#archipelago cider

[10blue10]

Hooligan Calendar

As well as a map I’ve also put together a calendar for the people of Berk, complete with their unique holidays and the birthdays of various characters. I based the weather on Iceland’s, since Berk is around the same latitude. The farming tasks come from a medieval farming calendar, with adjustments made where necessary.

Obviously most of the chores would be ongoing tasks (especially the ones involving growing or preparing food) and wouldn’t just be done in one month, but I didn’t want to repeat myself too much. I’m also not saying this is accurate to real life or to the Norse. So…

Spring 

(1) Einmánuður (31 days, equivalent of March) 

Festivals: The 20th day is spring equinox, celebrated by Iðunnsblót, a feast day in honour of Iðunn, goddess of spring. Her husband Bragi, god of poetry, is also honoured. They hang flower wreaths on apple trees as offerings for the goddess, pray for a healthy and fruitful year ahead, toast with and drink cider and mead whilst the skalds sing poems about Iðunn and Bragi. 

Farming: They sow beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, leeks, onions, parsnips and spinach. And of course, the spring grains will be sown - wheat and barley, most likely. At this point they’re still eating preserved foods from the winter - pickled/brined/smoked meat, fish and vegetables, dried or boiled fruits; as well as fresh eggs from chickens and even seaweed (yummy?) 

The farmers plough and harrow the fields for planting after the frosts. It is also calving season. Children and teens help with weeding and sowing. There are cows to milk, chickens to tend to, various herbs and spices to plant/harvest. 

Weather: cold (0-4 C), wet and windy; but the days are getting longer. 

/

(2) Harpa (30 days, equivalent of April) 

5th Harpa - Astrids’ birthday 

Festival: This month begins with Sigrblót, a celebration of spring/summers’ victory over winter. For the Berkians it was probably a time to celebrate surviving the dragon raids for another year. Boars are sacrificed to Odin, prayers of victory in battle and good fortune in the year ahead are made, and everyone sings and dances around a big bonfire whilst the meat roasts. 

This is also when Thawfest is held: a contest of strength, prowess, skill and determination, held to celebrate the frosts thawing out and to honour Tyr and Thor. Children and adults compete in different levels at different contests. 

Farming: As well as the same crops from last month, they’ll plant radishes and turnips. The legumes are planted in fallow fields to enrich the soil. The spring shearing is done; the wool needs to be cleaned, combed and spun into yarn. The first barley crop of the year is sown during the latter part of the month.  

There is butter to churn and skyr, a kind of soft, runny cheese, to make. The butter would be made from cream and the skyr from the skimmed milk. All of their cheeses will be soft, high fat cheeses made from curds (more the consistency of mozzarella), rather than the hard, matured cheeses we have. 

Calves are weaned this time of year, and of course the livestock (cows, sheep and chickens) still need tending to. They’re probably grazed on common land. 

Weather: slightly less cold (3 - 6.8 C), still windy, rain and even snowstorms. 

/

(3) Skerpla (30 days, equivalent of May) 

1st Skerpla - Valka’s birthday 

4th Skerpla - Gobber’s birthday 

27th Skerpla - Heather’s birthday 

Farming: The barley continues to be sown. Moss and mould needs scraping off the shingles. It’s lambing season, and the livestock is marked and sent out to pasture. Bees are captured for hives to make honey for mead. All the usual chores need to continue - milking cows, making cheeses and butters, hunting small game, weeding/pruning crops, mending and washing clothes etc. 

Towards the end of the month is trading season, when merchants from the mainland come to the archipelago to hawk their wares. Berk trades wool, lumber and dragon products (once their hides, now their shed scales, quills etc) for furs, ‘exotic’ foods such as dried fruits (apricots and prunes), spices and linens. Basically anything they can’t grow or make themselves. 

Weather: grows warmer over the month (2 - 11 C), less to no snow. 

/

Summer 

(4) Sólmánuður (30 days, equivalent of June) 

8th Solmanuður - Fishlegs’ birthday 

Festivals: the 21st day is the summer solstice, with a celebration to honour Freyr, Baldur and other gods or goddesses of fertility and beauty. 

Farming: beets, carrots and radishes can be harvested. Hay needs to be gathered whilst dry to save for feeding livestock in the winter.

Weather: warm by Berk standards (10 C), still a bit rainy, midnight sun begins. 

/

(5) Heyannir (33 days, equivalent of July) 

Farming: beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, radishes can all be harvested. The vegetables are pickled or dried to preserve them. Hay still needs to be made. Apples start to ripen. The wheat grains are sown around this time of year. 

Weather: warm and mild (10-15 C), mostly dry with risk of unpredictable rain. 

/

(6) Tvimánuður (31 days, equivalent of August) 

8th Tvimanuður - Ruff & Tuffs’ birthday 

Festivals: In the second to last week of Tvimánuður, the Berkians celebrate Bork Week. This festival honours the man who wrote the Book of Dragons, saving the knowledge of how to fight dragons for future generations. It’s not known how they celebrate it, but presumably a lot of alcohol is involved. 

Ironically, between late Heyannir and early Tvimanuður is the time of the dragons mating season. However, they don’t mate every single year. 

Farming: beets, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, leeks, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach and turnips can all start to be harvested. Apples are ripening and it’s berry picking season - bilberries, crow berries, wild strawberries, rowan berries, and so on. Mushrooms can also be harvested, but carefully - they don’t want to collect poisonous ones, so children are closely supervised. 

Weather: still warm (10 - 20 C), windy, occasional showers but mostly dry. 

/

Autumn 

(7) Haustmánuður (29 days, equivalent of September) 

Festivals - the 18th day of the month is a new holiday in the Hooligan Calendar: Dragon Day! This is, of course, the anniversary of when Hiccup and Toothless defeated the Red Death. Usually the honoured pair are nowhere to be found, because they take the opportunity to escape the attention and fly off on their own! The 22nd day is the autumn equinox, with a celebration to honour Sif, goddess of harvests, and Skadi, goddess of the hunters. 

Farming: vegetables continue to be harvested and preserved, the late berries continue to be picked, and apples are now ripe enough to pick. The cows are being bred. Early last month and this month is when the barley/wheat is harvested. The grains need to be winnowed and milled into flour for bread, or malted for use in ale/beer. Some seeds are kept aside to be sown for next year. 

Weather: getting cooler (8.5 to 11 C), midnight sun is over, nights get longer. 

/

(8) Gormánuður (31 days, equivalent of October) 

31st Gormanuður - Stoick’s birthday 

Festivals: the 18th day of the month is Dreadfall, a time to honour their ancestors. A large bonfire is built, poems are sung; iron nails are hammered above/around doorways to ward off malevolent spirits, children wear disguises so they won’t be snatched away, and candles are lit inside carved turnips. 

Farming: the last of the grain is harvested and the next crop of barley is sown. Other vegetables, nuts and berries continue to be harvested and preserved. The lambs are slaughtered (sorry lambs) and the sheep are sheared/bred. (During the days of the Dragon War, how many animals were slaughtered depended on how many sheep or cows the dragons had stolen. Lambs and calves would be left alive to replace the older livestock if necessary.) 

Weather: cold (5.4 C), unpredictably rain, high winds and hail. 

/

(9) Ýlir (30 days, equivalent of November) 

Farming: the next crop of broad beans is sown, in fallow fields for over winter. Firewood is chopped and stored. Crops and catches are being salted, dried, smoked, pickled, brined, baked and boiled to preserve them. The last of the sheep are sheared and the wool is washed, combed and spun into yarn. 

Weather: very cold (1 - 8 C), longer nights, more rain, sleet and hail abound. 

/

Winter 

(10) Mörsugur (30 days, equivalent of December) 

7th Mörsugur - Snotlouts’ birthday 

18th Mörsugur - Erets’ birthday 

Festivals: the 20th - 26th of the month is Yule, honouring Odin; or as the Hooligans call it for some unknown reason, Snoggletog. They make sacrifices to the king of the gods, build and light a big bonfire, exchange gifts, put up evergreen wreaths, sing poems and, of course, get very, very drunk. 

Farming: the fields need to be fertilised with manure (be it sheep, cow or dragon dung XD). The sheep and cows are brought into the stables. 

Weather: freezing cold (-1 - 4 C), hail and snow, high winds, very short days. 

/

(11) Þorri (30 days, equivalent of January) 

Festivals: the first of the month is Þorrablot: a day to honour fathers, husbands and the god Thor. Unlike the other festivals, this is celebrated between families in the home. An offering is made to Thor and small gifts are given to the men of the household by their wives and/or children. 

Farming: fields and ditches are cleared, and manure is spread on the fields to fertilise them. The clods of dirt are broken up. The early lambs are being born. 

Weather: still freezing (-1 C), lots of rain, sleet, hail and snow, still long nights. 

/

(12) Góa (30 days, equivalent of February) 

18 Góa - Hiccup’s birthday 

21 Góa - Dagur’s birthday 

Festivals: the month starts with Goublót, a day to honour mothers, wives and the goddess Frigga. Like þorrablót, it takes place in the home. Offerings are made to the goddess of marriage and motherhood, and gifts are given to the women of the household by their husbands and/or children. 

Farming: fruit trees and hedgerows are pruned, and damage from over winter starts to get mended. More manure continues to be added to the fields. 

Weather: not quite as freezing (1 C), and windy with lots of snow and rain. 

[https-furina]

guidelines.

♡ i primarily write for genshin men however i will try my damn hardest to write for genshin women too. ♡ i write sfw only however i will interact with nsfw accounts/works. ♡ i will not write for overtly sensitive topics and i have the right to decline such requests. ♡ i am dyslexic and would appreciate no harsh feedback in response; i will be editing prior to releases. ♡ i will most likely stick to headcanons/preferences in group posts however i am not against the idea of individual posts (albeit maybe ooc.)

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

mondstadt. | nation of freedom.

“a city of freedom that lies in the northeast of teyvat. from amongst mountains and wide-open plains, carefree breezes carry the scent of dandelions - a gift from the anemo god, barbatos - across cider lake to mondstadt, which sits on an island in the middle of the lake.”

the guide to mondstadt.

liyue. | nation of contracts.

