anyone besides Yao-ge her made him very glad he hadn't eaten over the past two days.

No matter how much everyone wrote it off as pre-wedding jitters -the more charitable ones- or him just being an obstinate brat -everyone else- he just couldn't deal with this.

Even just the night before, he'd gotten in a huge fight with his brother about it, as Da-ge continued to never give him a straight answer why it had to be him to continue the family bloodline, when even an idiot who knew nothing about gentry would figure the sect leader doing it himself made more sense.

They hadn't spoken to each other at all during the final preparations.

He had become so desperate to get out of this that at one point he'd even attempted to arrange a very public disappearance. A fake death, even. But as upset and angry as he was with his brother, he hadn't been able to go through with that, and had sent word to the facilitator to just call it off and keep the money for their trouble.

Fuck. It wasn't even time for the ceremony yet, and he was so tired that his vision was-

-wait.

He quickly tried to stand up, only to sway on his feet and topple to the side.

Hands caught him before he could hit the floor, and he caught sight of a blurry red theater mask as he was scooped up.

"Wha... what's..." he slurred, only to be shushed.

"Just sleep," crooned a voice that he never thought he'd hear again was familiar, even through the haze caused by the drugged incense. "I'll take care of everything."

---

To say that the Unclean Realms was caught off guard was an understatement.

No one had expected that there would be someone who actually wanted to steal would be so audacious as to steal the second son on his wedding day.

And yet a masked figure in red, the young master over one shoulder and a whip in his other hand, had practically exploded out of the window of the sealed changing room and swung down to the courtyard, before splitting off into a dozen illusions to keep the guards guessing as they scattered to and over the walls.

Nie Mingjue was the first to spot the real one, for all the good it did him. The thief was surprisingly fast on their feet and agile, even carrying his unconscious brother. At the same time, it was clear that neither side wanted to risk hurting Huaisang, which gave the stranger more of an advantage with a whip than it gave him with a saber.

Baxia was sent flying, and with that first chance to escape laid out, they took it. By the time Nie Mingjue had called her back to his hand, they had disappeared with the same quickness they had appeared, and had taken his brother with them.

And now there was an even bigger mess to deal with.

[satureja13]

A little time out after all the stress and worries over Adriano. They are still ~1k § short -.- Jack thinks it's time to finally discuss Jeb and Saiwa's date! Jack: "And? How was it?"

It had been phenomenal! Jeb truely did magic that night. But Saiwa hadn't had time to recapitulate yet. In hindsight they technically didn't woohoo... and while Jeb did everything to make Saiwa happy - as promised - Saiwa can't remember that he touched Jeb below waistline. Jeb hadn't even taken off his shorts! Ö.Ö'

Ji Ho doesn't seem to be surprised. Ji Ho: "But he told you that he would never hurt you." Saiwa: "What does this have to do with our date?"

Ji Ho: "..." Saiwa: "You mean ...? But you two never told me it hurts so much!"

Jack: "It doesn't. But since Jeb is so ... huge compared to Vlad and ... my Alpha, he worries he could hurt you." (It seems everyone has seen Jeb naked except Saiwa ^^' But I love how these three can always talk about everything with each other.)

Ji Ho: "We even asked Kiyoshi. He told him as long as you are careful and prepare and take it slow it won't be painful, but Jeb is too afraid to hurt you." Saiwa: "What's wrong with him? Does that mean we will never woohoo?" Jack: "I can understand him. After all you went through. He just loves you too much and he wants to keep you from getting hurt again."

Therefore Jeb rejected Sai at the beach, in the shower and in the tent! So the last of the three dreams they had in their first night at Belgraves Institute came true...

And while Saiwa is struggling with his fate, Ji Ho and Jack take a stroll down memory lane, to their last woohoo with their loved one.

Vlad: "Don't listen to them." Poor Vlad, the campside is small and he overheard everything - again...

Sono cose della vita. Ma la vita poi dov'è, dov'è, dov'è Se da quando è partita un inseguimento è, poi dov'è, poi dov'è

it’s part of life together but what future does it hold? these are matters of life but then, where is life? Tina Turner: yes, you know it’s true I just can’t stop thinking of you I try to face and catch this night that slowly passes me by

Cose della vita - Eros Ramazzotti & Tina Turner ('Matters of life' / imo one of the best duets of all time) Added this song to the 'Summer at Tartosa' playlist on youtube and spotify.

