#at first I thought “oh a new traveler quest? how exciting”

[mattdrawssometimes]

Just finished the new archon quest, it was... something

Also, don't check tags if u don't wanna spoil urself or read me crying lol

[walpu]

I'm coming at you with the speed of thousand asteroids affectionately and hit you with a "your writing is awesome!"

Also, may I request an Aventurine x The Nameless!reader.

Thank you very much and have a nice day :D

Thank you so much for your kind words and for the request, it was so fun to write <З

Hope you'll enjoy it, have a good day as well 💛

Aventurine x The Nameless!reader

characters - Aventurine

notes - gn!reader, fluff, a bit of hurt/comfort. Once again, no beta. I'm so sorry.

Aventurine

Considering that the Astral Family and it's members are pretty well-known (everyone seems to know at least their names) he has probably heard something about you even before you first met him.

I can imagine your first meeting going like this: he casually approaches you, acting all buddy-buddy, and says something like "ah, mx , who knew I would meet you here of all places <З".

If your first meeting was during the Penacony quest get ready for him calling you "friend" in this sassy voice of his 💀 Yes Aven we all get it you don't have any actual friends calm down

Can imagine him trying to get closer to you by painting your potential partnership as something mutually beneficial. You could use a friend from the IPC, right? And he wouldn't mind having some connections with a "brave and honorable" Nameless. So why don't you join him for a glass of wine, hmmm?

When the two of you will eventually get closer this mf will get clingy af. Yeah I've mentioned it already in my previous post but you being one of the Nameless opens up so many new perspectives.

Visits you on the Express regularly. If he comes when you're not here, he'll wait for as long as he can for you to come back. Sadly, Aventurine is a busy, busy man. So he can't wait for long. Will leave small notes for you tho, to let you know that he was there but you didn't grace him with your presence

If you come back when he's waiting, Aven will play it off as if he himself just got there and didn't have to wait for you at all, saying somethin like "Oh look, here you're! And here I thought I would have to wait for you, haha. Seems like luck is on my side today~"

He doesn't want you to worry, after all. Also. He wants to save some face. Pom-Pom will rat him out anyway.

Speaking of Pom-Pom, they're probably sick of him at this point lol.

Would ask you about your adventures and listen very closely to every story you may want to tell. He can't help but smile softly while listening to you, he just loves seeing the passion in your eyes. Doesn't matter if the story is about you dragging the Trailblazer away from the trash cans in Belobog (or worse - admiring the trash cans with them), he will still look at you with the same adoring smile.

If you ask him what he's been up to during the time you where gone, Aven would simply laugh it off and say that his boring IPC stuff cannot compare with your bizarre adventures so it doesn't even worth mentioning. Reassure him that you don't care if it's boring, you just want to hear about his day regardless of how it went.

Sometimes he can't help but feel jealous. You're free to travel, to do whatever you want. You have this sparkle of excitement in your eyes every time you tell him about your travels. And he has nothing of it. Simply can't have.

He doesn't have any negative feelings towards you, of course. Mostly some bottled up bitterness toward his fate and himself.

He gets a bit lost in his own head every time he starts feeling this way. Please take his hand and invite him to join you during your next adventure. He will laugh softly and tell you "maybe next time, darling". Even if he doesn't know when this "next time" will come the thought of it, of you wanting to share your precious moment with him, fills him with hope.

Adores when you bring him small gifts from the places you've been. It doesn't have to be something big, really. Just the thought that you were thinking of him when the two of you were apart is enough.

Don't forget to send him pictures of yourself!!!! He wants to know how his dearest darling is doing even when they are freezing their ass off in Belobog.

Would sometimes surprise you by showing up on the planet/space ship you're currently staying on. Aventurine rarely can't stay for a long but he cherishes those short moments when he can just walk around and do nothing in particular with you.

Usually when he visits a planet it has something to do with the IPC's business so he only has time to do his job and. Well. Gamble. Maybe buy some new clothes too if he has enough time.

But with you he can actually explore the planet. You bring him to the local restaurants, small tea shops, seemingly small and insignificant places. But it’s places like these that reveal the real beauty of the planet. He slowly learns to appreciate it when you're by his side.

[starry-bi-sky]

Okay so this is almost a direct copy-paste of my earlier reblog but only the Xin Yuan parts, because its long enough to be its own post and i want to share it! It deserves it's own post <3 typical starry stuff to write a 2k word long reblog, unfortunately.

I say almost because I went through to proof read and ended up adding more stuff.

I've been cooking on this idea for the last two days since I saw the Xin Mo!Shen Yuan post but??? I can't find anything on Xin Mo's backstory or how it came to be -- which means that's free fucking plot right there baby. That's a sandbox and im making LIFE SIZED CASTLES. I'm so excited.

The idea of Shen Yuan transmigrating centuries before the events of PIDW as Xin Mo -- but when he wakes up, he's not the sword. He wakes up in the body of a young boy named Xin Yuan. Now it makes sense for this boy to be a demon, but the drama, the intrigue, the spice of Xin Yuan being a human child.

SY wakes up as a boy below the age of ten, and the System tells him where he is, and SY is excited to meet his favorite protagonist -- only to gradually realize that he's like, a thousand years or so before the events of the novel. The rant he gives the system is legendary.

Bc what's the point of getting dropped into PIDW if he's never going to meet his favorite character??? This is a scam! BUT he settles into his new life, he's like, some orphan street rat or some other tragic airplane-esq backstory.

The system gives Shen Yuan his first mandatory quest: become a righteous cultivator. Which was like, kinda his plan/hopes anyways, except! There's like?? No official cultivator sects anywhere? The Cang Qiong Mountain Sect hasn't even been established yet, and there are pockets of cultivators running around, maybe some groups or schools popping up and then sinking back down, but nothing's really taken root!

If he asks someone how to become a cultivator, there's no straight answer. No "oh you can go to X to do that". He's pissed! How can he become a cultivator if there aren't any schools around to teach him? Deus ex machina, that's how.

Out of sheer luck, SY manages to help save a rogue cultivator, and promptly gets adopted by said rogue cultivator, who gives SY the name 'Xin Yuan'. He is ecstatic. And you know what? It's actually pretty fun!

He's getting to travel the world of PIDW in its early stages, and gets to see the building blocks for the eventual main story. He's discovering all this local flora and fauna that are foreign to his old world and unmentioned in the book, and he's learning cultivation! Granted, its unsafe, newly(ish) discovered cultivation, but it counts!

Wistfully, he thinks about perhaps he'll do something grand and get his name carved into legend. Something that would eventually help the protagonist later down the line in his quest for revenge.

The system remains silent to his thoughts.

But Xin Yuan doesn't take much stock in that daydream anyways. It's nothing more than fantasy to him; wish-fulfillment. He does discover however, that he is positively brimming with spiritual energy. Overwhelmingly so.

It's both a blessing and a curse, as it puts a strain on his meridians if he's not careful, and leaves him prone to qi deviations for the exact same reasons. He already has a heart demon or two from a few traumatic experiences in the past.

(bc hey! angst a day keeps the writer sadism at bay, and all that)

I'll say he's about... eight when he gets picked up by the rogue cultivator, who I'm calling Lin Kai bc he deserves a name. They travel around PIDW up until Xin Yuan is twelve, where he goes through a traumatic experience that results in a heart demon.

It's after that that Lin Kai decides to put a stop to his wandering, and find a place to settle down to raise Xin Yuan in. Coincidentally! They settle down in a nice mountain region that's thriving with spiritual energy. The mountains at the time were called something different, but they will be eventually known as the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect

Coincidentally, the mountain Lin Kai and Xin Yuan end up on is Qing Jing Peak. XY does not realize that the mountain he's on is Qing Jing. The System does not tell him. But he likes it there, more than he was expecting. And as much as he's traveled around, he really does enjoy being in one place.

He has a tendency to go down the mountain and help the village setting up down there, and when he's a teenager he starts venturing out more and more.

Xin Yuan forgets sometimes that he's in a novel, especially after settling down on Qing Jing peak. The system becomes remarkably quiet since there's no quests for him to do and not a ton of opportunities to get B-Points. He cultivates with Lin Kai, helps tend to the garden they're growing, goes down to the village to play with the other kids.

There's one boy he's best friends with, a boy whose not all that good with words, named Liu Zhihao. He's got potential for cultivation though, so Xin Yuan drags him up the mountain when he can so that Liu Zhihao can sit in on lessons with Lin Kai. He drags him all over the forest at the foot of the mountain to go look at bugs and animals.

(One time, when they're fourteen and Liu Zhihao has been learning cultivation for a few years now, Xin Yuan drags him out of bed late one night to go look at the stars. Xin Yuan tells Liu Zhihao about ascension -- something that still feels like a far off dream to many in this time -- that night, while they're sitting on the wet grass.)