“a bountiful harbor that lies in the east of teyvat. mountains stand tall and proud alongside the stone forest, that, together with the open plains and lively rivers, make up liyue’s bountiful landscape, which shows its unique beauty through each of the four seasons. just how many gifts from the geo god lie in wait amongst the rocks of liyue’s mountains?”

the guide to liyue.

inazuma. | nation of eternity.

“an isolated archipelago far east of teyvat. overcome endless thunderstorms and set foot on the islands of red maple and cherry blossoms. on winding shores and towering cliffs, and in forests and mountains full of secrets, witness the eternity pursued by her excellency, the almighty narukami ogosho.”

the guide to inazuma.

sumeru. | nation of wisdom.

“the city of scholars located in the west-central part of teyvat. a fantastical nation of both lush rainforest and barren desert, where countless fruits of wisdom grow and are buried. whether travelers travel from afar through the forest to reach the academy city or delve deep into the desert to discover the historical ruins of the red desert, a wealth of valuable knowledge awaits them here.”

the guide to sumeru.

fontaine. | nation of justice.

“a terrestrial sea in the center of teyvat. following the direction of pure currents, crossing wilderness, the depths of the forests and vastness of the sea and sand, arriving at the origin of all the waters of the continent. at the top of the waterfall, in the depths of the capital atop the terrestrial sea… a story that has never been heard, a legend that has been forgotten, like a lost kingdom sunken beneath the waves, yearning for a bard to sing its drowned songs.”

the guide to fontaine.

natlan. | nation of war.

guide coming soon.

snezhnaya. | nation of love.

guide coming soon.

khaenri’ah. | a nation without a god.

“khaenri’ah was a nation without a god - not because it had a god that died or abandoned them, but because it never had a god to begin with. it was a powerful nation, built purely by humans, an unprecedented flourishing and glorious civilisation - it was the pride of humankind.”

an ode to a lost nation.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

celestia | fina’s events & other.

♡ sugar ‘n’ spice — 100 follower celebration event:

masterlist

♡ omnes una manet nox — a genshin murder mystery/horror:

masterlist

♡ a café on the seafront — 500 follower celebration event:

masterlist

© https-furina 2023.

[cravingsfromatwistedone]

[ MASTERLIST ]

A city of freedom that lies in the northeast of Teyvat.

From amongst mountains and wide-open plains, carefree breezes carry the scent of dandelions — a gift from the Anemo God, Barbatos — across Cider Lake to Mondstadt, which sits on an island in the middle of the lake.

VENTI

CURRENTLY NONE!

DILUC

CURRENTLY NONE!

KAEYA

CURRENTLY NONE!

ALBEDO

CURRENTLY NONE!

A bountiful harbor that lies in the east of Teyvat.

Mountains stand tall and proud alongside the stone forest, that, together with the open plains and lively rivers, make up Liyue's bountiful landscape, which shows its unique beauty through each of the four seasons. Just how many gifts from the Geo God lie in wait amongst the rocks of Liyue's mountains?

ZHONGLI

CURRENTLY NONE!

XIAO

CURRENTLY NONE!

CHONGYUN

CURRENTLY NONE!

XINQIU

CURRENTLY NONE!

An Isolated Archipelago Far East of Teyvat

Overcome endless thunderstorms and set foot on the islands of red maple and cherry blossoms. On winding shores and towering cliffs, and in forests and mountains full of secrets, witness the Eternity pursued by Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho

AYATO

CURRENTLY NONE!

THOMA

CURRENTLY NONE!

ITTO

CURRENTLY NONE!

KAZUHA

CURRENTLY NONE!

HEIZOU

CURRENTLY NONE!

BELOVED [ WANDERER/SCARAMOUCHE ]

CURRENTLY NONE!

The city of scholars located in the west-central part of Teyvat.

A fantastical nation of both lush rainforest and barren desert, where countless fruits of wisdom grow and are buried. Whether Travelers travel from afar through the forest to reach the academy city or delve deep into the desert to discover the historical ruins of the red desert, a wealth of valuable knowledge awaits them here

ALHAITHAM

CURRENTLY NONE!

CYNO

CURRENTLY NONE!

TIGHNARI

CURRENTLY NONE!

KAVEH

CURRENTLY NONE!

[ERROR 404..]

[Unable to extract data..]

[Continue?..]

[Yes]✓ [No]

CHILDE

CURRENTLY NONE!

CAPITANO

CURRENTLY NONE!

PANTALONE

CURRENTLY NONE!

[jow99]

Perros-Guirec day 1

It seems this part of Brittany is perpetually windy from looking at the weather forecast. Today however it thankfully wasn’t too bad as we had booked ourselves on a boat trip. This part of the coastline is renowned for its pink granite cliffs. It turns out this area is also know for its archipelago of 7 islands (its 5 actually, turns out two were misclassified and are just a collection of rocks).

We took the late morning option and also the chance to get off and walk around one of the islands. The bird life is amazing and they also have seals but we didn’t see any today. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Once off the boat it was getting a bit late and we were hungry so we opted for galettes with a glass of cider 😋 I’m going to miss that when we leave Brittany and France 🥲

The plan was to head to the beach this afternoon and enjoy the sun, if not the chilly sea. First a couple of chores around Tessi and then I headed in to change into my swimmers and lather up with sunscreen. When I came out it was spitting rain 😏 For the next hour we would cycle through the four seasons every 15 minutes (or so it felt). Eventually it looked like the drizzle was winning the fight so we gave up and trooped inside where after our showers we enjoyed a glass of bubbles.

Needless to say the rest of the evening was spent warmly inside Tessi.

PS I’m wearing my Breton top in today’s photos

[luvrsoath]

# MONDSTADT

A city of freedom that lies in the northeast of Teyvat. From amongst mountains and wide-open plains, carefree breezes carry the scent of dandelions — a gift from the Anemo God, Barbatos — across Cider Lake to Mondstadt, which sits on an island in the middle of the lake.

?? —

?? —

# LIYUE

A bountiful harbor that lies in the east of Teyvat. Mountains stand tall and proud alongside the stone forest, that together with the open plains and lively rivers make up Liyue's bountiful landscape, which shows its unique beauty through each of the four seasons. Just how many gifts from the Geo God lie in wait amongst the rocks of Liyue's mountains?

mikoshi mai — a dream in the fog

yip tzsming — forerunning festivity

# INAZUMA

An Isolated Archipelago Far East of Teyvat. Overcome endless thunderstorms and set foot on the islands of red maple and cherry blossoms. On winding shores and towering cliffs, and in forests and mountains full of secrets, witness the Eternity pursued by Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho.

asato akio — the heir’s rebellion

asato sana — a rising storm

arataki ki — chaos in the thawing sea

# FONTAINE

A terrestrial sea in the center of Teyvat. Following the direction of pure currents, crossing wilderness, the depths of the forests and vastness of the sea of sand, arriving at the origin of all the waters of the continent. At the top of the waterfall, in the depths of the capital atop the terrestrial sea... a story that has never been heard, a legend that has been forgotten, like a lost kingdom sunken beneath the waves, yearning for a bard to sing its drowned songs.

papillion “achilles” veillantif — oath to achilles

# SNEZHNAYA

One of the seven regions of Teyvat. It is the nation that worships Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon. The Fatui, a military force under her control, is particularly notorious for their diehard devotion and their unscrupulous methods in enacting her will.

ngô yến thi xuân — the queen’s mask

vanserra malykai — as stories foretold

[e-wills-afterhours]

Vetrnaetr

Author's Note: This is the direct sequel to my other fic, Affairs Of The Heart. You can muddle through without having read the first installment of what will be a trilogy (this fic is part 2), but there is a LOT you are missing that was established in Affairs Of The Heart. This story takes place approximately three months later, in this universe's timeline, during the scared holiday season of Vetrnaetr (Winter Nights). That would be the end of October by the Gregorian calendar, but Vikings only acknowledged two seasons: winter and summer. The holiday of Vetrnaetr marked the end of summer and the summer's harvest, and the start of winter. It was one of the three most sacred holidays on the Viking calendar, for context. I, of course, will be taking many, many historical and cultural liberties here—but so does HTTYD proper. Think of this depiction of Vetrnaetr as loosely based upon the real holiday as opposed to an accurate representation of it. I mean, dragons. C'mon. Let's not split hairs. 

Also, heads up for adult content. Not necessarily explicit, but it's clearly there. 

Finally...***RTTE is not canon in Affairs-verse. This will make more sense later.*** 

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

The seasons were changing again, bidding farewell to the extra hours of leisure found in summer's warmth. Though early winter had its appeal, with the bountiful harvests, spiced cider; and the comforting aroma of crackling fires and dying leaves; the transition between the two seasons seemed abrupt. Winter was the time of year riddled with weddings and holidays to distract from creeping frost and numb fingers. Summer would be sorely missed; for three glorious months, the sun shone for most of the day, basking the Isle of Berk in its radiance—when it was not raining, which it often did. The remainder of the year, however, could be described as somewhere between, "Oh, Thor, I can't feel my face," and, "take a breath outside and your lungs will freeze.” The nights grew longer, the days shorter, and the biting cold settled over the archipelago. Every year, the same routine. 

Hiccup shivered and buried deeper into his bundle of furs, shielding himself from the morning's chill that seeped uninvited through his bedroom window. Astrid had climbed out of his room in the middle of the night, leaving him naked and content, with the memory of her skin beneath his fingertips. 

He sighed, waking slowly. His pillow still smelled of his girlfriend's hair—perfumed hints of snow gentian, primrose, and lye soap—and he buried his face into it, wishing they did not have to maintain an appearance of propriety after their relationship had been so hard-won. Kissing in public was only just enough anymore—but it did keep his lips warm. 

As if it sensed his faint smile and aimed to snuff it out, a gust of wind rattled his shutters, making him burrow deeper. Berk's cold, damp climate permeated everything, and it was just a natural part of being a Hooligan to embrace such misery. Dragons were not so tolerant. 

Hiccup heard a growl. A scaly little body rummaged around beneath the covers. A tail brushed his stomach and he snorted into the furs; he had always been ticklish there. 