Outtakes They did this autonomously! (Of course I stopped them! omg)

-.-

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest

[pbaintthetb]

For the AU ask... how about an AU where NHS is genuinely a headshaker who doesn't know anything?

Oooh, I did think about something like this once so it's an interstnig ask

Would definitely be cracky because I think there's much comedy potential. TLDR, NHS' is fate's little pet

The man eating castles: NHS, after being shamed by his sect YET AGAIN by his uselessness starts an illfated quest to go look at them and try and sort them out (he doesn't know what or why needs to be sorted, but he heard ramblings while he was hiding from a council meeting so...) and accidentally coincidentally shows up at the same time as Jin Ling. NHS is responsible for NMJ's legs being in the walls, but not becasue he thinks theyre NMJ's legs, more that he's worried about legs in the open

MXY wrote the poision pen letter to Jin Guangyao and mailed it off with a delay before he died, similarly NMJ's arm did make its own way to (roughly) Mo village, which gave MXY an idea...

NHS is absolutely horrified in Gunayin temple- he was just froliciking across the countryside, trying to track a particuarly rare bird, when he was knocked uncncious and woke up in the middle of some weird stand off between Er-ge and San-ge and Wangxian's confession! Poor NHS, what's going on? He certainly doesn't know!- oh and has JGY set off the coffin booby trap? Oh no, NHS had that installed as a favour, in case people thought to mess with his friends' mother, NHS is a big believer in tomb booby traps (read Nie)

The cats thing in the Inn is actually because the inn ownwers in the area talk to each other and got pissed off at Jin Ling being in teh first inn, he's not terrible but he is an unsupervised 13yr old with a repuation for being a bit of a brat and nobody wants to be the one to deal with him, yanno? Altneratively they don't think a 13yr old should be here alone this cose to the creepy Yi city? Where's his guardian? He keeps shouting about how his Jiujiu will hear about this! Maybe he'll come running if he hears about the cats. Because little Jin Ling refused to listen to well meaning advice

NHS shouts out to LXC to be careful, because if JGY even tricked someone like LXC over the years, he should be careful, right? Also NHS is in a moment of high stress, ok? His leg hurts, his friend apparently killed his brother?????????? His booby trap meant to help JGY may have killed him, JGY killed his brother???? And LXC is going to let JGY stand trial, desperate men do odd things (and JGY killed his brother.) LXC should be careful. Regretably everyone now thinks he planned the whole thing because it's so convienent and NHS doesn't even know half the plot to catch JGY let alone half of what JGY did (excepting for, aparently, killing Da-ge) so now everybody thinks NHS is some kind of calculating murderer- and he doesn't even know why? He doesn't know. He really doesn't know. Don't ask.

Thanks for the ask :-), sorry this is kind of rambly and incoherent

[immoralimmortals]

Things I've written about the Akatsuki that i think are funny out of context, because I think I'm funny and love microdosing on stroking my own ego

(this is a third person reader x akatsuki fic I swear to god, please believe me it's ROMANTIC, I don't just make them look stupid, I PROMISE I SWEAR ON MY LIFE--)

☆ Hidan wrote a book by ripping pages out of an already existing one, putting in his own that he wrote in blood (origin unknown) and not even attempting to glue them to the blinding.

☆ Kakuzu being forced to say the word "duckling" with such great disdain he may throw up.

☆ Literally just anything about the fact that Kakuzu became a talent agent on his own free will

☆ Hidan thinking that Kakuzu being your talent agent is-- in a very literal sense-- a fate worse than death

☆ “Doesn’t matter. Physical agony fortifies the soul. Whatever.” (about accidentally letting the performer starve)

☆ "She’d be lying if in some way this wasn’t her dreams come true. ...Minus the serial killers, or whatever they are. They won’t really tell her. But she can make that work!"

☆ 1) You’re a failure of society.

2) You’re a kidnapping victim.

3) You’re in a cult.

4) You’re a one-man band with a manager AND you’re in a cult.

☆ Zetsu scaring people on purpose, then Zetsu being flabbergasted and insulted as he scares people by accident!

☆ The performer thinking Kisame is Itachi and Itachi is Kisame. Because of course the big scary shark man is the evilest here, right? (Holding Itachi's hand like la dee da! Boy sure am glad I'm not with the scary clan killer!)

