#are they running barefoot

[thequeenwechoose]

Daemon in his Housecoat in Hotd 2x04

[azuvist]

Sunset joy

[aventurineswife]

Running in the Shadows

Summary: Caught in a chase under the moonlit sky, you believe you can outrun Moze, the elusive Shadow Guard of the Yaoqing. But Moze quickly catches up, only to surprise you.

Tags: Moze x Reader(can be read as platonically) Chase scene, Hurt/Comfort, Protector, Slow Burn, Tension, Fluff with Angst, Emotional Vulnerability, Barefoot Running.

Warnings: Mentions of panic and fear during the chase, Slight physical restraint, Mild emotional tension.

Feel free to send in your requests!

Original Idea

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the deserted streets of the city. You sprinted down the narrow alleyways, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you glanced back over your shoulder. The sound of footsteps echoed ominously behind you, but you believed you could outpace your pursuer. After all, you were nimble and fast, and this was your territory.

You turned sharply, weaving through the shadows, your breath quickening as you picked up speed. However, the footsteps only grew louder, each step punctuating the air with an unsettling promise. Who was chasing you? You didn’t have time to think about it; you needed to escape.

As you rounded another corner, the alley widened, and you felt a rush of hope. Perhaps you could find a place to hide, a chance to lose whoever was behind you. You pushed your legs harder, ignoring the sting of your bare feet against the cold pavement, the gravel digging into your soles. You were almost there—just a few more steps.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed ahead of you, and instinct kicked in. You turned to run the other way, but in an instant, the figure emerged from the darkness—a tall, muscular silhouette with gray hair cascading over one shoulder. You recognized him instantly.

“Moze...” you gasped, feeling a mix of fear and an inexplicable thrill.

He moved with a predatory grace, closing the distance between you with ease. Panic surged through you, and you quickened your pace again, but it was futile. With a swift motion, he reached out and grabbed your waist, effortlessly lifting you off your feet.

“Got you.” he said, his voice low and steady, but there was no malice in his tone—only an unsettling calm.

Before you could react, he lowered you gently onto something soft. Confused, you looked down to find your shoes—waiting for you. The act was so unexpected, so disarming, that you almost forgot about your fear.

“Why were you running?” Moze asked, his violet-blue eyes locking onto yours, a hint of concern flickering beneath his stoic demeanor.

You stammered, “I… I thought you were after me.”

“I was,” he admitted, a faint smirk teasing the corner of his lips. “But not in the way you think.”

His hands remained on your, grounding, you as you tried to catch your breath. There was a vulnerability in his gaze, a flicker of something deeper beneath the surface—a connection that transcended the chase.

“Put your shoes on,” he said, his voice softening. “You’ll hurt yourself running around barefoot.”

The warmth of his hands lingered on your skin, and you nodded, slipping your feet into the shoes. The fit offered a sense of security, a reminder that despite the shadows surrounding you, there was someone watching over you.

“Thank you,” you said quietly, looking up at him. “I didn’t expect you to… uh help me?”

“Neither did I,” he replied, his expression unreadable. “But you shouldn’t have to run alone.”

In that moment, as the city around you buzzed with the life of the night, the world felt a little less chaotic. Moze, the enigmatic Shadow Guard, had pulled you from the edge of fear, reminding you that sometimes, the shadows held more than just danger; they held unexpected allies.

Just then, a distant siren blared, cutting through the stillness of the night. Moze’s expression hardened, the vulnerability replaced by a shadow of tension.

“We need to move.” he said, suddenly alert.

“Where?” you asked, glancing around nervously.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes scanning the dark alley as if he could sense something looming just beyond the edge of the shadows. “Anywhere but here.” he replied, a cryptic urgency lacing his tone.

Before you could question him further, he reached for your hand, pulling you toward the darkest recess of the alley. The grip was firm, yet the moment felt surreal, as if the very air around you was thickening with unspoken truths.

As you ran, the weight of uncertainty hung heavily in the air. Just ahead, you spotted a narrow doorway that led to the unknown. With a fleeting glance over your shoulder, you caught a glimpse of movement—a flicker of shadows beyond the light.

“What’s back there?” you asked, your heart racing.“I don’t know,” Moze replied, glancing back at you, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. “But we don’t have time to find out.”

Just as you reached the door, the echo of hurried footsteps filled the alley behind you—voices, angry and demanding. Moze’s grip tightened, and in one swift motion, he yanked open the door, revealing an inky darkness that swallowed you whole.

You hesitated at the threshold, the fear of the unknown clashing with the urgency of the moment. “Moze, wait—”

He turned, his violet-blue eyes piercing through the dark. “Trust me,” he urged, an intensity in his voice that sent a shiver down your spine. “We can’t let them catch us.”

And in that moment, as the door creaked open wider, you were faced with a choice. You could step into the darkness with him, leaving everything behind, or retreat to the light where you might be safe but alone.