("We should ascend together." Xin Yuan tells Liu Zhihao, jade eyes gleaming. Never let it be said that Xin Yuan doesn't love deeply, no matter what kind of love it is. He was always so lonely as Shen Yuan, Liu Zhihao is his best friend. "We'll become immortals, and then we won't ascend until the other is able to.")

(Liu Zhihao stares at him silently, his face unreadable. Then, quietly, he asks; "Promise?")

("Promise.")

When he starts adventuring outwards, further away from the mountain and the village, Liu Zhihao sticks to him like rice. Not that Xin Yuan's complaining, that's his best friend after all, and Liu Zhihao has become a formidable cultivator. He deserves to show off his skills.

He starts making something of a name for himself by the time he's, like, 18 -- although that name is in its baby steps, along with Liu Zhihao. They're slowly growing renown.

Perhaps XY uses his knowledge of PIDW and cultivation in general to help make advancements in the cultivation field. Although the system prevents him from sharing too much, it doesn't mean he can't practice it himself. Perhaps he's one of the first cultivators to develop a golden core. One of the first known immortal cultivators. One of the first to have a spirit sword.

(Although I don't know the logistics of any of this since my knowledge on xanxia/cultivation stuff in general is all still pretty new and google wasn't all that helpful lol.)

Either way, its my excuse to eventually make Xin Yuan come across as ethereal to other people. Peerless beauty SY for the win. Hs wifebeam is too strong, Xin Yuan has a line of suitors following after him and he's completely unaware of it. The rest of history is not.

Demon realm stuff has been stirring up since Xin Yuan was a kid, but at the time it was rare and in the beginning stages. Its been steadily ramping up and the system is sending him on more and more treacherous quests -- some of them mandatory, some optional. SY doesn't often take the optional ones unless it comes with a sufficient B-point reward.

for all intents and purposes though, he's a wandering rogue cultivator with Liu Zhihao, going from place to place to either help a town or village, or to discover more creatures or artifacts (although there aren't that many). Just all around living his life. He participates in a few major quest lines that are sure to get him mentioned in legend, even if it's a background character way.

(Unbeknownst to him, rather than being a side character in these legends, he's named directly. You can't become one of the first immortal cultivators and NOT get name dropped for clout.)

He has a spirit sword named Shā Mó, (杀 shā - to kill/weaken/counteract/reduce) (魔 mó - evil spirit, demon, possession). He routinely goes back to QJP to see Lin Kai, or to rest when traveling has worn down on him and he wants nothing more than to sleep somewhere he knows he'll be safe in. It becomes more frequent as Xin Yuan becomes more famous. Liu Zhihao often comes with him.

it all comes to a head though when the rifts between the demonic realm and the human realm become too great, and the balance between both realms becomes unstable. A demonic emperor's influence, wanting to merge the two realms so he could conquer both to satiate his own greed.

Typical evil king stuff. This comes to a climatic head in a great battle between every cultivator available and the demon emperor's army. Xin Yuan was one of the many who helped lead the charge.

In the end, it was Xin Yuan who ends up defeating the demonic emperor, but the rift that the emperor used to cross between worlds is destabilizing as well. Except instead of trying to close, it's getting bigger and bigger, threatening to swallow the heavens and earth and demonic realm whole.

You know how Yue Qingyuan's soul is bonded to his sword due to a qi deviation? Let's take it a step further >:)

Xin Yuan uses himself and Shā Mó to close the rift. However, it takes all of his spiritual energy to do so, as well as him filtering the demonic qi into his body to redirect it back to the demon realm.

In the end, Xin Yuan and his beloved sword Shā Mó fuse. Xin Yuan's soul becomes trapped in the sword. His physical body is unable to handle the immense amount of power it takes to close the rift, and is destroyed. He is immortalized in legend by his grieving cultivators.

(Liu Zhihao ends up ascending alone. He ascends with the hope that one day he'll see Xin Yuan again, even if it's in the face of someone else. Lin Kai does not ascend, too weighed down by the grief of losing his son.)

Xin Yuan, now Xin Mo, falls into a stasis. He's very confused and disorientated when he regains 'consciousness'. The system has been silent for most of his life, only popping up to give him mandatory quests, hints, points, or to answer any questions.

But once he wakes up, it cheerfully pops up again, congratulating him on completing the origin story of Xin Mo. SY freaks the fuck out. he'd shake the system screen if he could, but he doesn't have arms. or legs. or eyes for that matter.

He can sense his surroundings, but its all like imprints to him. He can sense the energies, but he can't see anything. It's all very disorientating and horrifying after years of being human. Like a sensory deprivation chamber.

The closing of the rift and the cycling demonic qi tainted both Sha Mo and Xin Yuan irreparably, and it did some kind of damage that resulted in SY needing to feed in order to use the spiritual powers. Kinda like how Xuan Su uses YQY's life force for it's spiritual energy, but instead of feeding on his own lifeforce, Xin Mo feeds on others.

The rest is history. Xin Mo is originally tied to the story of Xin Yuan -- believed to be all that remained of the man after he sacrificed himself to keep the realms separate. It's believed that the force of the realms closing permanently infused Sha Mo with demonic energy, turning it into Xin Mo.

But, like many stories do when faced against the tide of time, things get lost; chipped off; changed. Xin Mo is steadily separated from Xin Yuan, especially once it becomes clear how parasitic the sword really is, until they are all but separate entities themselves and the origin of Xin Mo's creation all but forgotten.

The years blur together when Xin Mo is not being wielded, and at first Xin Yuan was agonized by the fact that he stole the lives of all his wielders. He knows it's only a novel, but his decades spent in this life have softened him, and he's grown attached to the world around him.

But time erodes the mind like water erodes stone, and he becomes numb to it, then eventually anticipating of it. He forces himself to remember what he knows of PIDW's plot, and kinda fixates back on his old obsession on Luo Binghe. But while PIDW stays in his mind, his memories as Xin Yuan fall to the wayside.

Not forgotten, per se, but... tucked away. The system prevents him from forgetting fully.

Xin Mo isn't fully a demonic sword either i think, but instead harbors an ugly cocktail of both spiritual and demonic qi. Special circumstances and all that. Everyone just assumes he's a fully demonic sword because that's usually at the forefront, his spiritual qi weakened from the initial fusion and from years of not being fed spiritual qi. It's part of the reason his wielders always end up destroyed by him, other than the whole, yk, 'overwhelming qi' thing.

Nobody would recognize Xin Mo's human form as Xin Yuan other than some truly ancient demons. Of which Meng Mo might. But even that's iffy because there's a lack of surviving paintings of Xin Yuan, but also because of XM's demonic appearance and supposed lack of connection to XY.

Xin Mo has never spoken to his wielders before, not in the same way he does Luo Binghe. He tells Luo Binghe this, and he also tells Luo Binghe down the line that he is both spiritual and demonic -- something he also never told his wielders because there was no point to it.

okay okay i've got to end it here because its already gotten ridiculously long -- of which im both apologetic and unapologetic for -- but i DO think the Shang Qinghua and Shen Yuan meeting (and reveal) would be fucking hilarious. Especially if SY has learned how to pop between sword form and human form by then -- although i guess it doesnt matter either way because SQH's reaction is still the same.

And that reaction is internally screaming and going "hey what the FUCK?? WHY DOES XIN MO HAVE A HUMAN FORM??? WHAT IS THIS??? SYSTEM??? EXPLAIN???"

meanwhile from his place on the sword hilt xin mo is squinting at Shang Qinghua in bewilderment and going "aren't you supposed to be dead" but doesn't pay too much mind to it because its not like its going to change anything.

...up until he catches shang qinghua going "WTF" silently from his little corner while all eyes are off him. One moment SQH is standing beside his king, and the next he's been tackled to the ground by one wild-eyed, human-shaped Xin Mo.

everyone, including SQH, thinks Xin Mo is going to kill him. It is a surprise to everyone when he does not, and instead dissolves into deranged, uncontrollable laughter after spitting out some phrase in some ancient tongue and watching SQH's eyes grow wide in recognition.

[minuteminx]

My biggest frustration as a Preston fan in the Fallout 4 fandom is not actually the people who make hate content (that’s annoying and awful but my block button is a pretty great balm for that); no, it’s actually the multitude of people who “would like him if…” “would have been more willing to spend time with him if…”

Call me crazy, but aside from the annoying radiant quest mechanic (which can be circumvented if you 1. Listen to Radio Freedom everyone once and a while, 2. Don’t do the quests you’re assigned bc you’ll only get a couple at a time before it stops, and 3. Make sure your settlements are in good shape. You have so much less to do if you settlements are taken care of on the front end. If they have a high enough defense and they’re under attack? THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES. Imagine that. Anyway) I actually LIKE how the game handles Preston and the MM.

Maybe it’s just me coming from Dragon Age fandom, where in the very first game, my fresh out-out-of-orientation Grey Warden is asked to take the lead by someone with more seniority because the more senior person is riddled with grief, survivor’s guilt, and insecurity that they’d be able to do a good job… sound familiar? Preston asks you to be the General because after everything he has been through, he’s not ready to fill that role. He can’t stomach the responsibility because he is afraid he’ll mess it up, that he’ll let people down.