☆ The above being ZETSU'S FAULT on PURPOSE

☆ "Were Hidan and Kakuzu really that mean to other people��? Grumpy, yeah— also yeah okay they were killers or whatever— but they didn’t start any fights! Yet!"

☆ Kisame thinking YouTube is shit from description alone

☆ "The raven shakes his head, despite how helpfully Hidan gestures in a shoving motion, demonstrating the direction in which he should move his ass."

☆ Tobi jumpscare (ALSO ZETSU'S FAULT)

☆ Directly taking inspiration of how Tobi gets punched by Hidan from this Smiling Friends clip

☆ Hidan being allergic to cleanliness

☆ Hidan spending his entire month-long stipend on useless animal figurines he did not want that may or may not be cursed

☆ “Did Takara-chan get the kitty statue?”

A thud sounds beside her chair, a sack cloth with the weight of a whole baby hitting the floor. “Yup. You could say that.”

☆ Kakuzu's type is people that surprise him even after being alive for so long. Therefore, apparently, he's attracted to fucking idiots.

☆ Kakuzu getting told someone tried to kill themselves over being in debt and his first reaction is "wow that's a LOT of money" instead of anything about the killing yourself or whatever

☆ Zetsu LYING BY OMISSION AGAIN BECAUSE THAT'S HIS FAVORITE HOBBY

☆ “Guess it’s a good thing you don’t wanna hurt yourself or whatever.” said in disappointment

☆ “Tell the chemicals to stop.”

☆ Deidara giving a powerpoint on why he's the best and Pain being like *nodding, nodding* (has no faith in him whatsoever)

☆ Long suffering Sasori having a point proven to him that does not need proving (that Deidara is the best)

☆ Getting attached to a clay mouse Deidara made only for it to commit suicide (all according to plan! Isn't he dreamy ;) )

...And more to come!

[seigephoenix]

welcome to DADWC :) I'm happy to see another Nathaniel Howe/Cousland fan! what about an enemies to lovers type situation? starting out with "still have that stick up your ass, I see" and growing into patching each other up after a fight, ot maybe something more?

Thank you for the prompt for @dadrunkwriting! I adore this ship and will die with this rarepair. I used Elaina Cousland as she's my main Cousland for DA. I did diverge from canon just slightly with the fate of the rest of the Howe family, but this is how I'd see it going for Elaina.

Ship: Elaina Cousland x Nathaniel Howe (the beginnings maybe?) Content Warnings: Mentions of murder Length: ~1k

Elaina looked down at the bandages in her hands and back up at Nathaniel who sat on the outer edges of the camp they’d set up.  She glanced over at Sigrun and Velanna, both made themselves busy preparing for the night ahead.  She turned back to Nathaniel with an ache in her heart.  She remembered innocent, carefree days of childhood.  Before their families and the corruption of greed drove them apart.  She walked over to him and sat on the rock just behind him.

“What do you want?”  Elaina merely focused on her hands as they pulled out the bandages and antiseptic balm.  “Not going to answer me I see.  What, too lofty for me now, oh great lady.”  Elaina’s lips threatened to twitch at the haughty tone he used.  He could always get her riled up, even back when they were children.

“I see you still have that stick up your ass.”  His jaw dropped at her quip.  “Now, since it’s unlikely you’ll be able to reach that nasty wound on your back I’m here to help.”

“I can have Velanna help me.” Elaina leaned back and studied him with a skeptical eye.  She looked over as Velanna answered from her spot near the campfire.

“Not in a thousand years Howe.  Take up the Commander’s offer.”  Velanna turned to set up the cook set Elaina had purchased in Amaranthine.

“I’m not great at first aid.  Not something we typically learn in the Legion of the Dead.” Sigrun piped up as Nathaniel turned to look at her.  “The Commander’s much better at that than me I bet.”  He turned back to see her green eyes shining with amusement and he let out an aggravated scoff.  He removed his armor and tunic before turning his back to her.

Elaina winced as she saw the angry slashes on his back.  She carefully applied the salve to the cuts, wincing whenever he hissed in obvious pain.  The silence dragged between them until it felt like a weight pressing down on her chest.

“Delilah told me that it was your doing that saved her and her husband.” Elaina glanced up at the back of his head, surprise flitting across her face.  “She said you urged the queen to not punish the family as they had nothing to do with what my father did.”