As you weighed your options, the footsteps grew louder, and the shadows began to close in around you. The last thing you heard before the door swung shut was Moze’s voice, a whisper that echoed in your mind: “Sometimes, the darkest paths lead to the brightest futures…”

The door slammed shut, and the world around you faded to black, leaving you to wonder what awaited in the unknown and whether you would ever find your way back.

[scarapanna]

Last AU WIP of the week!!

This is gonna be one of the most difficult frames to finish lmao

Also the quality is extra crusty but that's okay/silly

[More rambles undercut]

Long story short this thing has prespective and BGs since I barely do both and it's good to practice, but on the downside it's gonna be taking a long long time to do (tldr I re-sketched the panel to make linearting easier)

Finished 1/6 panels so far tho!!!

The others are simplier other than the first two so I should take as much!!

[denim-bias]

[cryinglittlepeople]

reading wuthering heights and transferring cathy's entire character to olive

[banditblvd]

Magic mountain 5/7

[usarmytrooper]

[fisheito]

now that i've seen the DIK fight island obstacle course and how it's. a course. not just them swimming all day makes me wonder who would do best at running through sand. bc you gotta have a technique. or a certain kinda muscle built up. sand is difficult terrain but by pitting garu-dante-quin against each other... hmmm... that's tricky bc they ARE pretty evenly matched. a trio of athletic little lads

[averageclawcodeenjoyer]

Analyzing ATSV backgrounds part 1.5

Anybody ever notice how in ATSV, Ganke isn't wearing any socks on in Miles's shoes

Boy PUT SOME GODDAMN SOCKS ON THOSE ARENT YOUR DAMN SHOES THAT YOU'RE STINKING UP WITH YOUR FEET SWEAT.

Look at his fucking face though oh .y god I can't with his fucking face why do you look like this I'm in love with you.

He looks SO surprised that he was caught.

God he's so

Here he is with those damn bare feet again. Except now they're cold. And without Miles's shoes.

You think he put them back on after?

It's funny how he chose the pair that Miles wears every day instead of one of the ones off his shelf. Maybe it's because he doesn't use those ones and out of respect doesn't touch then too, or maybe it's because bro was just WAITING for him to say something

Part one

[revvethasmythh]

finally got the lords of fortune armor i really wanted and then promptly abandoned it for my original preferred set of armor because i can accept running around thedas in a skimpy little fit but i draw the line at being BAREFOOT

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 6: Halcyon

Halcyon: Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.

As time spent within the walls of the quaint city of Gridania often went for E’mal, he found himself yet again tied to a group of conjurers. And as it often was the case, he found himself in charge of the less experienced bunch. Today, they had been tasked with the never-ending quest to gather more medicinal herbs for the guild. As if this wasn’t always the assigned task. 

The droning of the native insects thrummed around E’mal’s head. The idle chatter of the group around him making his head spin when in combo with the, to him, not-so distant bustling of the city. He could feel himself losing focus on his task, sprigs of greenery slipping through his fingers and falling lightly to the ground in an undignified pile. He shut his eyes and took a shaky breath in an attempt to calm his slowly unraveling nerves. Everything was entirely too much. The city, the people around him, it was all too loud. 

His mind wandered as he tried to keep himself in check. He remembered the times when he was a child where he would simply run into the woods when it all became too much. When the sounds of people scratched his brain in all the wrong ways. The feeling of freedom and fearlessness as he climbed trees and explored the underbrush, jumping from branches and swinging vines over creekbeds. Those halcyon days seemed so far from him now. And yet…. An idea came to mind. Spur of the moment thought that needed nothing further. His eyes finally opened and he dropped his bags on the ground with a resounding thud. The noise startled the conjurers around him and they all paused, turning to see what exactly their current guide was up to. But E’mal didn’t pay them any mind. Not right now. He was in the middle of untying his robe to throw it to the side. He stood in an undershirt and calf-length trousers, inhaling deeply. A grin came to his face and he slid out of his boots and socks, feeling the soft grasses and moss under his feet. The group was now…confused. And a little concerned. They did not, however, get the chance to inquire before E’mal turned, a playful smirk on his face.

“I’m sure the elder’s will have my head when I get back, but good luck. I can’t be bothered to do this anymore! It’s painfully dull.”

Finishing his statement, he turned and bolted into the treeline, a childlike cheer of excitement as he did. His knowledge of the forests of the shroud never seemed to have left him as he sprang forward fearlessly, much like he did all those years ago.

[rhinozilla]

It's been hours at this point, and I have yet to see the supernatural meme?

[fumble-art]

Just a compilation of TOoDL related doodles and concept work I've been playing with the past month and forgot to upload.

[poorlemons]

Did that one challenge that happened years back of like- having your monitor on grayscale and revealing the colors afterward. I grabbed a randomized pallet, too, so i didn't have any input on the wheel, since i know it so well.