But the thing is, he still does the General Stuff. He is the one organizing, communicating with settlements, strategizing, expanding, recruiting, giving orders, etcetera, etcetera. The sole who agrees to be the General is honestly just a figurehead for the settlers and a sounding board for Preston’s ideas. At the end of the day it is not the Sole Survivor who settlers run to, excited to thank them for all their help and make donations. It’s not the Sole Survivor who is viewed as the face of the MM. It’s Preston.

Do I wish the game came full circle and acknowledged that? Oh yeah I do, which is why I’m writing fanfic. I think that Preston deserved a personal quest where you retake Quincy from the Gunners and get revenge on Clint. I think the end of his story should be the Sole Survivor acknowledging that he’s been the General the entire time and bequeathing that title back to him now that he is recovering and ready for it. That’s really all I would have needed to feel like his story was complete.

As is, I enjoy traveling with Preston in game. He is refreshing. He has a lot of hopeful commentary about the Commonwealth, a lot of sarcasm and dry humor, and it’s great. He actually gives you less quests when he’s traveling with you as a companion, too.

His romance is lovely. It is the only one with some additional dialogue if you do the flirts, successfully initiate, then back out when he asks if you’re sure. He will come back later and say “listen, I know last time we talked, you said you weren’t ready to move on, but it’s been a while now and I still feel the same about you. I was wondering if you thought you might feel the same about me.” He also is genuinely so happy and excited to be with you. He gets a little more flirtatious. talking about MM regulations not covering your little situation (little eyebrow wiggle included). He calls you babe and tells you to be careful. It’s just as rich of a romance as literally any of the others.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this, but I’ve been seeing a number of new posts in this vein lately and I guess I wanted to add my thoughts. 😌

[dragondevinity]

This is not going to be apart of the sagau I’ve already made sadly, because it clashes with themes I want to write but have this au thing of an au lol

So the idea is: y/n, Aether and Paimon get dropped off with Thoma and end up being granted access to the first island before going on in the quests there, thing is when you finally find and confront Ei on the next, she has a figurine in her hand that’s painted, “oh fuck!” You say before cowardly hiding behind Aether in the kimono that Thoma bought you, Ei looks at you then panics before bowing after recognising you… “what brings you here all knowing one? And why are you against me..?” She says stopping her bow, everyone there turns to look at you surprised, “Shogun it’s been 200 years… don’t call me that anymore!!” You say quicker than you would have liked, “that doesn’t explain why you’re here and with the enemy of eternity…!” She replied starting to show a cold fury… “Shogun! If I was able to let something like this slide I wouldn’t! You cannot continue the vision hunt decree! Don’t you know the suffering it is causing!?!?!?!!” You say starting to get pissed off, you were fed up with the vision hunt now more then when you played through it in the game… “I challenge you to a duel! When I win you stop this madness and open the boarders of your nation again!” You say going towards her, the traveler tries to stop you with Paimons help but you shrug him off, “so be it..!!” She says getting out her katana, you end up grabbing a katana as well, you two circle each other before you go in, then it all ended with Ei on the ground blacked out, you barely hit her and this was the result… you grabbed out a fan after putting the katana back, everyone stared at you in complete shock, “Wahhh!!!” Paimon exclaimed in astonishment, “y-y/n?!?!?! Wha-how did you do that so easily! You made it seem like nothing!” Traveler said still overwhelmed and shocked by the situation, “ah… guess I wasn’t holding back enough? Oops!” You say before giggling nervously behind your fan.

When Ei woke up she felt as if she were a dead walking incarnate, to say she felt bad was an understatement, “as to the terms of the Duel Ei.. I have won therefore until I inevitably die or until your region falls under a new ruler, you will cease the vision hunt decree and open your borders to allow more people from overseas access to your nation and to allow your people to leave your region. Correct?” You state as formally as possible, she nods in understanding, “Alright who wants me to make some desserts? I have some I haven’t had in quite a while so I thought this is the perfect occasion don’t you think?” You say cheerfully, everyone there nods in excitement…

That’s how you ended the trouble in Ei’s nation and also ended up accidentally making everyone have a dessert coma while having left over desserts…

Let’s just say Venti got to try all the desserts while you gave Xiao 20 plates worth of almond tofu lol.

So I hope you liked this if you’re still reading! Have a lovely day!!

[floof-writes]

For the requests, How would Sidon react to all the Links showing up in his domain?

Title: Answers

Words: 920

Sidon set down his quill with a sigh, drying his hands once more. The humidity in the domain constantly condensated on his scales and made keeping his letters dry enough not to smear quite a challenge. The Queen would understand a few smudges of course, but legibility was the whole point and Sidon would much prefer his correspondence with her to befit her status.

Although, he supposed that if she couldn’t read the first half of it she could simply refer back to the last ten messages he’d sent, seeing as they all said the same thing. No, there was no sign of Link here either, and yes, the monsters did seem to be more bothersome lately. No, no one had an inkling as to why, and yes, Divine Beast Ruta was acting unsettled to say the least. In worse news, the Shatterback Point Lynel had been venturing further and further from the peak, and Sidon feared they would have to do something about it soon. Bless his father’s heart, he was reaching an age where all these duties fell to Sidon.

Sidon picked up his quill again but down the stairs from the throne room there was a burst of sound. The shrine room lit up, a sight that would normally have Sidon jumping for joy, but instead of Sheikah teal it was crackling red and dark.

“With me!” Sidon commanded the guards nearby, practically throwing himself down the stairs. This didn’t bode well at all. “Stay back!” he said to the gathered crowd, trying to get through them to see the threat.

A moment later there were a number of splashes, a beat, and then an excited whoop that could only belong to one person. “This one’s mine, guys!”

His hero.

Sidon could’ve cried with relief. He rushed to the doorway, nose twitching at the undeniable scent of blood, and took in the sight before him. For a moment thought he was dreaming, because not one Hylian youth stood in the shrine pool, dripping water and a little blood, grinning widely, but- seven? Eight?

A small blond one popped up from under one clad in red, shoving him aside, which made nine. Sidon had thought Link was small, but that one wasn’t even the smallest in the group. Another with even longer blond hair was doubled over with his hands braced on his knees, looking like he was trying not to be sick.

But then Sidon was locking eyes with Link and his face was lighting up and Sidon suddenly had a welcome armful of excited Hylian. Sidon had so many questions, not the least pertinent of which was how to finish his letter to the queen, but for the moment he pushed them all aside, returning Link’s hug with care but tightly nonetheless, reassuring himself that this was no mirage.

“Welcome back to Zora’s Domain, my friend,” he said, with a soft, toothy smile. He waited another moment before remembering that he was a prince and had a job to do. “I see you brought guests?”

Link pulled out of the hug, and Sidon hadn’t realized how much he missed that grin until it was back, even though his temple was streaked with watered down blood. “Right! Uh, Sidon, these are my questing companions. Guys, this is Prince Sidon!”

“A quest?” Sidon asked. “Oh Link, where have you been these past months?”

Link’s face fell. “Has it been that long?”

Oh no, was the head injury worse than Sidon had thought? Hylian brains could be very fragile. Some of his panic must’ve shown on his face because one of Link’s friends stepped forward.

“Your highness, if I may?” he asked, giving up on wringing out his blue cape and surrendering it to the pool.

“Please, just Sidon, any friends of Link are friends of mine,” Sidon said, patting Link’s shoulder.

“Sidon,” the man corrected. “It’s a little complicated, but the long and short of it is that the way we’ve been traveling distorts our perception of time. Your Link will be fine.”

“We’ve got so much to talk to Zelda and Purah about,” Link rushed to say. “Have they been able to find anything out about the Shadow?”

Sidon didn’t know how to answer that, although he knew that Queen Zelda had been just as stumped as the domain, but he was saved from telling Link that by another speaking up.

“Wild,” one of the other men said, a worried hand on the smallest quester’s back. His fur pelt was surprisingly quick to dry.

“Oh! Right, we’ll catch up later,” Link said, looking sheepish. “Sidon, do you have a place for us to stay? Portals can be a bit rough and we need to figure out our next step.”

“Of course, Link,” Sidon said instantly, then realized his err. “Oh, uh, I’m afraid our Hylian accommodations are a bit lacking.”

“We’ve had worse,” one assured him, the scar over his eye crinkling.

“Yeah, remember how bad Wind’s ship smelled?” the one in red teased, and the blond one in blue kicked a bunch of water his way.

“Lead the way, big guy,” said one mostly dressed in white, helping another to his feet.

Sidon turned to lead the procession out of the shrine room, never taking his hand off Link’s shoulder. He was home, with a host of friends who seemed to know what was going on, and lo and behold, there was the end of his letter to Queen Zelda. It’s all going to be okay, your highness. Link is back with answers.