Sharphot turned around three times, pulling the covers loose from Hiccup's head and shoulders as he wound himself up in them. With a soft grunt, the dragon settled into the concavity of his human's somewhat fetal position. In the summers, Hiccup's preferred method of sleep was sprawled out with his one foot exposed. As the temperature dropped, he drew his limbs in tighter; and his Terrible Terror was all too keen to share a bed. 

"You're welcome," Hiccup mumbled, patting the dragon beneath the furs. He allowed Sharpshot to have his way too often; large eyes narrowed with envy in the shadows of the room. "I'm sorry, Toothless. You're too—," he paused for a yawn, "—big." 

The Night Fury growled in disapproval, dropping his head onto his claws. 

"Don't be so dramatic," Hiccup sighed, but he sat up regardless. 

He reached for his pants, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed to work them on with practiced ease. It used to be a clumsy task, balancing as he pulled them up his hips. Now, it was muscle memory. He held on to the bedpost as he retrieved his prosthesis, which he kept on top of the wooden chest at the foot of his bed. He deftly fastened it to the stump of his leg before bearing weight on it, making sure it was secure. The design had come a long way since its inception; the newest model was lighter, so it was not quite as uncomfortable as its predecessor. 

He finished dressing and stretched out his right shoulder, which seemed to ache more now that the air was cold and dry, echoing the occasional twinge in his leg. He kneaded the stiff muscles with his other hand, feeling a faint burning sensation that radiated down to his fingertips. 

The wound was still mending at its own pace. He frowned, knowing that there would always be some residual nerve damage that time would not overcome. He put on a brave face, like he did in those first days when his amputation was new. Considering how bad the injury had been, he was pleased with how well it was healing; the stab had been clean. More than anything, he was relieved it did not hamper his ability to fly with Toothless. 

"Ready?" Hiccup asked, glancing at the Night Fury. His voice was still thick and his eyes were half-lidded with grogginess. He combed through his sleep-tousled hair with his fingers. 

Toothless bounded over, bright and alert; and completely forgiving Sharpshot's transgression. 

The Terrible Terror nestled into the blankets, occupying the still-warm space Hiccup's body left behind. He was nothing but an asymmetric lump beneath a mound of furs. 

Hiccup smiled and shook his head, limping for the door like he did every morning until his leg readjusted from a night unhindered. His gait stabilized by the time he reached the stairs, and he took them quickly with Toothless close behind. 

"Morning son," Stoick greeted as mismatched feet hit the bottom step. The man was enjoying his breakfast before his unending responsibilities took him elsewhere. The bowl and spoon were always dwarfed in his colossal hands. "Toothless," he added with a nod, sliding forward a plate of cod from yesterday's haul, still flecked with some of the ice in which they had been packed. 

"Dad," Hiccup acknowledged, taking the plate of cod and tossing the fish into the air. 

Toothless snapped up his breakfast in one mouthful. 

"Are you taking him flying, then?" Stoick asked, but with that unnerving tone that made Hiccup bristle. 

"Yeah. Like I do almost every morning. Why?" he replied, dropping into the seat across the table. He smoothed down his untidy hair. 

Discussing his plans for the day was just a prelude to something unpleasant. Hiccup recognized that rise of bushy eyebrows and that subtle, yet uncomfortable squirm of his father's large frame. 

"I take it you know what time of the year it is," Stoick said, setting his jaw. 

Hiccup stared at him. "Well, if the garlands and wedding feasts have been any indication this past month, then I'd say it's—" 

"Vetrnaetr is almost upon us." 

Hiccup quirked an eyebrow, pulling his breakfast toward him. "Right, and that's good, isn't it? Revels and alcohol? You'll have a happy tribe of Vikings on your hands. What more could a chief possibly ask for? Though, there will be drunk flying, and probably more than one traumatic case of indecent exposure." He muttered under his breath, "Probably Gobber again…" 

Stoick cleared his throat, sitting up straighter. "In a few days, I'll be sailing to Helgafell, to give thanks to the gods, and offer up a sacrifice to see us through the winter." 

"Ah, right. The old 'animal sacrifice to the Dísir so our crops grow' routine." Sarcasm dripped from every syllable as Hiccup popped a piece of honeyed bread into his mouth. 

Stoick rubbed his forehead. "Hiccup, when you're chief, these customs will be your responsibility." 

"Isn't that what we have Gothi for? Isn't she kind of our resident mystic?" 

Stoick scowled, breathing deeply as he did whenever he bit back a scathing rebuke. He began, "I'm leaving—" 

Hiccup held up his hands. "I promise I won't let Snotlout or the Twins burn the village down in the meantime." 

His father added, nodding more to himself as his eyes narrowed with conviction, "You're coming with me." 

Hiccup's face fell. "What? Why?" he snapped. "Dad, no! I-I have plans! I—Astrid and I were going to start on this mapping project we've—Is this because I left the forge unattended again? What did Gobber tell you? I had a perfectly good reason—" 

"It's not a punishment, son!" Stoick interrupted, cutting the air with a decisive hand. "You're eighteen. It's time we start taking your training seriously. You're going to be the next chief, Odin help me." 

"You're not going to keel over and die anytime soon, Dad! Why rush it?" Hiccup argued. "Surely we can wait another year…or five." 

"This isn't negotiable, Hiccup! I've made up my mind on this." 

"Right, so that means what I want is irrelevant." 

Hiccup felt suddenly fifteen again, debating his father on dragon training and losing for a lack of understanding. 

Stoick stood, jamming his helmet on his head. "It's only a week, son." He strode toward the door. "When we get back, you'll be assisting me full time with preparations for Vetrnaetr." 

Indignation rippled up Hiccup's spine and he swiveled in his seat to glare at the last hint of his father's fur cape retreating into the dim morning light. 

He threw one hand up in exasperation. "Sure! Leave that part until last!" 

The door slammed and he could hear the voices beyond it: 

"Ohh, morning Stoick! I take it by your scowl and the raised voices that you told him," Gobber greeted. 

The conversation faded as the two men hurried away, but Hiccup caught his father's reply. "I swear, it's like pulling teeth, Gobber. Trying to get him to do anything he doesn't want to do…" 

Hiccup pursed his lips, glaring a hole in the table. His hands balled to fists in his lap. 

His father spoke for his time so freely, without much consideration or forewarning. After all, being the chief meant the man just about owned the island and every blade of grass on it. What should his son be but another possession to manipulate as he liked, Hiccup's own plans be damned? Perhaps he and his father could have an agreeable exchange for once, if he was not "volun-told" with such finality. 

Toothless warbled, nudging Hiccup with his snout. His pupils were rounded, ears drooped. 

"It's alright, bud," Hiccup sighed, stroking the dragon's head. His frustrations ebbed as his fingers traced over smooth black scales. "I've lost my appetite." 

He pushed away from the table and Toothless perked up. They both needed the flight now. 

  ---------------------------- 

Hiccup was certain Norsemen had an innate tolerance for the cold. Sure, his fingers were numb on his dragon's reins, and the wind cut through all of his layers without mercy. His cheeks stung and his eyes watered in the thin air of approaching winter, but it to be expected. He still kept flying and the village below him kept working despite the climate, which most would find uninhabitable. Dragons circled below as fishing vessels set their nets; and Hiccup flew Toothless over the island like a silent, black specter, born of the wispy clouds. Berk fell behind them, the open sky was all that was in front of them, with the vast sea below. 

Perhaps the excitement of the impending festivities was enough to warm the souls of everyone else: elation that spread into their fingers and toes; and kept them working diligently for the celebration to come. Who could be dour with the hopes of a new year and the fresh start it would bring—besides Hiccup, of course, to whom the carefree frivolity of Vetrnaetr had just become a relic of childhood. 

Responsibilities he neither wanted, nor needed, piled up. He could not even begin to name them all: festival preparations, coordination of the trade of essential goods with Johann, keeping the Twins from destroying anything, taking an active role in the spiritual proceedings, overseeing the winter sports, keeping the Twins from destroy anything, collection of the annual fealty pledges, undoubtedly political goings-on during the trip to Helgafell, and making sure the Twins did not destroy anything —all while maintaining the poise and dignity of a proper Heir of Berk. He was still expected to organize the dragon races; and keep the promises he made to Astrid —which were of very little consequence in his father's tunnel vision.  

Would he still be expected to work in the smithy? More importantly, would he be allowed to work in the smithy? An impromptu trip with his father, and helping to oversee the Vetrnaetr festival—he was not inherently opposed to either task; but a gradual easing into his future was preferable to being thrown into it, like a fledgling bird booted from its nest. 

Maybe his father expected him to delegate all of the dragon-related responsibilities he actually enjoyed? 

Hiccup sighed, using his fingers to comb back the bangs flapping against his forehead. Toothless's bulk shifted beneath him and he clicked his dragon's prosthetic tail into position without a thought. The tail rigging was second nature to him. That subtle roll of Toothless's shoulders preceded a sharp pitch to left. Hiccup learned to feel it more than look for it. He felt the Night Fury's movements in his legs, and there was a corresponding twitch of his own muscles. Ever since that nearly catastrophic first flight together, there was a mental and physical synchronization, almost innate. To fly with Toothless was to come as close as Hiccup ever could to being a dragon: to that unbending freedom he could almost taste and so deeply envied. 

Time was of little concern among the clouds, and he judged the length of their flight by the satisfaction of his Night Fury. If Toothless was content, so was he; and they reached that point by more than leisurely flying. Drops, turns, inversions—maneuvers other dragons could not accomplish with such speed and grace—were a necessary thrill to take away the stress; to let it plummet into the glistening sea with every daring loop and roll. 

Hiccup patted his dragon's thick neck after some time, and Toothless warbled out a note as bright as the light reflecting off the waves. He was sated and Hiccup could relate. At least an hour had passed. Maybe closer to two, judging by the sun's position. However long it had been was almost enough time to process what the next couple of weeks had in store, and to make some kind of peace with it. Almost. 

"Ready to head back bud?" 