“I did ask that of Anora.” Elaina carefully laid the cloth against the slashes, taking care not to press too heavily on the wounds.

“Why?” The one word was so quiet Elaina almost didn’t hear him.  She leaned in closer to hear him ask it again.

“Why?  Because you and your sister had nothing to do with what he did at Highever.  Delilah was appalled when she found out.  She found me in Denerim after the battle, she was on her knees begging and pleading for me to forgive her.”  She felt Nathaniel tense beneath her fingers.  “It hurt.  I wasn’t as close to Delilah as I was to you growing up, but it was like a lash across my heart to see her like that.  She had nothing to apologize for.  Your oldest brother was the only one I believe in on the scheme.  Your mother, sister, and younger brother were completely innocent.”

“Yet, my mother died…”  Elaina paused as she thought how to answer.  How much did Nathaniel know?  She looked towards the small basket of bandages and healing salves and glanced back at the back of his head.

“She.” Elaina paused as she struggled to not relive the scene she’d come across.  “She was already dead when we came into the estate in Denerim.  Thomas was lying beside her.”  Nathaniel’s shoulders shook and Elaina gave in.  She gave into the urge to lean against his back, mindful of his wounds.  It was something she did when they were kids and he didn’t want her to see him cry, but she wanted to comfort him anyway.

“Did they even have proper burials?” Nathaniel’s voice was hoarse and the ache intensified in her heart.

“Fergus and I made sure they did.  They are interred in the Howe family crypt.” Nathaniel reached back and grabbed his shoulder, flinching only slightly when her fingers brushed over his hand.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t save them.  I wanted to.  I didn’t want them to suffer like.” Elaina found her own words choked as she couldn’t finish the sentence.  Like my family did.

“I’d like to visit.  When we make it back.” Elaina nodded and wiped the beginning of tears away from her eyes.  “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?  For what?” Elaina asked quietly.

“For trying to kill you when I first came to Vigil’s Keep.” Elaina leaned back with a shaky laugh at how deadpan he delivered that line.  She carefully picked up the bandages and began to wrap them around his waist, taking care not to jostle his wounds.

“You were not the first, and given my position I doubt you will be the last.”  She tucked the edges in and tied a knot to keep them in place.

“Not the first?” Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder and she gave him an amused grin.

“No.  Shall I tell you about the Antivan Crow sent to kill me but failed miserably?” Nathaniel scooted over on his rock and she climbed over next to him with their shoulders touching.  It reminded her so much of when they were children that her heart felt warm in her chest.  They’d spent many a day sitting side by side, enduring the many lectures of Nan for getting into the larder or by sitting through boring school lessons.  Boring lessons they soon escaped at first chance despite the ire of their tutors.  Elaina wanted those days back, to recover a small modicum of innocence from back then.  Perhaps she could even get Nathaniel’s friendship back.  Or more.  She ignored the whispers in her head.  Nathaniel would surely not see her as anything more than a friend or at the very least, his Warden Commander.  He’d never want to be with the one who had his father’s blood on her hands.

Would he?

[feathereddragonkin]

I found you again. I still can't believe it. The irony of me finding a partner that kins both Jin Guangyao and Nie Mingjue as Lan Xichen is not lost on me. It had to be fate. We didn't even know it at the time. We always joked about adding a third to our relationship, before I knew you were Da-ge as well as A-Yao, because deep down I felt that something was missing as long as I didn't have both of you in my arms.

And still...

My heart aches with the guilt of the past. Could I have saved you both? Could I have done more to bring you from the brink of destruction? I was praised as a cultivator, and yet I couldn't save those dear to me. And even now! Now we've met in another life, and I'm even weaker than before. I've been so broken by this world that I don't know if I'll ever be fixed, and you've been so damaged already. I want to fix it, to make you feel better, and take the pain away, but I feel like I'm in seclusion once again. Alone, drowning in grief of lives lost both in this life and others I've lived, and I can't save you. I can't hide you from the world and protect you; I can't even protect myself! I feel so lost, so broken, so damaged, and it hurts.

It hurts so badly.