[cyaniiiide]

[Genshin] Thoughts on 3.3's Archon Quest, Inversion of Genesis

This man took 140 pulls to come home fml

// 3.3 ARCHON QUEST SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED //

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Overall thoughts, I liked it a lot!! I went into this expecting the Therapy Arc (tm) and while we did get that, I did not expect things to play out the way they did. I really enjoyed it though, and I think there's a lot to be said in the execution about how trauma affects people (but more on that later).

Starting off, it seems like Scaramouche has chilled tf out considerably from the end of the 3.2 quest, probably a side effect from dropping 50 feet headfirst into concrete and then waking up to find out he's been fired. Nahida once again proves she's best girl in the first five minutes of the quest -- she's kind yet pragmatic, harboring Scaramouche while also putting him to use, and giving him a huge piece of a puzzle he's been missing.

I do wish we could have seen more of Niwa and Nagamasa's relationship with Scaramouche, though. It would've made the subsequent scenes hit so much harder.

Dottore putting Niwa's actual heart into the device was really surprising. I guess it served to further convince Scaramouche of Niwa's betrayal?

Scaramouche's info about our sibling is also very interesting. 👀 We know beforehand that after crash landing on Teyvat, the abyss twin woke up and saw Khaenri'ah being destroyed. This tracks with what Scaramouche tells us, that Khaenri'ah was our twin's "first destination after arriving to this world." I thought that that meant our twin just saw the destruction and chaos raining down immediately and left, but I guess they must have stayed in Khaenri'ah for a while if Pierro remembers them. (Gee, thanks for leaving us at the crash zone for days?? Weeks? 💀)

I'm not sure what is meant by "Plus, [the Abyss Twin] only came to this world because the heavens responded to the summoning." The twins "crash landed" on Teyvat twice -- is Scaramouche talking about the first time, or the second? I guess the second would make more sense, since the "heavens responding" could be the Unknown God trapping us, but in that case, what about the first time we crash landed? Also, what summoning are they talking about? Nahida mentioned that if she destroyed a Gnosis, the Heavenly Principles might respond... was the Cataclysm the result of something similar happening?

Anyways, after that lore drop, Scaramouche tries to undo his existence to give his old friends a second chance at life. ;-; All of his anger at the world was a result of the "betrayals" he lived through, so to find out that Niwa never betrayed him at all... I wonder how much of his decision was him wanting to do right by Niwa and the others, and how much of it was him wanting to just disappear from the world. D:

It's a little strange that Nahida tells us to wait things out in a random hotel after all that, but I guess she wants to make sure we're set up with accommodations...? xD

I really am starting to like the traveler and Paimon's interactions more and more. Honestly, I don't remember much of them prior to the 3.0 archon quest, but I appreciate how much the traveler thinks of Paimon's well being ("the truth might be very distressing for Paimon...") and how much Paimon tries to cheer us up, or change the topic when she senses the traveler is feeling down. :D

(It's also pretty cute, and classic Paimon how she lists off her favorite foods to try and take her mind off things LOL)

The next couple of scenes take place in Inazuma -- I can't remember if we've traveled to different nations during archon quests before, but it's a nice change of pace, and makes complete sense with what's going on. I appreciate the knowledge that the "new Kazuha" is the same one we've known ;u;

I was really excited when I saw that the prerequisite for this archon quest was Kazuha's story quest, because I thought that he might appear here. Oh well. 😔

Nahida's way of storing information in an abstract fairytale was very clever. I wonder if she does this with other things as well?

The fairytale itself is very cute, but I did find myself laughing at the last scene with Scara's angry kitten eyes lol.

The most interesting thing about the fairy tale, however, is the monster that represents "Dottore." Since Dottore was "Zandik" before, I guess the "monster" part is Dottore seeing himself as different/worse than other people? Anyways, if we take the fairytale at face value it means that he tried to live amongst other people for a while, but still hated himself for being a monster, and hated others for not being able to see it.

In the fairytale's version of events, Dottore sees Scaramouche getting along with the foxes, and gets pissed off. In reality, Dottore had already joined the Fatui at that point. Did something similar happen to Dottore in the past, though? The Feather of the Pale Flame set mentions that he was chased away from his hometown, which doesn't really give enough detail.

I doubt we'll get these answers for a long time, probably not until Dottore becomes playable.

In the next couple of scenes, we see Wanderer! Throughout this archon quest so far, I'm thinking that we'll undo the damage Scaramouche caused and give him proper therapy (tm) or something that kickstarts the costume change. It was after our conversation with Nahida, seeing that she wasn't aware of Scaramouche before we told her that I realized that this change would be permanent. I have mixed feelings about this, although most of them are positive (but more on this later!!)

Wanderer is... really good-natured. He works without pay, just because the shopkeeper let him shelter from the rain once. At some point though, when we're trying to convince him to come with us, it seems like he has a flash of insight? It wasn't brought up again, but after that, it seemed like his personality changed a bit... I'm still confused about what that was, lol.

After that, we journey through memory lane. I really like the change in direction when it comes to trial combat in stories. Before, it felt a bit contrived, like the story was just finding reasons for us to enter a dungeon with that story character. (Don't even get me started on Eula's dumbass story quest.)

This felt really natural, though, and IIRC Nilou's story quest didn't even have a real dungeon (just a small scene where she beat off some enemies). I prefer this vastly to having a mediocre or poor story + a proper dungeon.

Back to the fight, Paimon's "Hey! Are you done yet!?" to Wanderer as he was having a mental breakdown had me in tears 💀💀

I loved the scene of him grabbing his past self's hand, as well as his past self holding onto his hand. He speedran Fischl's whole Persona 4 sequence and did it in the nick of time 🥇

He wasn't able to reach that distant light he saw, but in the end, by accepting his past self -- Scaramouche's anger and grief and wrongdoings, he created his own light, and in turn, received an Anemo vision. (Does that mean, then, that Anemo visions are given out when people are able to accept their circumstances? Or is it still something else? Vision discourse has been a thing since the start of this game and all of the explanations I've seen or come up with have felt "sort of right, but missing something still." I can't wait til we get the answers to these questions, if ever)

And after all that, at journey's end... our gremlin (tm) has returned. 🎉

...He even lets us choose his new name! I like how for certain names, he rejects them outright lol. (His reaction was kind of muted though lol, I was expecting a little more than "You can't be serious 😑")

After I spent 140 pulls on him to bring him home, I was all for calling him Scaradouche, but in the end I settled on... Tsutsuji.

I have a lot (tm) of feelings about Wanderer's story. I'm sad that Kazuha no longer has as strong of a reason to show up where Scaramouche does (more best boi content is always welcome thank u), I'm happy that Wanderer and Nahida are now canon buddies/coworkers, and I'm apprehensive and curious because WHAT WAS THAT ENDING WHO WAS THAT???

One of the more prominent feelings I have about Scara's story is a deep sense of sadness. Scaramouche could not accept who he was, and erased himself as a result. However, Wanderer, a completely different person at that point, was able to accept Scaramouche.

While it's definitely not a 1:1 comparison, I'm reminded of a story I read years ago, "Star Lover."

For such a short story, a lot of things happen in it -- but the part I'm most concerned with here is the idea that to truly recover from past trauma, it had to have never happened at all.

Tsutsuji, one of the main characters in "Star Lover," embodies this idea, which is where the name comes from.

Would things have been better for Scaramouche he sat down and worked through his issues, instead of "running away" to become a completely different person? It's hard to say. After all, it was only through Wanderer that he's eventually able to come to terms with his past.

In real life, people try to find meaning in their trials, purpose in their trauma. Weighed down by emotions, they push their way through creeping ivy and waist-high water. There's an ingrained philosophy that "trauma is an opportunity to come out stronger."

To be clear, this is not a bad philosophy. In fact, it's the only way many people have to move forward.

But... what if you never had to experience that past trauma at all? What if you could just undo it?

Neither Scaramouche nor Tsutsuji waded through a bog of their past trauma. In Scaramouche's case, Wanderer was able to do it for him. In Tsutsuji's case, it was like it had never happened at all.

If only we could do the same in real life.

Other Random Thoughts:

The "Inner Irminsul" area was beautiful. I remember thinking before that Sumeru was going to be very nature-focused, seeing as it was the land of dendro, but I am really really digging the added high-tech aspect as well, from the story to the landscapes.

After seeing Niwa's death, Scaramouche mockingly asks if we're actually worried about him. He says something similar in the previous archon quest ("hmph, those words make you sound like a friend who actually cares.") little shit

I counted three Lumine "wtf !!!" faces this quest

"The wisest leaders are fated to end up with the best helpers" ASDFGHJKL; INJECT THE SCARA NAHIDA FRIENDS/SIBLINGS CANON STRAIGHT INTO MY VEINS

I really loved this quote as well: "The past is set in stone, but you can keep moving on. And the longer your future lasts, the shorter your past will become, until one day it is but a tiny fraction of your life." ;-; Nahida best girl

While the quote is uplifting, it's also quite bittersweet... what if you want to hold onto your past self? Plus something something passage of time becomes faster the longer you've lived. Someone like Zhongli would probably be pained when reminded of this quote/truth.