The dragon growled out something akin to a yes. With another adjustment to the Night Fury's tail, they were heading toward Berk, which had become a jagged shape in the distance, rising up like a splinter from the otherwise flat sea. Frustration awaited Hiccup in the form of a towering chieftain but flying had provided enough mental clarity that he felt he could face his father and the new responsibilities of the Vetrnaetr season with a level head. Still annoyed, and still unwilling, his patience had been restored and his indignation, muted. When his father's mind was made up, it was near-unchangeable. The exhilarating wind had helped him accept the inevitable; the rush of sudden dives and severed him from his bitter mood. 

The other dragon riders could occupy themselves during Hiccup’s busy season; they were all adults. But Astrid? She was once an intermittent torment he tried to ignore. Now, she was his constant: always there, always his grounding when he needed it. She had tended to his healing shoulder in the weeks after the fight, not letting him over or under exert himself; she mulled over improvements to Inferno with him; they were everything they ought to have been from the start. The last two years never happened, proving they had only been stuck in a temporary nightmare, and were finally awake. How easy it was, settling into that old, friendly rapport with the added intimacy of new lovers. No more tension buzzed between them, sexual or otherwise. Moments of laughing and playful banter often became bare skin, hot kisses, hushed moans, then back to teasing again: seamless transitions. 

Relationships were supposed to be work, were they not? How often had he heard men bemoan their women—the nagging, the inability to be satisfied? Hiccup could not understand it. Being around Astrid gave him a dizzying high; an enticing delirium. She was both his affliction and his remedy.  

He had her and he had Toothless; and everything else was just a passing distraction. Vetrnaetr might still be enjoyable as long as he kept them both close. 

There was a twinge of regret as Toothless glided low over familiar rooftops. The same fleeting moment's lament always reared up to once again be on the ground, but it was brief. Windswept and invigorated with residual adrenaline, Hiccup dismounted his dragon. He flattened his mussed hair and felt brighter, hotter, like burning ore, and ready to channel his lingering excitement into something productive. Toothless followed. He was but Hiccup's other constant, always there: his best friend and a part of himself. Hiccup was not sure how he could make sense of anything if he did not have Toothless. 

He curled one arm underneath the dragon's wide jaw in a loose embrace the Night Fury leaned into. They walked together, dodging Terrible Terrors scurrying underfoot. As they began the uphill climb home, Hiccup noticed a Deadly Nadder outside his front door. Tall, beautiful, and proud, Stormfly was a perfect match for her Viking counterpart standing beside her; and a perfect companion for Toothless. 

The dragons bounded forward to greet each other, leaving Hiccup to face his girlfriend one-on-one—but there was a sharpness in her gaze that had not been directed at him in a while. He slowed to a cautious approach. 

"Astrid!" he chimed, hoping a cheerful disposition would diffuse a bit of her temper—not that he had ever had much success with that strategy. 

"Where were you?" she asked, folding her arms with an impatient cocking of her hip. 

"Flying with Toothless." He gestured to the dragon as if the Night Fury would back him up, but Toothless was busy wrestling with Stormfly. 

Astrid huffed, dropping her arms to the side. She strode toward him, more exasperated than angry. "I waited for you, practically freezing to my saddle!" 

Hiccup shuffled through his memory for a fragment of conversation from the day before: an agreement that he would race through the sea stacks with her, only to then warm up with a dip in the hot springs. Their daylight intimacy was limited, and he grimaced as he recalled the new broken promise. 

Astrid's mouth was a thin, tight line, and her eyes brimmed with disappointment. Hiccup could kick himself, though he was sure Astrid would have loved the pleasure of doing it for him. 

"I'm so sorry, Astrid. I-I came downstairs and dad was ready to pounce with—we fought, and our plans just slipped my mind," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. 

Her features softened. "You two fought again?" 

He sighed, "When don't we fight?" 

She pursed her lips, skeptical. Behind her piercing eyes was a swirling reality check: the kind she served without hesitation or sympathy. "That's being a little dramatic. Just the other day you were telling me how much better things have been since peace with the dragons." 

Hiccup rolled his eyes. Astrid did not understand the utility of hyperbole. "True. He's just…you know how he is." Stubborn, coarse, demanding, with an unwavering air of superiority. A mountain of parental authority and disapproval Hiccup could never seem to scale. He was always struggling at the base, cast in his father’s perpetual shadow. 

Astrid scoffed. "No, I don't know, because you stop short of telling me." 

Hiccup glanced away, jaw clenched. Being the chief's son came with its unique aggravations he was not sure Astrid would appreciate. She was so barb-tongued when critical, and it was such a vulnerable aspect of his life. He did not need a lecture from his girlfriend. His father was his problem to bear; always had been. He preferred for it to stay just his problem. 

"We can visit the hot springs tonight, if that still works for you," he said, redirecting the course of their conversation to putting Astrid's frustrations to rest. 

She shook her head. "The point is to spend more time together in the day, Hiccup." 

"We do spend time together—" 

Her blue eyes shot him with a silent condemnation. "Time when I'm not just sitting on some workbench, watching you tinker with your latest project." 

Hiccup's fists clenched and he bit back his defensive sarcasm that would be well applied against anyone else. He felt stung; all the smiling and stolen glances over his sketches now felt tarnished. Intentional or not, it hurt for the implications of duplicity—the bubbling thought that Astrid could be disingenuous with him just when he thought those days were over. 

"You said you were happy to help," he retorted. 

"I was—I am," she amended, but the echo of her prior words had not yet faded. "But I would like your attention a little more undivided so I know I'm a little more important to you than upgrading Inferno." 

He built her things, flew with her often, held her and gave her his heart, his body, and his time. He never imagined it would not be enough; it was all of himself he knew how to give. 

"What is it?" she asked in his silence, touching his shoulder with a tenderness that was almost an apology. 

"Nothing." 

She stepped closer, her touch firmed. "Hiccup—" 

"It's nothing, Astrid," he reassured her from behind old walls he had all but forgotten he had. 

She considered him, nodding and stepping into his arms, which came around her with less than his usual enthusiasm. 

"Okay. So, tonight, we'll meet at the hot springs," she said decisively. His hum of agreement was not enough. She dipped down, catching his gaze with her unavoidable determination. "Hiccup?" 

He cracked a small smile and pulled her tighter, wondering if a closer proximity would be enough to smooth things over. "Yes. I'll be there." 

She seemed satisfied, so he could breathe a sigh of relief for both the notion of her happiness and his own self-preservation. 

"I have to go," she said with a regret that sounded genuine. "Since you were absent, I agreed to a little field sport with Snotlout and the Twins. You could come, you know." 

"I know. I just…I should really get to the smithy, as much as I would love to watch you and Snotlout bruise up the Twins." His hands ran over the curve of her back: a muted apology for another absence; a preemptive attempt to mollify her. 

She shrugged but would not look at him. "I'm not surprised." She touched his chest but the passion in it was as flat at her voice. She shook her head again seeming to rebound. Her lips quirked upward and she leaned it, and Hiccup's heart stumbled into a faster cadence. "Well then…" 

They kissed, warm and healing. Their embrace was tighter. 

Hiccup did not feel quite as morose as he said, "I love you." 

Astrid smiled and brushed the tip of her nose against his. "I love you, too." 

Hiccup felt a rush of solace to know they were still awake, and not receding back into a nightmare 

  ------------------------- 

"Looking forward to Vetrnaetr this year?" 

The amusement in Gobber's voice pricked Hiccup all over like a thousand Nadder spines. He set his hammer down pointedly loud, so the other man got the message. His shoulders fell and he gave his mentor a rather woolly look that would have made his father proud. 

Gobber, shameless as ever, chortled. "Wee bit of a sensitive spot, I take it?" 

"You knew about it." 

"Eh, your father might've mentioned it, yeah." Gobber replied with a haphazard shrug. 

"I suppose you agree with him," Hiccup said, striking the crooked strip of thin, glowing metal; a shrill ringing of his hammer on iron. Sparks flew. 

"Not entirely. I told him if he wants you to learn to be the chief, he's got to ease you into it—let you still have your holidays, at least." 

"Obviously, he didn't agree." 

"Obviously." 

Hiccup scoffed, feeling his right shoulder begin to ache as he squeezed the tongs, holding the fiery metal in place. He winced, like he could still feel the blade of three months past plunging into his flesh. He tapered the anger from his blows and relaxed his grip on his tools, lest he never hear the end of it from Astrid if he injured his shoulder again. All her warnings about “overdoing it” would be validated. Although, to be honest, he had found returning to such physical work therapeutic for restoring range of motion. 

"He wants you to be a success, Hiccup," Gobber explained. "Figures he should give you as much time as he can for that." 

The first section of Inferno's retractable blade took shape. Hiccup doused it in a bucket of water, quirking his eyebrow at Gobber through the steam. "Because he's going to die any day now?" 

"Because he doesn't want to fail you." 

Gobber could always find the right words for the most effective emotional snare. Hiccup glanced down into the cooling bucket where his project still sizzled in the water. 

"He wasn't always so adamant about it." 

"Yeah, well, before you were so…" Gobber trailed off, his vague gesturing froze in Hiccup's weary stare. 

Another day, another quip about his lean, twiggy build and idiosyncrasies. He was still a fish bone, but for a larger fish. 

"Still, I suppose there are worse things," he mused. "He could have sprung something like this on me months ago." 

To think of training for chiefhood while he barely held himself together; trying to focus on leadership when he wanted to throw himself into the sea... 

"Ha! Right! Back when you were, 'Oh no, I'm fine. I'm not pining away over Astrid! No. Fine.' You were the most not-fine person I've ever seen," Gobber chuckled. 

Hiccup smiled though, taking Inferno's new piece from the water. He supposed he could look back and laugh, now that things with his lover were so secure. All those days of sulking under the pretense of apathetic disinterest seemed so distant and so ridiculous in hindsight. 

"I guess some things don't change. Stoick the Vast is one of them," he quipped and Gobber snorted, fluttering his mustache. 

"Aye, but some do. Like you and Astrid, eh?" the older man teased, leaning in with his large shoulders rounded and a devilish gleam in his eye. 

Hiccup felt hot, but not from the forge. The bitter cold outside was almost inviting now. 

"Stop." 