I see images of who we were before and it brings me to tears. I miss you both. I miss who we were, and I wonder if there will ever be a world where we can be truly happy together. I hope so, but I also wish it was this one. I wish I could give that to you, and I'm so sorry I can't. I feel like such a failure because I can't. I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

[officialdaydreamer00]

O dear Oracle, tell me, what of my fate with Azul? If our tale were like that of Cupid and Psyche, would love really withstand all trials? Would the love still be there through hardships and misunderstandings...? Or will we be destined to end in a tragedy?

Side note: HI HI HI!! SUPER HYPE EVENT IT'S SOOOOO COOL!!!!! Why is your brain always so huge omg

"A child of mortals, she who was blessed by the gods

Shall overcome her challenges against all odds

The son of beauty, misunderstood and wary

Shall go his way to regain her trust

Alas, the things humans would do for love."

pairing: azul ashengrotto x fem!reader

content: hurt/comfort-ish, miscommunication, a dash of angst bc we have a dramatic couple, greek mythology

the oracle speaks — cupid x psyche dynamics is my second favourite omg, they're so in love your honor (edit: IT'S BEEN SO LONG LMAO IDK WHAT I'M DOING *dies*)

May the Fates be kind to this soul.

— the faint rustling sound of a pen scribbling on papers.

the library after school was quiet as always, besides the faraway murmurs of lingering students and the rustling sound of books being flipped through. you let out a tired sigh, having been working on your essays for quite a while now. you deserved some rest, as you were almost finish.

but your mind had other plans. your eyes moved towards the man sitting by your side. azul ashengrotto, the one who had been plaguing your every thought.

it was without a doubt you adore him with your entire heart and soul. you can spend lifetimes admiring his every details, his vulnerable yet brightly burning soul, his flaws and insecurities, everything. you are willing to give your life if it means he can stay happy.

"my pearl..."

but not right now, not when he committed such a horrible deed.

"my pearl, please, i'm sorry..." you turned away from him, arms folded as you spoke not a single word. as much as you wanted to hold him in your arms and comfort him, your resolve would not break.

"i'll do anything, just- please, look at me..."

he all but begged. his voice wavered, as if he was on the verge of crying when you finally relented. you turned around with a hard stare.

"what you did was unforgivable."

"it wasn't entirely my fault..."

you sighed. only then you pulled out two items, two silver bracelets adorned with sea glass of mismatched, constrasting colours, and pouted.

"they don't match at all."

... and that was the problem leading to your argument.

"how was i supposed to know they don't match!?"

🏷️ @thehollowwriter @krenenbaker @identity-theft-101 @siren-serenity @xen-blank @dove-da-birb @ferris-the-wheel @mermaidfanficlibrary @cookiesandbiscuits @vioisgoinginsane @esmerulia-chantelle + azul kissers

[mino-diabolik]

DARK FATE — Mystic 「Dark 02」

[ Dark 01 ]

「Monologue」

I was notorious for causing trouble across both realms. Not that such thing has changed much presently. However, I didn't know a single concept of laying low at the time. So, as it would eventually happen, I gathered some less than pleasant experiences. That day, though...

—Flashback—

[ Location: Unknown — Human Realm ]

Mystic: Huff, huff, huff!

Lout A: Get 'im! Get the sonnoba bitch!

Lout B: Oi, ya damn brat! Quit runnin'!

Mystic: Oh, fuck off!

Mystic off the road. A couple of men trail after him.

Mystic: ( I can't believe these guys hung around the area just to find me. Just my damn luck!

They just so stubborn, too! How come they haven't ran out of energy yet?! )

Get off my ass, will ya?!

Lout B: Big talk for a slut!

Mystic: Ugh!

( I'm gonna rip off all of their goddamn di—— )

Mystic appears distracted. There's a distinct smell on the air. He swerves off through the foliage and rams through until he reaches a clearing.

[ Location: Garden — Unknown ]

Mystic: What...? A mansion? Where the hell did it come from?

Lout A: Where's the brat?

Loat B: Lost 'is stench... but he must be hidin' 'ere somewhere.

Loat A: Tsk... if I just get my hands on 'im

——I'm gonna tear 'im apart.

Loat B: Oh, you nasty motherfucker.

Mystic: ( Ugh... sick bastards. )

Mystic flicks his wrist. A small strix materializes with a flap of its wings.

—Rip!—

Mystic: Naazat. Here, take this. Lead those two away from me. Don't let 'em see you.

The owl grabs the patch. It flies off.