The last part of this story reminded me of No Way Home, a little bit. But while I hated No Way Home, I loved this. I think for NWH I was too sad about Peter losing literally everyone who knew and loved him?? For Scaramouche lmao it's not like anyone loved the Balladeer (except for Niwa and the others hrngggg). Poor Niwa, it's not like things really matter anyways because he's dead but there's something so sad about Wanderer feeling so guilty and sad about his friend's death, whereas Niwa in this new reality doesn't even know who he is.

Ik I mentioned this before but who ???? is the voice at the end? I'm so excited and curious to find out more about them, and about what it means for the story as a whole.

"Fate is called as such, for it cannot be changed, nor can it be reversed. It can only but be accepted." <- This quest really ended up being a textbook example of what Mona says, huh. I guess this is also related to what the mysterious voice said at the end? That things can't really be changed in Teyvat.

I wonder if that gives the Teyvat simulation theory more credit... aaaaa it's all so interesting

Also, what if information was rewritten in Irminsul before? Nothing enormous events-wise could have been changed (unless the people who make the "rules" that nothing big can be changed ARE the ones who rewrote something) but it's still interesting and kind of frightening to think about!

What if Irminsul was rewritten more than twice and we weren't around to witness it, meaning that what's done is done. It's not like it really matters, because it's a video game, but... well. If it ever comes up, it'll be an important story reason, but we likely won't get the whole story about what happened in the "past"/alternate world. Even though it's just a game, it's exciting and scary, to think of the interesting stories we could have seen, but wouldn't be able to.

[abyssal-cryptid]

Even more Tears of the Kingdom thoughts (SPOILERS)

I cant figure out how long after Calamity this game is set. It's got to be at least some years, everyone else has changed but Link and Zelda

Link and Zelda have lived this time together in Link's house in Hateno <<33

Their Well holds Zelda's secret room

Also yes every well in this game has something so my favorite thing rn is just jumping into wells

Zelda had a school built to Hateno because she loves kids

I hate how so many people in this game who should know who Link is dont know him

You mean to tell Ive been living in Hateno for years and no one recognises me

Zelda is still referred to as princess which implies she hasnt allowed herself to be crowned queen

Ive spent like three hours just strolling in Hateno

I did get the camera and my enjoyment of the game has increased tenfold

HATENO TECH LAB HAS A RUINED GUARDIAN I REPEAT HATENO HAS A GUARDIAN REMAIN

Im so excited I missed seeing these everywhere

Purah's room has drawings of them and the divine beasts

You can just pick up the koroks who need to be reunited w their friends with ultrahand and carry them wherever they want to go. They also roll down hills

Me @ the forbidden ruins in Kakariko: "Let me in, let me innnn"

SIDON HAS A FIANCE

IM SO DISTRAUGHT

THEY SAW US SHIP LINK AND SIDON AND WENT "none of that here is his gf"

HUDSON HAS A DAUGHTER <<33

This game has cheese. I can die happy now

I am taking the elevator up every time I see a falling rock

Went to Akkala Citadel Ruins. Was looking at the views. SUDDENLY EVERYTHING GOES RED AND HANDS ARE CHASING ME WHAT THE FUCK

The way they dont let my boy have his long hair out on any fits is criminal. Could have tweaked the armor sets that much

Why is Zelda appearing everywhere and being an evil menace??? Zelda tf is going on w you?? Arent you supposed to be in the past

They looked at me, specifically, loving side quests more than my life and going "we have to give them more" and this is a good day

There's a golden horse???

Also I heard Yunobo is a dick in this??? Not my boy :(

I go to the Zora tower and there is a man nearly dead

ALSO OH MY GOD WHY DID ZELDA ATTACK KING DOREPHAN

Man was dying (Lets hope this doesnt age poorly because I dont think I could handle it)

So its been like five years at least since BOTW ended and like. Why does no one remember me and also where did all these new people come from that didnt exist here couple years ago?? Where were yall?? Having tea??

Kilton has a little brother <3

I should get back to the "first" main questline as in the Rito are dying in a blizzard but there's pretty flowers and mayoral elections

Did I already mention they did not nerf bows? They didnt and I love that, archers for life

Also I lost Hestu again and I need more inventory

I am afraid to venture into the Korok Forest

Stables are so fun. You get points from first visit, staying the night, registering horses etc AND THEY GIVE YOU REWARDS

I got the Traveler's Gear for General (my baby boy horse)

I found Big Horse and named him Babylon

Also saved this one guy stuck in a cave

Starting to get to a point where enemies drop 15-30 fuse power parts and life is getting easier

Ive activated like 20 shrines since I last did a bunch. I havent done them because what if I have to build vehicles (bad)

I miss cryonis

Havent done much in the sky tbh

I want my champions tunic. I however dont feel like going to the castle

Where the fuck is Ganondorf

I could always see him in BOTW I dont like this

I am kind of disappointed they didnt change the looks of old armor sets. HOWEVER. Cece's hat is all Im going to say. I wonder if I can wear that to Gerudo town

Im still a one shot to so many things

The Zora are dying (their water is turning into mud)

Gorons have malice pink eyes so dont trust theyre doing too well either

Barbarian armor fits so well with Link's messy long hair

Im still kind of shocked that the sheikah tech is just gone

How do I get into Hateno tech lab

Some of yall are actually building vehicles? Im avoiding that like the plague

Still salty about Sidon

I get taken for a little while and he gets engaged

His fiance did refer to Sidon as "my best friend"

The quote went "Im Prince Sidon's... oh forgive me. I am your best friend's fiancee"

She us cute but still

ALSO THEY MOVED MIPHA'S STATUE TO THE TOP OF PLOYMUS MOUNTAIN

THE ZORA'S DOMAIN STATUE IS NOW OF LINK AND SIDON

Why cant I marry him

Sidon carries Mipha's trident now (sobs)

When you meet him he goes "Its good to see you my friend" so happily

"By the way... I hope you know that I am truly happy to see you again after such a long time apart, my dearest friend"

I sobbed

He loves us so much

Just go visit him

Sidon wont marry me and Sonia and Rauru are married, cant a man find some love in Hyrule

[osvaldvanstein]

So, had my timeout in the Octopath Traveler 2 demo this morning, and got to say, I’m having a great time. It’s going to be a long 2 weeks for sure.

Decided to start with Osvald for... hopefully obvious reasons, and then work my way around the "2" on the map in terms of starting locations.

Thoughts:

Starting with Osvald was an excellent choice. His story so far is as dark as I was expecting, and I was wondering how they were going to keep a scholar in prison for so long. He's also just a useful character to have around in terms of elemental breaking and spotting weaknesses. No regrets.

On that note, I'm not sure how to feel about the scholar job changes where it loses the multi-hit magic attacks. Didn't manage to unlock the new skills, but I do hope that missing the double-hit attacks isn't too costly as the game picks up in terms of shield points.

After spending just under 2 hours on Osvald's path, made my way over to Temenos. Decided to skip on any detours, but the locations are absoutely gorgeous in terms of music and design. It's just a really good looking game.

I do love the new character introductions before starting their quests. It's interesting that unlike OT1, you don't join halfway through their chapter 1 to help them out on their quest - rather you join them after chapter 1 (or so it worked for Temenos). It makes sense in terms of balance, so that all of the story quests have their own NPC companions and wil be level balanced.

Temenos. Oh boy, Temenos. I love him so much. He's such an interesting take on a cleric, and I love the detective aspect of his story line. Plus, that opening scene was completely unexpected and amazing. Can't wait to see where his story goes from this point onwards.

Managed to make it to Throné's city and get her quest started. Loved the opening, was a great way to set up how things work in her organisation. And then got locked out before getting to the exciting part. That said, there is a part there that's a bit reminiscent of Primrose's quest, and I hope it doesn't use too many of the same tropes - but I didn't get much further than the stealing tutorial before getting kicked out.

All of these stories have started comparatively darker compared to their job counterparts in OT1. I'm curious as to which characters may have lighter stories, as a contrast. That's not to say that OT1 was a light-hearted game - but all of the three opening chapters I've run into so far have had very dark aspects to them which I am greatly enjoying.

I know I touched upon the music earlier, but the tracks so far are extremely good. Yasunori Nishiki has done it again. That first Decisive Battle theme that I ran into was fantastic, not to mention the character themes and the location themes. I can't wait to buy the OST when it's released in March.

As tempted as I am to go and try out some of the other stories, honestly I just want to wait for the release. I'm happy with my starting choices, and since I'll be playing all the opening chapters anyway on this save file, might as well wait.

It's going to be a long two weeks for sure.

[artistibatt]

So what if I theoretically posted chapter 2 of my rainbow rocket fanfic that I dont have to write for?