Gobber hardly knew the meaning of the word. He continued, "Those late-night dates Stoick and I aren't supposed to know about." 

Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose. He held one hand up in a plea for his dignity. "Stop." 

Gobber waved his flesh hand. "Oh, you should hear your father carry on like he was never young and in love. Granted, I don't think he was rocking any beds right over his father's head, eh?" He nudged Hiccup with his thick elbow. 

The image of Stoick, lying awake in his own bed, glaring a hole through the ceiling, or cramming a pillow over his head to block out the rhythmic thumping, or creaking of the floorboard—whatever it was he heard–was enough to make Hiccup nauseous. Probably just as nauseous as his father felt on the regular. 

Hiccup did not know if he could have Astrid in his bed again, knowing there was likely a grumpy chieftain below them, aware of everything they were doing. 

So much for being discreet. 

"Astrid and I are—I don't know what you're talking about," Hiccup lied, and his ears were as red as a forge ember. 

"And I wasn't born yesterday," Gobber retorted. "Young adults, in love, with working parts! Your father didn't have to tell me anything and I'd have guessed as much. You shouldn't be so modest about it—not with me anyway. After all, you won her fair and square, didn't you?" 

"Astrid isn't a trophy, Gobber. I only did what I had to do to free her from Stefnir." Hiccup was willing to pick at old scabs to drag the conversation out of the hole the older man threw it in. 

"Who got his happy ending, turns out. I've never seen so many flower garlands apart from your parents' wedding. Do you think the guy was making a statement?" 

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "I think the Svenson's are always trying to make a statement; but I couldn't care less. He's not my problem anymore." 

"I'm sure it will stay that way, unless you try to steal this wife from him, too." 

Hiccup held out his arms—a clear and indignant, "Really?" 

Gobber grinned and hobbled toward the forge. "I'm going to close up shop unless you plan on working late. The moon's high." 

Hiccup felt as though it was turning winter in his core as well, heart gripped in a sudden freeze. He whipped around and peered at the window. Indeed, the hour was late. He had somewhere to be and an engagement to keep. 

"What? No! No, no!" He practically tore off his apron and almost tripped over his cooling bucket. He could not face another bout of that blue-eyed disappointment. "I'm not staying! I have…plans. I have to leave, I—Toothless!" 

His dragon, napping in the heat of the forge, perked up at once, ears high and pupils round. 

Hiccup left his Dragon Blade piece on his anvil; it would be safe. No one ever had use for any of his inventions save for himself. 

He was already in the saddle as he tossed his leather apron into Gobber's expectant hand. 

"Plans. Right," he said, eyes twinkling beneath that bushy unibrow. "Well, tell Astrid 'hi' for me." 

----------------------   

"I'm sorry," Hiccup whispered into the humid air between their lips. 

The silver moonlight played off the coiling steam and the rippling water of the hot springs in an ethereal dance. Astrid's damp skin was illuminated, pale and otherworldly. She smelled like the night and tasted like desire. 

"Stop apologizing," she muttered, gliding through the water to straddle him. 

Her damp hair, unbound, clung to her breasts and back, catching Hiccup's fingers like netting. Their mutual shuddering breath as she sank onto him was more articulate than words could have been. Hiccup leaned forward, his forehead resting against hers as she moved in his lap with a rhythmic undulation. A siren of the hot springs, she had him completely. 

"I shouldn't have been late," he murmured. A hand slipped beneath the water to the small of her back, where he could feel the power and command in her body with every passionate roll of her hips. She took her pleasure from him, and returned it in kind. 

"What kept you?" she asked. 

"Sidetracked," he replied; it was hard to think. "Gobber, projects." 

Astrid continued her sensual pace, braced against his chest, but something cooled in her touch. 

"You need to make more of an effort, Hiccup," she sighed. "With me, I mean." 

He frowned, pulling back to look past her rather than at her; and the spikes of arousal had lost their edge. 

[witch-hazels-musings]

INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER REFERENCE : DILUC

(all insights are based on textual evidence from Genshin Impact & the character Wiki Page) - Hazel’s character analysis are not official, just analytical*

Song: Welcome to the Black Parade, My Chemical Romance

"Evil cannot go unpunished. Never settle for mediocrity. Never forget that the dawn will one day come."

General:

Values: Trustworthy/honesty, commitment 

Love language giving: Acts of Service

Love language receiving: Verbal Praise

He’s canonically warm*

He gets impatient pretty quickly and can be blunt when necessary - there is no need to tip-toe around a subject when it’s quicker to get to the point 

*Workaholic: gets very focused on the work in front of him -> “Crepus told Diluc to be faithful in his duties,” hence the dedication to everything he puts his mind too. The Winery, becoming a Knight of Favonius, volunteering in the ‘network’ 

*Skills: he is seen to use his pyro abilities with ease (tortured an abyss mage with a flick of his wrist, catches his claymore on fire), is a master swordsman (taught by his father), great at gathering information (a part of the reason he tends to the bar and hosts parties - it’s to get secrets)(a good operative) 

*He was once a very motivated, and generally passionate person. When he became the first and youngest Calvary Captain - boundless courage, conviction, and composure until the death of his father, the betrayal of the knights, and the night he learned Kaeya’s secret*

Extra Analysis 

Character Flaws 

Behaviors:

Introverted*

Closed Body Language - crosses arms, holds onto chin when he thinks, fusses with his gloves a lot* (it’s suspected that the habit formed while he was using or ‘holding’ his fathers delusion which rested on the back of his hand), stands in the back of the group or off to the side -- won’t touch people easily*

Environmental impacts - more people means he’s more likely to be reserved and quiet (see the Archipelago quests), private and one-on-one interactions are more likely to get him to open up, though only about what is necessary to the situation 

Dialogue: (reference Jane Austin works)

his tone is often emotionless, formal, and serious - though in certain dialogue you can hear him laugh and have fun (see "About Diona”)

direct language - is prone to use formal, ‘upper-class’ phrasing as well as poetic dark imagery 

“[Eula] has her own convictions. Her determination to liberate herself from the shackles of her clan is praiseworthy” // “...  If it is within my power to bestow it upon you, I will give it my consideration.” // “... I will always face the darkness. For dawn to come, there must be those who dare to pierce the darkness with their light. “

but can also speak directly & generally with others

“No need for small talk. All that matters is that you were safe last night. //        “ Power is necessary if we are to meet our objectives.”

word choice: he mostly uses formal words (bestow, apologies, idle, avarice), but mixes them with more standard words ---- while we might say, “no matter what gets in my way.” Diluc will embellish that statement, “no matter what dares to stand in my way.”

Other observations / info

Dislikes what the Knights of Favonious fail to accomplish (especially after the incident with his father), not necessarily everyone who is within them - he finds those who do the ‘right thing’ and fight for the greater good to be quality members = Jean & Lisa

Alcohol - he finds the affects of the drink to hinder his ability to be alert and focused, which is a major reason he doesn’t drink it -- instead her prefers Grape Juice and Apple Cider

Doesn’t hold onto ‘items he no longer needs’ and generally doesn’t keep things unless they serve a purpose to him - the only contradiction to this is the vase that Kaeya brought to him on his return to Mondstadt which means he may hold onto certain things if they hold enough ‘sentimental value’

*Winery’s motto:  "Shine True"

*He willingly gave up his pyro vision seeing that “it was ineffectual at enabling him to protect the things that he treasured most”

*very good at Chess

items marked with * are canonical

I may add to this as I think of other things or increase my analysis*

main post (also - heres my overview of why i love him)

[alice-angel12x]

✨🎶(Genshin ) When your parents run the universe

(The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical crossover)

"So you're saying as long as one parent is a god, aluminated beast, Spirit, Yaksha, or even an immortal human, I am considered a half-blood?" Y/n asked.

"Yep, and since all of them live for so long, they may have had a fling here and there," Gale sighed, as he and the other half-blood children sat around the campfire.

"Come on, grab some ambrosia And let the nectar flow," Gale sang as he strummed his lyre.

"Why is everyone scraping part of their plate into the fire? Is the food here really that bad?" Y/n asked.

"Offering to the gods, It's not enough that they're omnipotent. And all-powerful, they need to feel appreciated, To the gods!" Gale said as he lifted his mug of non-alcoholic apple cider.

"To the gods!" The others cheered.

"Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your parents run the universe," Gale sang as he stumbled his lyre.

"Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your parents run the universe," Others sang along.

"My dad is Barbatos. He messengers things. You'll know his sign by his lyre with those wings," Gale sang as he puffed up his own wings. " I'd wait by the phone, but the phone never rings. Oh, no."

"When your dad's a God, life can be tough. I met the guy once, and once was enough," Gale sighed as he remembered the drunken mess of his father.

"Terra," Gale called, signing for her to tell her story.

"My dad's Morax. He's smart and He's wise," Terra sang, as she started to rant how her father had terrible money skills as everyone laughed. " But if He came to camp, it'd be a surprise. Oh, no."

"Oh no. Oh, and my stepmom, she hates me. And my dad works all day. So I left Liyue and I ran away," Terra sang as she floated some rocks around her.

"Wait, is that true?" Y/n asked in shock.

"Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your parents run the universe," The others chimed in. "Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your folks run the universe."

"Oh! Okay, let me see. My mom's Lesser Lord Kusanali, Goddess of Dendro. She gets excited when it starts to rain, But planting and planting and Studying are a pain," Bilwa sighed as she tried to rub her headache away. " For their sixteenth birthday, my friends got a car. I got a fern in some dumb mason jar."

"Ooh, ooh! My turn!" A young Yaksha half-blood shouted.

"I'm a child of Xiao, Yaksha of Liyue. Those who love nature, they're often beguiled. He's not really my dad, but I'm sort of his child, Oh no," Zhang said bashfully, as tears began to well up in his eyes. "He went for a hike to explore new frontiers. And no one has seen him for thousands of years."

"Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your parents run the universe. Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your folks run the universe,"

"Chiron! Who's your dad?" Y/n asked one of the camp counselors.

"Oh, well. My father is Kronos, Remember my lecture. He ate his children," He said simply.

"Chiron wins," Terra said, as the others nodded in agreement.