Loat B: ——Ah, right over there!

Loat A: Then go, dammit!

—Footsteps—

Mystic: Huff...

Ah, fuck...

( Look at this fuckin' mess. It's just a gash... but it's still bleeding this much? )

Sigh...

Mystic trudges through the garden.

Mystic: Is there no one here...?

( I can smell them all the way out here, though...

Just how many of them are there living in there? )

「Monologue」

I decided to get help. Perhaps someone knocking at their garden door, rather than the main entrance, threw them off. It still amazes me that they didn't immediately kick me out. Well, Yuma nearly did. Both him and Kou were discussing the matter, while Azusa stared at me without saying much. Honestly... I felt safer near him out of all the other brothers. ——It was then that Ruki emerged. I was suspicious when he plainly offered to patch me up. And I was right to be. Everyone that offers help will always want something in return, after all...

[ Location: Ruki's Bedroom — Mukami Mansion ]

Mystic: Ugh... sigh——

Ruki: Nn...

Mystic: ( This guy...! )

That hurts, you fuckin' bat! Ah!

Ruki: Mm... is that so?

Ruki tugs at Mystic's hair. He gasps.

Ruki: It seems to me you are enjoying it.

Mystic: Tsk. Da—damn you...

Kuh... ahh...

「Monologue」

What happened afterwards is foggy. Whatever the difference between Ruki and others was, I couldn't remember a better experience under the fangs of a Vampire. Some time passed, and I had finally convinced my mother to allow me to attend school in the Human Realm. It was boredom that drove this decision. Princely responsibilities were becoming too much, I suppose. The first day I transferred... Well... it was one of those times the universe decided to be funny.

[ Location: Hallway — Ryotei Academy ]

—Footsteps—

Mystic: ( Homeroom's next...

——It was this one...? )

[ Location: Classroom ]

Mystic walks in. The few students converse amongst themselves.

Mystic: ( Not many students, either. It is a night school, I gue—— )

... ... ...

Mystic finds a familiar figure at one of the desks.

Ruki: ... You...

Mystic: Oh... fuck—

—End Flashback—

「 Dark 02 — End 」

[ Dark 03 ]

[baby-xemnas]

[listens to one club track] I am HAVING a gecko fujo moment

this is barely coherent

idk how to cw this? fuckboy behavior? HAHAH consensual cheating? LOL

thinking about that while lawbepo have been friends since they were kids and they were always Special and absolutely had their first time with each other im imagining their younger years no way law ignored ALL of the women that threw themselves at him. and bepo being aware of this would of course say that its fine - its both bepo's insecurity and feeling like he isnt enough but also not wanting to feel like law has to limit himself for him. he will hide his hurt and lie if it means law gets to enjoy himself, his happiness is always priority.

law would regret it in years to come thinking that while it was fun and he does like fucking (human lol) women/men - in retrospective he considers that bepo was lying to him and he shouldnt have listened to his reassurances that he is fine with it.

they are 1000% one love end game forever law will always come back but i think its good for law's development (lol) that he wouldve picked a few bitches in da club tm that were jumping him when he was like 19-22 that period of time.

i dont think bepo would wallow in the role of a cheated on but resigned to his fate housewife because he didnt consider himself law's only partner YET at that point. (they were not emotionally mature enough, both of them)

bepo's admiration for law absolutely skewwed his judgement and made him squash whatever defensive feelings he had. his ego suffering as usual lol..

i dont think it would happen OFTEN but it had to have and ofc law always came back to bepo and reestablished that they are together and everything is fine (it would be bizarre for bepo to have law tentatively check if he is mad with him and bepo has zero mean streak he would never torture law, focusing instead on the fact that law is there with him again, both moving on quick (<-law will think about this A LOT later on) law would wish bepo did the same to him if he could handle it with as much grace (no he wouldnt) and he almost wanted to ask bepo why he never used their "half open" status himself - but he knew better, aware how bepo feels about strangers and how vulnerable he is. being a manslut is not an option for bepo at all (law you are lucky that you dont get to test this possibility- you would act completely psychotic)

when they are established FOR GOOD as their one and only and law his retrospective regrets bepo does NOOOT care anymore. he is on cloud 9 so law doesnt bother him with his belated apologies, just pours himself into expressing his love NOW instead of bringing up bepo's old pain