Anywho, chapter 2 is here and i made a featured tag for it too! It's "Villainous Journey Beyond the Horizon"

Chapter 2 - Quest Lodge

Stories of people turning into Pokémon weren’t uncommon to hear where Giovanni was from. There’s even a famous tale of a boy waking up as a kadabra that someone put into the Pokédex for some reason. Probably to mess with other kids if the meowth walking had to guess.

The forest was as boring as ever and Giovanni made his complaints very loud for Cyrus to hear. “I can’t tell if this is better or worse than traveling through Viridian Forest at night…” The sky was darkening every minute. Every passing second. Who knows how bad it’ll be when nighttime comes by.

“If someone tries to rob us, I’m sacrificing you first,” Giovanni snarled at Cyrus who wore an unamused look on their face.

“We don’t even have anything,” the sneasel responded. “We only have berries. Or rather, we had them before you ate them all.

“And now I want more,” Giovanni added. Even if the night was slowly approaching, he could see fairly well with his more feline eyes. Yet he found nothing of value. His ear did move around as he heard the wings of some flying Pokémon above them.

“What bird do you think is flying above us,” Giovanni asked.

“Why,” Cyrus asked in response.

“Oh come on, can’t you amuse me for a bit? There’s nothing else we can really do.”

Cyrus sighed and gave their answer after not much thought. “Staravia.”

“I was thinking maybe a pidgeotto myself,” Giovanni said as he kept trying to see what bird was truly there.

“We just said the bird Pokémon of our region,” Cyrus said with another sigh. They looked above where Giovanni was looking to see no birds. It only made sense they would assume the possible birds above were the ones they were the most familiar with.

Cyrus and Giovanni kept walking together until their attention was taken by lights which housed a pidgey and murkrow below it. Giovanni was a bit excited to see that streetlight and he pulled Cyrus closer to him to their dismay.

“Look at that, Cyrus!”

“At what?”

“That! The streetlight! Maybe there’s a town nearby!”

Giovanni sounded so happy while he whispered and yelled at the same time. He pushed Cyrus away to go to the birds under the light.

“Is she even going to show up,” the murkrow asked the pidgey beside him.

“Yeah, I’m sure of it.”

Giovanni walked up to the two with pride and smiled at them as Cyrus watched in the distance. “Hello, my fellow Pokémon.” The two other birds looked at them with confused looks. “My associate and I are new around here and we wanted to know if there’s any cities or towns nearby?”

The birds looked at each other and the murkrow responded to Giovanni with, “Yeah, there is. Follow the path to get to Unolage Town.” With his wing, he pointed in the direction that Giovanni can presume as the whereabouts of the town.

With a quick, "Thank you,” Giovanni quickly went to Cyrus to relay the good news he had gotten.

“A town! Isn’t that great?”

“Yeah, we should be able to get answers there.”

“To Unolage,” Giovanni exclaimed. He walked with confidence with Cyrus right beside him. Cyrus looked to the birds under the streetlight to see worried looks on their faces. They wondered what could be going on with them, but they didn’t have time to ponder much on the thought.

After some walking on the dirt path, Giovanni pointed to a town with buildings and stores. A smirk was on his face and he said, "Look, Cyrus! We made it! Now we just need to find someone who can help us.” That was easier said than done as not many pokemon were left walking around as night crept upon the world without Giovanni ever realizing.

“Should we split up or…?”

“Splitting up is the last thing we should be doing. You’re staying with me.”

Giovanni’s words caused Cyrus’ one ear to fall. Giovanni rolled his eyes and dragged the sneasel along against their will. Just walking around wasn’t so bad as this gave the duo the opportunity to look around and see what buildings were here.

“There’s a bunch of stands there.” Cyrus said, referring to a plaza that was to their right. The fountain there had a statue of a roselia in the middle that had water flowing from its petals. Next to it were the stands Cyrus spoke of. “I believe they could be food stands. At least, when it’s not late like right now.”

Giovanni took a note of that and he stopped in his tracks after reading a sign illuminated by light. “Quest lodge…? What the fuck is a Quest Lodge?”

Cyrus broke free from Giovanni’s grip and put their claw on the door’s handle. “It could be a place with information. Come on.” The sneasel went inside as the meowth followed as well. There was a desk at the front with a nidorina looking down at a book. She didn't seem to notice the two come in.

"Hello, excuse me, what is this place," Giovanni asked. The nidorina stayed still for a second before flipping the page of her book. Giovanni grew angry and slammed the desk with his paw. "I am talking to you, so I suggest you answer me instead of ignoring me."

The nidorina glanced at Giovanni and closed her book with an attitude that the meowth didn’t find charming. “What did you say,” the nidorina asked in a bored manner.

“I asked what the place was.”

“Didn’t you read the sign outside?”

Giovanni looked more pissed, but took a deep breath before responding. “I did, but I have no idea what a Quest Lodge even is.”

“We’re new around here,” Cyrus chimed in with.

“It’s the name of the guild. If you want to know more, you can talk to the guildmaster instead of bothering me.” And with that, the nidorina was back to her books while an angry Giovanni scoffed at her.

“Where’s the guildmaster exactly,” Cyrus asked and the nidorina pointed to a wooden door beside her. Cyrus grabbed Giovanni’s paw to drag him away to the door.

Cyrus knocked on the door three times and from beyond the door someone yelled out, “Come in! Come in!”

The two cat pokemon walked inside to see a big honchkrow chatting with a bunch more bird pokemon such as spearow and starly. The honchkrow hopped over to the duo and spread their wings far as he greeted them.

“Hello, hello! What brings you two into my chamber!” The honchkrow laughed and the other birds joined in. Giovanni and Cyrus just gave each other looks.

“Weeeeell? Are you two going to answer me?” The honchkrow leaned in closer, causing the two to step back a bit.

“We wanted to-”

Before Giovanni could even finish speaking, the honchkrow started speaking much louder. “Oh, silly me! I didn’t even give you my name!” The meowth’s ears fell and his tail started switching back and forth from annoyance of this.

“I am Duke, the honchkrow guildmaster of this here Quest Lodge! Now, it’s your turn to introduce yourselves.”

Giovanni whispered to himself, “We don’t have time for this,” with his ears still dropped down.

“My name is Cyrus. This is Giovanni.” They motioned to Giovanni,who looked very displeased.

“Anyways, with that out of the way,” Giovanni started saying, “Can we ask you something?”

Duke nodded and started shooing the other birds to leave. He then hopped to a desk near the back of his room, or rather office. “Go ahead. The floor is yours.”

“We wanted to know a few things, Cyrus started. “Such as what the place is.”

“The nidorina here is very, very unhelpful,” Giovanni snarled.

“Rose can be like that. Don’t mind her. But this guild is for exploration teams. Basically pokemon who go to dungeons and explore and do quests. I like to call this place the Quest Guild for that such reason.” Duke smiled and Giovanni was pleased to know at least this stupid bird knew some stuff.

“Okay, time for my much more important question.’ Giovanni pushed Cyrus aside. “Do you know anything about humans turning into pokemon and being transported across universes?

“I… uh…” Duke gave a nervous smile. “I don’t seem to understand what you're asking.”

Giovanni’s eye twitched and his ears fell. A scowl crept on his face as he slowly growled to himself. “Of course,” is what he muttered in response.

“How do I explain this,” Cyrus whispered. Transversing universes isn’t something people, or Pokémon, do on the daily. The sneasel sighed and put their arms behind their back. “The easiest way I can put this is that we aren’t from this world. We don’t usually look like this.”

“Never heard a pokemon, er… human, get sent to another world entirely,” Duke said sheepishly.

“Well, we want to go home and leave this place as quickly as possible,” Giovanni added.

“If that’s the case,” Duke started saying as he hopped over to the two cats, “then I’ll do whatever I can to get you both home.” He smiled and spread his wings far. “I promise it! Bird’s honor.”

Giovanni gave a tired smile in return. “That’s good.” Today’s been long for him. Becoming a cat, eating only berries, and this Lodge in general was so out there and strange.

“One last thing, Duke,” Cyrus said. They brought their claws away from their back. “Do you know anywhere we can stay?”

“Plus if you have food, I would appreciate you handing that over too,” Giovanni said with a smile and a clap of his hands.

“I can help with both, just follow me!” Duke hopped out the office with Giovanni and Cyrus following close behind. He brought the two downstairs and the trio walked through a pretty long hall with many doors. Different hand-drawn pictures of pokemon were on them with what seemed to be team names. Giovanni would ask about what that was about, but decided against it.

The two made it to a door with no picture and Duke opened it wide for Giovanni and Cyrus to go in. “I’ll be right back, just make yourselves comfortable.”

Giovanni spotted a small bed made of what seemed to be hay and plopped on it. Cyrus walked over to see Giovanni’s face. He didn’t look too happy. “Is something the matter?”

Giovanni sat up and with a stare said, “I want my bed.” He plopped back onto the hay bed and sighed. “But, this is better than sleeping outside.” The sneasel sat down next to him and closed their eyes. He was uncomfortably quiet and Giovanni turned away from him when lying down.