"How about you, Aina?" Gale asked.

"The beautiful fox envoy, my mom is Yae Miko. She tries to be cool but mainly she's flighty. I'll bring home a boy, and she's there in her nightie," Aina blushes in embarrassment. "It's so embarrassing, guys! I tried to seek help from even the fates, Cause she steals my mascara and all of my dates."

"Alright, Y/n, it's your turn," Gale smiled as he sat closer to them.

"If I tried to sing, it'll probably cause an avalanche," Y/n said shying away.

"Oh, we're all friends here. Come on, give it a shot," Gale smiled.

"My mom was named sally. She loved scary movies. And food that was blue, And-,"

"They're doing it wrong," Terra chuckled. "Yeah, who's your godly parent?" Zhang asked. "Oh, I don't know," Y/n said as they nearly remember their immortal father.

"It's alright a lot of half-bloods. Never know their godly parent. Just give it a try," Gale encourages.

"So my dad is some guy, his name was Dain," Y/n said as they somewhat remembered the, a tall man with light blonde hair and sea blue eyes. Wears a mask-like eyepatch covering the right side of his face while still showing his right eye."That's great I guess. Did he not want me? Or not want the stress? Too bad he's the worst, and my life is a mess. Oh, no."

"I hope he shows even a trace. Cause I got some choice words to throw in his face!" Y/n sang.

"Oh, things couldn't be worse. When your parents run the universe. Oh, things couldn't be worse," The others smiled and sang.

"But I don't care where our parents may be, As long as you are here with me," Gale smiled and wrapped a wing around Y/n.

"We don't care where our parents may be

As long as you are here with me. As long as you are here with me!" The half-bloods sang.

As the Golden apple archipelago winds carried their voice and songs.

[acesandfairydust]

Oh, more birthdays? Twins are up!

[captainadwen]

random thoughts/notes on the apple archipelago quest

- confirmation that mond has or had, in addition to at least a harbor, at least one fleet of ships

- the fact that the archipelago is controlled by a mechanical contraption suggests to me that 1. it was artificially built and 2. the rising water levels descriped in the conch shells.... were on purpose

- venti, as usual, is sus, as is dvalin. ignoring the....salt i have over genshin’s story writing, the fact that both of them know where the archipelago is, its old name, suggests they know who formed it and why. venti not coming along could be for same reason as dvalin i guess... “cumbersome” ? maybe. possibly also just general agreement between the archons to stay out of this area, since its international waters

- the way kaeya says his lines suggests hes in on the entire thing, as is lisa and maybe barbara (the swimsuit creation and such). or not. maybe im reading too much into this huge excuse to sell swimsuits

- that huge weird bubble thing in the ocean is probably related to locked quests, but is still sus in general

- the first group of conch tales suggest the group is from mond but... what is rhyme about. mond itself? whats the little village hidden by five mountains??? + there’s no river flowing down the middle.... unless it could be the unreachable river/area that flows into cider lake, which could suggest the little village they’re talking about is actually old mond (whatever it is, we know this group was stranded less than 1k years ago, which might tie into Venessa’s storm-watching order)

- will captain ako ever be relevant in story........... knowing genshin im thinking maybe only in artifacts, if that lol

- wikia says dongdong is an actual npc child you meet in liyue, so his dad has to have been stranded within the past decade. so at least one other being has the ability to get in-out without issue, and possibly was rescuing other stranded ppl

- i doubt its the general from #4/the samurai, but it could be i guess

- #5 is just enemies to respected colleagues to lovers lmao

- #7 implies the mercurial rising/falling of the tides happened often enough for people to be wary... also, inverted ruins? domains, spiral abyss anyone? (growing theory these are somehow related to technologically advanced khae)

- finally, though i know they only did it to populate the area with enemies, the fact that a ton of hilichurls were chilling underwater the whole time is hilarious

(also, can you even see celestia from the archipelago? because if not--)

[algorizmi]

Cider, fog, cinnamon

cider - a food that you disliked as a child but now enjoy?

The usual foods of age. I enjoy bitter vegetables like broccoli and spinach more. Oh, and I like to make foods that were not cooked well by my parents; Macaroni and cheese, when my dad made it growing up it was literally just macaroni and cheese, a congealed mass with no attempt at a sauce. He’s consistently overcook turkey and most meats too. My family stopped eating beef during the BSE scare and never really got back into it since it was cheaper without; beef still tastes weird to me but I’ll eat it and enjoy it if someone else is serving it without alternatives.

fog - how well do you think you’d do in a zombie apocalypse scenario?

Over all: pretty good odds. I’m proficient in many skills like gardening, beekeeping, sewing, crochet, spinning, chemistry, first aid, machining, construction, electronics, etc. and know several like-minded people who would be able to join me on my farm which is far enough and across geographic barriers from the nearest city that zombie load would be low. I’d be able to support ~20 people on 10 hours per week of food production; That’s not 10/hr per person mind you, just by myself. Keeping clothed using milkweed fluff would be tedious but doable, and I have the facilities for processing leather. Can make hundreds of gallons per year each of biodiesel and gasoline substitute. The biodiesel mainly for my uncle’s sawmill and wood shop, and gas for small engines. HRT supplies wouldn’t even be a problem. And as long and one of 3 friends made it to me, we’d be able to fabricate an air rifle before ammo ran out, chemical propellant manufacture is also plausible but time that’s better spent on other things.

cinnamon - if you had to live in a time period different than the present, which would you choose and where?

A couple hundred years in the future, on a private O’neill cylinder in an Archipelago-like arrangement once aging is solved. The past doesn’t much do it for me, we barely have tolerable levels of morphological freedom for transgender issues now, let alone transhuman.

[achillesmercury1996]

Autumn Asks 🍁

Thanks for the tag, @stressedinadress​ these are so cuteee!! 

what is your favorite autumn scent? 

Spiced apples! I have a candle from Bath and Body Works called Spiced Apple Toddy and it’s to die for

would you rather go through a corn maze or go pumpkin picking? 

Pumpkin picking for sure! I like corn mazes, but they give me anxiety

what is your favorite Halloween candy? 

I fuck very heavy with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

favorite autumn holiday?

Halloween hands down!

rainy, foggy autumn days or cold, sunny autumn days? 

Sunny autumn days, for sure! Like, sweater weather. 

favorite horror movie to watch on Halloween? 

I really like the classics, even if they aren’t super scary. Last year my bf and I watched Nightmare on Elm Street, and before that I watched Halloween.

do you like raking leaves? 

I used to as a kid, but we don’t need to rake leaves at my current house because we don’t get too many on the lawn.

do you have any special autumn traditions? 

Carving pumpkins with my dad!

do you like carving pumpkins? 

Yeah boooiii!

combat boots or cardigans? 

Cardigans for sure. I like combat boots, but they aren’t my style too much anymore.

yellows, reds and browns or purples, blacks and oranges? 

Huh? I like red, brown, orange and yellow color schemes during autumn.

favorite autumn drink? 

Cider, baby!

do you like pumpkin spice flavored things? 

Fuck no. I tried a pumpkin spice latte like, 4 years ago, and it was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever had.

favorite type of pie?

I like pumpkin pie in autumn, but my all time favorite is probably banana cream!

do you have any special halloween traditions? 

Not really. I used to go trick or treating with my dad every year as a kid, but now I just stay home and pass out candy. I guess one is we always play classic spooky music.

halloween parties or giving out candy to trick or treaters? 

I used to love parties, but I’m old, so I guess passing out candy even though ya girl can’t STAND kids.

hayrides or campfires?

BOTH

describe your ideal autumn day? 

Sunny sweater weather! I like when the leaves are like, just turning, and it’s still a little warm out.

coffee or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate! 

alcoholic or non alcoholic apple cider? 

RIP. I used to LOVES ME some hard cider, but my stomach can’t do alcohol anymore, so non-alcoholic it is! I love it more now, though.

what is your go to autumn outfit(s)? 

Oversized sweaters and leggings. 

do you wear scarves? 

Not too often, but I have a decent amount.

describe your dream autumn date? 

Apple orchard dates are peak! Hay ride out to the orchard with warm cider and then spending the day picking apples and vibing in the orchard. Extra bonus points if I can sit on your shoulders and get the apples at the top of the trees!

scary stories around a camp fire or getting lost in a corn maze with someone?

Fuck getting lost in a corn maze. Next thing you know it’s late af and you’re sleeping in that bitch for the cannibals to get...Definitely scary stories around the campfire!

black cats or bats?

Bats!

do you decorate for autumn? 

Nah, just for Halloween, and we keep some autumn decor out for Thanksgiving I guess

vampires or witches? 

Witches!

do you collect crystals? 

BET.

do you like cold weather?

Hell to the fuck no. I’m a summer kind of person, but autumn is nice. 

what was your favorite autumn activity as a kid? 

Halloween and dressing up in costume! It was always the highlight of my youth in October getting to go to Halloween USA or Spirit Halloween to pick out my costumes!

I tag: @dearscone @bowtiescarves @srclovers @selfish-archipelago and anyone else who wants to do this, too! These were all super cute!

[donguris]

A map of the world in A Warrior’s Heart.  

This is finally finished; thank you for waiting patiently!  Glossary of some locations under the cut. 

MAP GLOSSARY  

⚔︎ S A M E Z U K A  ⚔︎

•The Abyss: A fathomless undersea trench whence kraken and other abominations crawl up to haunt the ocean.  It is the birthplace of Sirens, and acknowledged as a gate to the underworld.  Sailors who have braved these waters recall a constant worming unease—like a feeling of being watched from below.  

•Fukahire, The Sharkfin: Tallest mountain in the northern half of Samezuka.  A temple is built on its steepest side, overlooking the entire empire southward.  It is customary for the royal family to hold a quiet, intimate ceremony here, after a marriage or coronation.  

•Gamou Glades: A flooded swampland that is notoriously hard to navigate.  Muck moles, pinfly swarms, weeping vines, giant voles, and other obstacles make it a perilous place to lose your way.  Bog Sirens hunt in the murk as well.  And though solitary, silent, and more sickly than their open ocean cousins, they can be deadly encounters for the unwary.  