Giovanni looked at his paws again, just as he did when he first woke up in this strange world. He balled his paw into fists and growled angrily to himself. “I can’t wait to go home,” he whispered to himself.

After some time, Duke came bursting into the room, causing both cats to jump, and shouted, “I’m back!” The nidorina, Rose, came right after with a plate of berries. She set it next to Giovanni and he took many of them, leaving only a few for Cyrus. The sneasel didn't seem to mind having less and took some to eat.

“You two eat and sleep well because tomorrow, I have a proposition for both of you.” Duke smiled and waved to the two with his wing. He left with Rose, who closed the door quietly.

Cyrus walked over to where a lamp was lighting up the room and turned to Giovanni. “Can I turn this off?”

“Sure,” Giovanni replied.

Cyrus turned the light off and lay on their hay bed. They closed their eyes and sighed. How would they even get home? The sneasel spent their last moments thinking about that question and before they drifted asleep, they looked at Giovanni who was sleeping as peacefully as he could.

“I’ll get us back to our universe,” Cyrus quietly said to themself. “That’s a promise.” They took a deep breath and fell asleep.

[piastrinorris]

'make me write' results!

so, the final results for the "make me write" challenge were for me to write 12 sentences for returning the favor (keys x f!reader), 7 for bsbl epilogue 2 (ralph x gn!afab!reader), 6 for dethroned (cheerscoops) and 4 for the rest! (2x tom grant x reader, 1x keys x reader, 1x ralph x pirate!reader, 1x cheerscoops), and it encouraged participants to post their snippets so here they all are!

feel free to ask about anything you wanna know more about :)

returning the favor: C’mon, Keys, c’mon. He takes a deep breath in and waggles his fingers over his keyboard. Kissing his teeth, pushing out his breath and tutting out a nonsensical jingle, he looks between his monitor and his phone. Flashing the screen on, he looks at the unread message still on there:

You: hey, you!

After a solid week of talking to you, Keys had told himself, over and over, every morning for days now; today was going to be the day he’d step his game up. Except today is different, today it actually happens for him.

He’s got it all planned: a queue full of in-game complaints to get him in the zone; enough food and drink to keep him at his station all day, and an automatic reply to every new work message he gets to tell them that he’s not available for the day. If playing as Dirty Stripper Cop all day doesn’t get him all fired up, nothing will - and he can’t risk that.

And sure, to anyone else, Keys trying to treat his sex life as if it were a video game quest would seem like a terrible way to go about it. But this is what makes sense to him, this is what he’s good at, this is his domain.

Cut the crap, man, he tells himself, just get in there and get in the zone.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

bsbl epilogue 2: Thanks to Ralph’s carefully planned timekeeping, the train is delightfully empty, leaving plenty of seats for him, though how could he possibly sit still today?! People come and go, sitting near him and making comments to him about his obvious excitement. He’d love to do nothing more than to regale everyone of your epic love story, to tell it over and over again until his voice went hoarse.

But he couldn’t bear the thought of them leaving part-way through and never hearing the full story. So instead he merely flashes his eyes excitedly at anyone who asks, wiggling in his seat, bouncing his feet and tapping his knees rhythmically.

He gets out of the carriage practically in one leap as he steps out into the only other place he’s familiar with; the streets of Croydon greet him like an old friend.

He tilts his head up, finds the block of flats you both used to live in with ease, and smiles wistfully at it before turning on his heel and continuing to his first destination.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

dethroned: Steve frowns, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Because either I just make you so painfully shy that you’re blushing around me, or your cheeks are just that shade of pink from running over here to make sure you caught me again. Sounds like a lot of effort for someone so sure of himself.” She swipes her braid back to where it falls naturally down her spine, and pinches one of Steve’s cheeks now that they’re a deeper shade of red. “You know what? How about you come find me whenever you’re ready to admit what we both already know.”

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

long time no see:

“I was the same, y’know, when I got the - the full details, an’ that, I kept reading your name over an’ over, thinking, No, surely not, not out here, but here you are!” 

“Yeah, well, part of the job, gotta travel, you know how it is,” you pull a face. “So, you gonna show me into your office, or - oh, behave yourself,” you giggle as he waggles his eyebrows suggestively, “nothing’s changed!”

“Well, I was thinking, if it was you, and it is, maybe we could grab some lunch, crunch the numbers and then have a catch up?”

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

worth the wait: You’ve totally forgotten who else was even here, until after your best friend insists on buying you your favourite cocktail, and as you shuffle between other people waiting at the bar to let others get out, you feel your back collide with the solid weight of someone else’s chest, followed by an all-too-familiar, “Easy, tiger!”

You take a deep breath in and look at your best friend in bewilderment before steeling yourself and pivoting to look at Tom, “Oh my god, hi! I’m so sorry!”

“’S alright. Someone’s having a good night, aren’t they?” he smiles down at you.

“It’s her birthday, you know!” your best friend shouts over at him, and he gives a thoughtful frown back, raising his eyebrows at her.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

man's best friend: “I can tell, thought you were trying to get rid of Ellie,” you tease.

“Look, I’m not getting rid of her, I want her to go to a good home,” he smiles down at the dog fondly, who nuzzles at his hand, prompting him to give her attention. He obliges with a chuckle, “and how could I not name her after my favourite video game character? She’s stuck with me against my will, even though she can hold her own, and she has a little boo-boo on one of her limbs,” he points out, and you bite back the teasing grin that so badly wants to stretch across your face.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

neither steel nor torch: You see him, sitting on a barrel in the hold, big brown pitiful eyes brimming with tears. They remind you of melting chocolate. He looks up at you as he hears your footsteps, clearly fearstruck as he stammers out, “I- Is the end, f-for me?”

Realising how much fun you can have with him, you slowly unsheathe the rapier from its holster on your hip and hold the blade flat under his jaw, taking a little too much delight in his whimpers as you reply in a soothing, shushing tone, “And why would I waste such a pretty little thing like you?”

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

playing truant: "It's nice to see your etiquette lessons are finally doing something, dear," one of Chrissy's mother's friends says to her. "You seem so much more... Enthusiastic about our culture now, I knew you'd come around."

Chrissy, only half listening as she notices Steve standing at the opposite side of the lobby, his father's vice-like grip turning his knuckles white on his son's shoulders, snaps back into the conversation with a, "Yeah! Yeah, I'm... Really enjoying... Being here," she falters as she and Steve lock eyes. He winks at her and she feels her heart somersault.

[apompkwrites]

hello!!! this is my first time requesting omg this is so exciting- anyways i really really love your blog it's just so comforting tysm for starting this series <33 can i please request a xiao, albedo, childe, scaramouche, aether (you can remove some if these are too many) where reader is a villain and then there's a scene where reader kicks them or smth (kinda like signora to venti but this time to the traveler) and then they just short circuit bc of ((their masochistic asses)) ur hot :)

reader impact || maso-kick

series masterlist characters: aether, albedo, childe, scaramouche, xiao genre: fluff contains: streamer's traveler gets kicked, la signora type kick summary: (name) just kicks our streamers and they freak out. notes: for the sake of this ask, we'll change up the au for aether so that you aren't the traveler :) also kinda changed it from less of a villain type thing i hope that's okay! also kinda wanna write replaced! au because om! angst fics have been a jam recently also unrelated but i just finished stars align/hoshiai no sora and i was not prepared at all :))

aether -

please he actually can't say anything because lumine will laugh at him.

correction: lumine is laughing at him.

she's his twin so she has a basic gist of how he feels during this scene.

he will basically melt into his seat upon seeing you kick his traveler character.

he's definitely hiding his face in his sweater and whining.

great, now his chat is laughing at him too.

"so, this is famed outlander who is in search of the gods."

"please... mmmhmh..."

albedo -

the calmest out of the five, for sure. he won't let anyone catch onto how affected he is right now.

now, that's not to say that he isn't affected by the cutscene, oh no no no.

in fact, that's all he'll be thinking about for... probably a few months.

ha artist brain go brrr part (i've lost count at this point).

he's for sure expecting a bunch of people to ask him to draw you and the traveler.

and he will.

but he'll save his favorite ones for himself :)

bonus: if this takes place around the same time as the shadows amongst snowstorms event and it's the imposter who's doing it, he's going to be thanking them under his breath because gODS THEY'RE FEEDING HIM CONTENT

"let's try a new experiment, shall we?"

"oh, what kind?"

childe -

oh he's in too deep now.

not only do you call him (or more accurately, his traveler) sweetheart, but you also kick him to the ground??

please, he's actually in love.

his chat is also making fun of him.

but then he'll switch it up and call out his chat on having the same thoughts as him :)

"aw, sweetheart. we haven't even started and you're already out of commission? such a shame..."

"who says we were done? ...CHAT YOU WERE THINKING THE SAME THING SHUT--"

scaramouche -

he barely manages to keep it together.

and by that, i mean he keeps it up and abruptly ends to stream to freak out in privacy.

look, he has to keep up his angry image somehow.