•Crown Alps: Mountainous gateway to the far north.  Ogres, centipedes, and stoneater giants once swarmed from them to terrorize human villages, but these are pitifully rare—the giants now all but extinct.  Gold and ore is mined here, and settlements have flourished along the foothills.  

•Kiba: A busy city and resting place for traders, miners, soldiers, and travelers.  Though sightings of monsters from the mountains are uncommon, Kiba is still a heavily fortified, well-defended sanctuary.  Notable residents: Mikoshiba Isuzu

•Moon Pools: Cascading lakes that reflect the sky with divine perfection.  Bathing in their water heals the body, although they remain quite cold year-round. Unfortunately, the water seems to lose this healing quality when removed from the pools.  They offer a chance to swim through stars with the gods on earth, but in the last century or two it’s become a romantic destination as well.  Notable Residents: Hoshikawa Tsubasa

•Moyajima/ Fog Island:  Den of the Sirens. It’s almost impossible to find it through the engulfing mist, though few would seek it.  The demons live deep inside, having carved the island like an anthill—underground and underwater.  Rare survivors of a visit to this place report that evil simmers so thickly around it, breathing the very air will make you sick.  Notable Residents: Kurou, (formerly) Haru+Ikuya

•Samezuka (City): The capital and origin of Samezuka Empire, home of the ruling family. Spilling from the mountains to the sea, and including its peripheral neighbor Sano, it harbors well over a million people.  The city’s history is rich and complex, boasting the largest temple, palace, and trade port in the world.  It’s common here to see dragons from the wildlands flying to and from the ocean, and citizens often leave food out for the younger ones on towers, rooftops, and balconies.   Notable Residents: Rin, Sousuke, Gou. Seijuuro, Momo, Ai, Miyako(former), Akira    

•Red Mountains:  A low mountain range that walls off the jungle from the rest of the settled world.  Rock from these mountains was used to construct the palace, and many of the buildings in Samezuka.  When the sun sets, they look to be on fire.  

•Sano:  Satellite city of the capital.  Rose-colored brick streets, blossoming entertainment venues, bathhouses, vineyards, and other opulent distractions are big draws for both locals and travelers.  Many of these projects are funded by influential noble families, who compete with each other in hosting extravagant social events.   Notable Residents: Kisumi  

•The Silk Islands: A volcanic archipelago at the top of the empire.  Terrain is steep and islands sparsely populated, but this area remains home to a rich, proud culture of seafarers and craftsmen. The region is named for its unrivaled cultivation of silkworms.  Despite islands being relatively close to one another, fog often obscures them from sight. Notable Residents: the Hazukis

•Sunstretch:  This fertile expanse of grassland and temperate forest is Samezuka’s most bountiful source of food.  The weather is mild, and it’s one of the safest places in the empire to live.

•Tokitsu/Whale Bay: An oceanside city-state so isolated, much of Samezuka lived blissfully unaware of it.  Its precarious location severed it from the southern empire, as travel here was too dangerous an endeavor for most.  Defending their city without dragons or magic, the soldiers of Whale Bay were some of the toughest in history.  Much of the region’s lifestyle was built  around battle, smithing, and swimming.    Notable Residents: Sousuke, Haru (birthplace)    

•The Wildlands: An unmapped, untamable reach of jungle, grassland, and thermal marshes that is home to most of Samezuka’s dragons. It teems with dangerous, often gargantuan flora and fauna.  Climate and terrain vary, staying warmer near the coast, cooling off as altitude steadily rises northward.  Many dragons will lay their eggs in the warmest region where their young can grow in safety, before taking them back home.  The first red-haired, sharp-toothed Matsuoka was born and raised here before coming to walk among humans, and the family continues to foster an innate connection to this region.  Notable Residents: Tora, Tamo, Sango, Yuudai

☾ I W A T O B I  ☾

•Aomori: The Sacred Forest.  Soil here is rich enough in magic to support groves of massive trees that stand thousands of years old.  Despite its vast size, Aomori has very few permanent human residents.  People live in one of three modest villages built at strategic points across its expanse, connected by a safe trail.  Monks and guests walk this loop pilgrimage to visit the temples, but they must never stray from the path.  The trees weave illusions to mislead malicious intruders, and keep them from the center of the woods.  Aomori is a perilous place for those looking to do harm.  Settlements in the forest are for some like windows into the past; village lifestyles have remained peaceful, spiritual, and largely unchanged for centuries. Notable Residents: Makoto, Haru, The Tachibanas, Aki, Miho

•The Green Girdle: Central Iwatobi—largely flat plains with fertile soil and rivers.  Livestock, horses, corn, grain, rice, and other crops are raised here and exported.  Cities are far between, and inns pride themselves on brewing the best cider and ale.    

•Imadaki: Once an important military outpost for Samezuka, it’s now governed by Iwatobi, divided by a border that warps and blurs. Control of this island has seen constant contention.  

•Negura, The Eagle’s Roost: The capital of Iwatobi, hollowed into Tottori Canyon by sorcerers, and ever-expanding.  Above the canyon, it is an arid plateau, but the rock is so richly infused with magic, that lush vegetation drapes the shelves along the river.  The city runs for miles until emptying into Raptor’s Bay.  Living areas in the heart of the capital are tiered—some stacked so high off the ground, that citizens rely on a magic-aided pulley elevator system to reach their homes each day.  Negura boasts the most concentrated population of sorcerers, who are registered, monitored, and operate under a bill of regulations.  Notable Residents: Nao, Natsuya, Asahi, Ikuya, Rei, Nagisa

•Negura Lowlands: Coastal flats that see only a shambling trickle of the big city’s wealth.  It’s long been a hotbed for smuggling, piracy, illegal experimentation, and other crime that is hidden by sorcerers and outlaws disinclined to follow the capital’s strict codes.  The infamous Grey Harbor Prison is housed on a slab of land just offshore—the most heavily guarded institution in Iwatobi.   Notable Residents: Nagisa, Shun, Kyo, Miri Hazuki

•Raptor’s Bay: Iwatobi’s largest port city, and home of its royal navy.  Notable Residents: Natsuya, Ikuya (birthplace)

•Quiet Isles: The fringes of Iwatobi.  Trolls and wights have been known to resurface from the caves, en route to attack Aomori.  When danger emerges, the islands’ life goes eerily silent.  However, Black Rails persist their calling, and people of the Quiet Isles know this bird’s sound as a dire warning to shut their gates.  Rails became a symbol of bravery, and are protected for their service.  These rare events aside, the islands are perfect places for someone to live unbothered.   Notable Residents: Azuma Ryuuji

[northerntr4sh]

Seventy Eight

all my friends r havin

a miserable winter

im feeling detached but ok.

they all seem to be clawing at things

to eat their anomie off

but it's picking apart the organs u eat with in the first place.

it's slowly replacing my friends with

archipelagos of atoms that don't know each other

displaced diaspora's, colonised, evaporated.

Clinging onto bastardised versions of their past selves.

im wondering if all they hear when other people speak is white cider.

everyone feels like they've been given their own enclosures of selves to dissipate and separate within.

im seeing husks n bad dreams of my childhood friends this new year.

there's nothing to hold them together I hope things change

[outroshooky]

a morning’s vignette (five o’clock) | kth

⇢ genre: oneshot (artist!au) (fluff, a touch of angst)

⇢ pairing: kim taehyung x reader

⇢ word count: 2.2k

⇢ a/n: written for the one and only @lolnxcole. love you, tapioca dearest!!

It’s 5:13am, and Kim Taehyung finds himself sitting cross-legged outside his neighbor’s house, the scattered dew from the grass staining his jeans as he hunches over a moleskine journal and sketches furiously.

It’s early, too early for the rest of society to awaken on this lovely Monday morning, but deep in the heart of summer, and thus the world is illuminated in hues of scarlet and tangerine, the sky streaked with merigold and cider and coral in a celestial masterpiece worthy of the likes of Monet. He notes how the glow frames the houses around him, the fences and trees and stirrings of this residential block, and no matter where he looks, it takes his breath away. It reminds him of Rembrandt, he thinks; the supernal mastery of light and shadow will never cease to stun him.

As much as color defines how he sees the world around him, he misses how subtly it influences others’ perception of him. His tawny bangs are tucked neatly under a backwards snapback, splatters of vermillion dart their way up his forearms to meet chartreuse and periwinkle, inky lines curl around the toes of his worn canvas low-tops. His oversized shirt is soft white cotton, but it might as well be a canvas all unto its own. There’s a mauve stain in the faint shape of Australia on the left sleeve, mahogany and medallion like archipelagos and atolls, and Taehyung smiles at the memory of the continent’s formation.

The velvet tones of Chet Baker pour in through his tangled earbuds, the sound a little tinny in one ear. The damn cord got stretched, thanks to Jeongguk- ironically, on the same day they’d bought the new paints that are so carefully balanced on an upside-down milk crate in front of him now. He’s lost in his work, in perfectly capturing the hints of mulberry in the peach expanse- so lost, in fact, that he jolts, accidentally smearing sangria across the opposite page when you clear your throat loudly.

He topples backward in surprise, falling on his elbows, and the first thing Taehyung sees is a pair of neon sneakers, one of which is tapping the dirt impatiently. His gaze travels up your calves to your torso, noting pitch leggings, an oversized sable sweatshirt, and a palpable amount of self-restraint you exercise to control the bright salmon that flushes your cheeks. It reminds him of the scattered pink stipples that dust his knuckles, and he has to bite back a signature Taehyung™ smile at this.

“Who the fuck are you, and what the fuck are you doing on my lawn at five in the morning?”

He takes out an earbud and gazes up at you, carefully dabbing at the misstroke with a shred of paper towel and the ease of a practiced professional. “Who are you, and why are you awake at five in the morning?”

You cross your arms, your tongue pressed into your cheek at the surprisingly dulcet baritone emanating from the stranger. “Sorry, but you’re the one technically trespassing, buddy. Answer the question.”

Taehyung shrugs. “Your crabapple trees looked nice with the sunrise behind them. I’m an artist. It’s self explanatory.”

“Normal artists don’t sit on my lawn and draw my crabapple trees.”

“They don’t?” He carefully sets his sketchbook on the crate, stands, and extends his hand. “Kim Taehyung. Foreign exchange student, fine arts. it’s a pleasure.”

You raise an eyebrow apprehensively and take his hand. “Pleasure.” He shakes firmly. “I was running, by the way. I run before work.”

He laughs, and something in your chest leaps in response. “So you run this early in the morning, but you don’t see how beautiful the sunrise is every day?” One of your shoulders rises and falls.

“I don’t draw.” Your statement is firm and concise.

Taehyung’s brows furrow at this like it’s something he’s never heard before, and he rolls a filbert brush between his fingers like a patron’s cigarette. “That doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate art.”

“It’s nice, I guess.” You check your watch and whirl in place, suddenly impatient. “I’m late.” You’re halfway down the gravel driveway before you notice him still standing, wide-eyed, in the middle of your front lawn.

“You have an hour.”

There are three elements to one of Taehyung’s most simple pleasures in life. Firstly, he prefers cappuccinos to Americanos, and he insists on having a cappuccino every other day at four-fifteen in the afternoon- to him, the perfect time for a midday pick-me-up. Secondly, he must be sitting at the back left corner table inside of Helen’s, the café frequented by artisans and businessmen alike at all hours of the day. Third, he must have his sketchbook with him, plus or minus his watercolor set. These three elements, when combined, give rise to a pastime he loves perhaps nearly as much as sunrises and paints and low-fi hip-hop Spotify playlists.

People-watching.

The thought of you had preoccupied his mind for hours, and graphite marked his fingers like ash as he selected a woodless 2B and outlined the sole of your shoes. If it’s one thing Taehyung is known for, it’s his portrayals of life in all of its simplicity, and perhaps that’s why he always preferred Bruegel the Elder to Bruegel the Younger. He sits in this shop for hours, plaid sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and sketches.

He draws sweaty, overworked waitresses and new mothers with infants and the youthful innocence of children, palms pressed flush to the glass of the pastry display. He draws the table and his battered book and the slender hands that grip the pencil unceasingly. He draws succulent lemon tarts and glistening cinnamon rolls and the emptied sugar packets scattered across the plate in front of him. But today, he does not draw his waitresses and hands and cinnamon rolls. Today, he muses, is different.

Today, his mind refuses to budge from neon sneakers and feminine curves and the quirk of your eyebrow. No matter what he tries to put on paper, your features emerge from the tip of his pencil, and after a while he gives in and covers an entire page, front and back, in you.

Taehyung has the mind of an artist, and the little details are his specialty. He observes with immaculate precision the curve of your lip and the angles of your shoulders; he captures your posture and immortalizes it in 4H, in HB, in the soft paper-on-paper brushing of his tortillion. Never has he been so fixated on developing dozens of mental snapshots into black-and-white Polaroids, marked by pens and pencils and neutral tone paper. He scrawls line after line, embedding you into forever by his own pure talent, and he is nearly breathless by the time the bell atop the door jingles, and he realizes it’s closing time.

He has filled four new pages.

Today, he muses, is different.

It becomes a rhythm.

By 5:09am, Taehyung finds himself standing on the sidewalk in front of his host family’s ranch. He looks up and down the street, selects a colonial or gambrel or maybe the new construction under, well, construction, sits on the curb, and opens his sketchbook.

He sees you every morning, of course. You see him, and when he looks up to follow your usual morning route, you stifle the thought that the increased beat of your heart has nothing to do with your strenuous exercise, and instead focus doubly harder on the quickened rhythm of your sneakers slapping the concrete.

It is a day like any other when you pause in front of him, taking an abrupt left instead of continuing straight, and he’s looking up at you with his boxy smile before you have time to catch your breath.

You shift, suddenly uncomfortable, and rock back on your heels. “You can draw, by the way.” Fuck. “On my lawn, I mean. You can draw on my lawn. You have an hour.”

His eyes are deep and all-encompassing, and you swear you can see countless galaxies swirl when his grin grows ever wider. It pangs somewhere deep inside, brings memories of children’s fingers and apple red and denim blue-

You turn on one heel and begin to run.

The rhythm shifts, but not unpleasantly.

He’s surprised at how well he can adapt to the minor adjustment, and he comes to welcome it.

By 5:09am, Taehyung finds himself standing on sweet dewy grass instead of hard concrete. He looks up and down, selects a bush or tree or angle of the roof, folds his legs under himself, and opens his sketchbook.

He’s gone by the time you get back, of course. An hour and thirteen minutes on the dot and you are standing on your front stoop with nothing but curling blades of green to memorialize his presence by. There’s an odd pang in your chest now- one that you hadn’t anticipated, one that drowns out the staccato drumbeat, and the harder you push yourself, the harder it is to focus on keeping tempo.

Some days, you stop for a breath, rubbing sleep out of your eyes as he rubs and smears carbon across the page. On these days, you may exchange a word, a sentence, as much as you can bear before you turn and run like you have every day since you first bought this house eight months ago. You’re no longer sure if you’re running to somewhere, or running from someone.

It is a day like any other when you take a sharp right and a left, and he doesn’t hear you when you approach him from behind. Louis Armstrong leaks into the filmy morning air, and the music is so fittingly Taehyung that you hesitate, and the meter of your heart skips a beat when you look over his shoulder at his sketchbook.

Familiar faces sing to you from two-tone paper, faces from the grocery store and the coffee shop and the laundromat. The pimpled cashier slouches, swiping a bag of potato chips with one hand on the pinpad. A toddler’s pigtails bounce as she skips, strawberry lollipop in hand, around the counter. The surly, suited executive nudges a coin into the pewter machine, frowning when his wash refuses to cycle. A woman runs, arms and legs like pistons as sweat drips into her eyes, and her sneakers are accentuated with dabs of tiger orange and canary gold.

Ruby and burgundy pop alongside boysenberry and heather; apricot blazes the sky, peeking over the eave of the roof. Juniper leaves and amber bark scratch their empyrean, and lace is speckled by sepia where dirt stains the siding. Alabaster is the shine on your front window, and hazelwood is your fence where parchment has chipped away.

Your breath is exhaled in a shocked rush of air, and he misses it over the muted tones of brass and piano.

“You know, I lied to you before, Taehyung.”

Your hands twist in front of you as he whips around and nearly falls backward, yanking his earbuds out, eyes dilated with surprise and apprehension.

“I used to draw every day of my life.” You are quiet but audible, and you watch the surprise and apprehension drain as wonder, curiosity, and finally, tenderness cascade like waves across his face. “I drew and drew and that’s all I did as a child is draw. I wanted to become an artist. One of the best, in fact. I wanted them to remember me like one speaks of Da Vinci or Vermeer or Masaccio.” Your laugh is empty of joy. “It’s funny how I thought one could ever reach that high.”

“Who says you can’t?” You are fixated on the way he murmurs, how the honeyed baritone instantly grabs your attention, and you nearly falter.

“My parents.” Your nails dig into your skin, and you wince at the memory harder than the pain itself. “They wanted me to become an accountant. Do I look like an accountant to you? No.” The shudder of your next inhale is unintentional. “They threw out my pencils. They burned my sketchbooks. They told me to focus on the future and not on the ambitions of a child, and the day after I graduated college, I ran.”

The last of your walls falls away, and the last of the tension drains from your shoulders as you stand before him, sweaty, defeated, wholly unmasked. “I’m still running.”

When Taehyung stands and your name falls from his lips, the empathy in his voice hits like a punch, and when his arms come to wrap around you, you let him hold you together, because for your own sake, you can’t anymore.

His thumb strokes your cheek, wiping the tears away, the tears that you hadn’t realized were falling freely. When his finger taps your nose, you open your eyes, and are met by stars and novae and nebulae in deep obsidian. The gesture is so wholly and utterly Taehyung, and the click of the metronome ticks a few beats faster when he tilts his head and cups your face in his sangria and juniper and alabaster-dusted hands.

“I see the sunrise every morning,” you whisper as he brushes moisture from your skin. “but I can’t bring myself to appreciate it.”

He hushes you gently, softly. “Let me show you how.”

And he presses his lips to yours.

[bragbeer]

North Cornwall Beer Guide

Visiting Cornwall this year? In the first of our beer guides we start off with the North of Cornwall. This is just to give you some idea’s of places to drink but why not go off the beaten track and find your own little gem. There is so many little country pubs in the North that you can easily find somewhere for a pint or 2.

We start off with a couple brewery's. The first being Padstow Brewery where you can get a tour around the brewery (£25) or if you want to you can get a little more hands on with a brewing experience day. With the tour you get to take a beer gift pack home with you. Wanting something a bit quicker? Then head to their tasting room in the heart of Padstow. You can try the drinks here and also buy bottles and cans to take home with you. Try Windjammer. Sat Nav: PL28 8BS

Further up the coast you can visit Tintagel Brewery. You do not have an option to do a tour here but this is a great place to visit as not only can you try all of their beers here you can also eat in their restaurant and have their Wagyu beef from the onsite farm. There is an outside play area ideal for families. Try Excalibur. Sat Nav: PL34 OHJ

There are plenty of other breweries on the North coast that may not have visitor centres but they do have great beers. Firebrand Brewery - Neipa or Graffiti IPA. Atlantic Brewery - Sea salt Stout or honey ale. Sharps Brewery - Offshore Pilsner or Hellweathers. Special shout outs to Black Flag Brewery who do my current favourite beer in Fang and Sunset Brewing Co who have the stylish Archipelago Xpa. These beers are some of our go to beers but why not try others and let us know which you find and like? 

We could list some pubs for you to visit but just go out find your own  new favourite. North Cornwall does have a Micro pub in The Barrel at Bude. They are only open Thursday to Sundays but not only do they have some of the county's best beers but they also brew their own. Wanting to buy some of these beers before you head home? Head to Wadebridge wines and check out their great selection of Ales, Ciders, spirits and surprisingly Wines. They are very knowledgeable if you are a little stuck as to what to buy. 

Thanks for reading and keep an eye out for our next guide for those visiting the South this year. Follow us on facebook and instagram to keep upto date.