(although, most of his chat already knows why he ended stream seeing as how he literally left in the middle of the quest)

he's not that slick...

"oh, don't look at me like that, traveler. haven't we had fun?"

"yeah, for sure..."

xiao -

HELP HE'S NOT USED TO KARMIC DEBT CORRUPTED YOU

like he actually malfunctions on stream.

he's stuck on the screen that followed the cutscene and is just.

shaking.

you've broken him, are you proud of yourself?

oh, you bet he's gonna be searching the internet for fics inspired by this one cutscene.

"what a pathetic little mortal. this is who saved liyue and begs for my respect?"

"hhh... m... mhm..."

[niuniente]

I think you're super cool!

Any games that you really like?

I'm a long time follower of Tekken so I'm always happy when a new Tekken is announced :3

Resident Evil 4 is one of the best games I've played, even when I got stuck with it in such a way that there was no other way out than restart the whole game (they clearly hadn't thought about idiots like me who still can't aim near the end of the game lol). I'm excited for its remake!

I have played only the first Bayonetta but it was love at first sight! Everything in the first Bayonetta is like made for me. I especially love that the angels' are horrifying looking monsters from your nightmares.

I've been following Devil May Cry since the game was still on developers' table and we got first screenshots printed on a game magazine about it. Since DMC4 I haven't cared so much about it but I still follow the series and eventually will play each new game. I hope that now when the twin brothers Dante and Vergil are in Hell, DMC6 would literally be inspired by Dante's Inferno and Dante would go through Hell guided by Vergil. Such possibilities, aaaaah! ÖqÖ

Special mention goes to Katamari-series. In the game, you roll a round katamari and collect stuff with it to make stars (because the main character's father, The King of Cosmos, accidentally destroyed all planets). It's super fun to start from a small katamari and collect needles and stamps and paper clips and end up with a gigantic katamari collecting sky scrapers, small island and clouds! We Love Katamari is the 2nd installment and it's a game of how much people loved Katamari and wanted to roll more :D

I loved Pokemon Legend Arceus! I have never really played any Pokemon or followed the series but this was so cute and so entertaining I think I need to play more Pokemon games :3

Breath of Fire 3 is an amazing JRPG from the 90's. If you haven't played this, do yourself a favor AND PLAY IT. The story, the characters, the music. In what else game can you play as a mutated onion with cute screams?

Wild Arms 3 is also wonderful older JRPG. Very entertaining and straightforward to play. I'm currently still replaying it and this time I aim to finish it, as the last time 20 years ago I got stuck so badly I was unable to finish the game (it has some hard puzzles at times but luckily internet now exists in our pockets :D) Music is good!

From good music, I must mention a long time favorite Castlevania - The Symphony of the Night. Amazing soundtrack, amazing level design, amazing bosses oh my...! A dream game. <3

Not many know Bloody Roar series and to be honest, it would deserve a remake. I grew up with Bloody Roar 1 and enjoyed it a lot. It's a fighting game where the characters have an ability to turn into werebeasts, like Yugo here has turned into his wolf form.

Nier Automata is a game like I have never played or encountered before, it's absolutely INSANE! If anyone says games are just mindless entertainment, make them play this. So many awesome topics. It crushes your soul little by little in most horrifying ways and you're thankful about it. it makes you question your morals and ethics, as well as others' morals and ethics. If you like my comics, I think you'd enjoy Nier Automata, as some themes and elements are in both (though I could never write anything as insanely clever as NA is!)

The Last Guardian is amazing and very, very Japanese. This game as no aim, no side quests. You just travel with a big beast Trico and try to navigate your way out through different landscapes. Very atmospheric and realistic in a way that commanding Trico is sometimes difficult - just as commanding a wild beast would be. I don't think it was intentional that Trico doesn't do what asked so that you can go forward until after 10 minutes of you trying but I found it realistic when it happened, as frustrating as it was :'D

Of course, Final Fantasy VII, the original one, will go with me to my grave <3 QuQ

[pinkmunchi]

A rainy night in a cave

Aether x reader

-Fluff, reader has problems with sleeping outside for the first time

You were trembling in a small cave in the middle of the woods. You, Aether and Paimon were on a quest, which was nothing unusual for them, but it was for you. This was the first time you joined the traveler on one of his adventures after he was nagging you about it for days now. It wasn't a long trip you thought, but in the big excitement you forgot about one of your weaknesses. You're not the best at sleeping at new places, mostly not where you haven't been... And now you're literally outside, in the rain among trees, animals, and monsters near by. How can your friends sleep so easily like this... You slowly sit up after moving around for quite a while. You're looking out of your temporary residence, how the trees are moving in the wind, and how the water is dripping down in front of you to the wet ground making a big mud puddle in front of you. You didn't notice that the boy behind you also woke up because of the thunder. Y/n? What are you doing...?"-he's rubbing his eyes with a tired expression-"Is there something wrong?" -he asks. "No.. No-Sorry did I wake you?" - you turn around to look at him. His eyes were glowing in the small light of the moon. You would adore it some more but a big rumbling from the sky makes you jump. Aether giggles at you quietly. "You can't sleep right? Is it because of the rain?" - He whispers because the small companion is still sleeping. "No... Well yes that too. I just... Have a difficult time sleeping outside and stuff. But it's okay I fall asleep in a bit I'm sure-! I mean we did a lot of walking today. " - you smile awkwardly. "Oh, I'm sorry-Why didn't you told me? We could've look for something more house like."-he sighs, but his expression is worried. "No it's really fine, don't worry about it!"- you insist. He puts his hand on his chin and stays quiet for a bit. "Well you can come a bit closer to me, if you're worried about the monsters that is. It might help that I'm right next to you."-he smiles gently and takes your hand. "Let's try to sleep, okay? We have lots of walking to do tomorrow." You would insist, he's being too generous for such a childish problem, but his idea might work. So you just go with his idea. When you both are finally laying down again, face to face, he smiles at you once again to reassure you that everything will be okay. He slowly takes your hand in his, and put your hands between the two of your heads. It makes you a bit flustered, but you just give him a shy smile and try to sleep. You troubled him enough already."Good night y/n, I promise to protect you.

[versadies]

“Gemini + Ningguang & Beidou + a gn reader fleeing from home and arriving in Liyue for the first time + Yandere/Angst + where Ningguang and Beidou are each other's enemy, but share the same lover? Either format is fine~” Congratz on 1k+ followers ! ♡

trapped (yandere, hc scenario)

penpal: tysm ! hope this is to ur liking anon 💖

prompt: gemini the twins, enemy-lover imprint soulmate au

sypnosis: when you fled from inazuma, you expected to have a new fresh start at life. but now you're stuck in something worse than inazuma.

pairing/s: ningguang x gn!reader x beidou

include/s: yandere (i do not condone to this nor romanticize this), pre-archon quest, and angst/bad ending for reader

-> when you escaped from inazuma, you felt relieved.

-> the moment you stepped foot on liyue harbor, you were ecstatic for the new chapter of your life. now that you managed to escape from the vision hunters' clutches, you're now free to do whatever you wish without any worries.

-> the first person you met in liyue was xiangling, who gladly welcomed you to the nation and cooked you some delicious liyue cuisines, to which you surprisingly find yourself loving them despite the spiciness. while enjoying your meals, xiangling curiously asked you where you came from.

"ohh, you're from inazuma?" xiangling says in awe. "it must've been a struggle for you to get all this way from here given what the nation is going through right?"

you nod in response, swallowing down your meal. "it is but it's worth it."

xiangling smiles gratefully. "well i'm glad you had safely arrived. do you have any questions about liyue? i can offer you one or two about the city." your eyes widens from the chef's offer, taken back by surprise from her kindness. "o-oh uhm, is there anyone here who's been to inazuma?"

the chef hums, thinking for a moment. "well, there is one person who also went from inazuma– her name is atsuko. i heard that she came here with the help of beidou and the crux!" she replies.

you furrowed your eyebrows. "...who is beidou and the crux?"

xiangling gasps. "oh celestia! people weren't really lying when they said inazuma is super closed off!" you watched as the chef sits down on one of the seats across from you. "beidou is one of the most amazing people ever! she's famous for slaying haizhan without her vision and a lot of people respect her. she is honestly the greatest! every time i go out sailing with her, she always manages to fish up lots of fresh ingredients! octopus tentacles go great in soup, and seaweed fries up great with some chilies. she and her crew love my cooking–"

suddenly xiangling stops talking, noticing a certain person outside of the restaurant.

"...are you okay–" your eyes widens when the chef puts her finger in front of your lips, gesturing you to keep quiet as she stares at what appears to be a woman with elegant presence walking pass by.

when you glance at where xiangling was looking, your breath hitched at the sight of red eyes staring back at you.

although it was only a few seconds, it felt so much more for you.

the moment the woman was out from your vision, your thoughts were cut off by the chef. "y/n? are you alright?" xiangling asks.

before you could reply, she immediately sighs in dismay. "did you see that woman passing by? that's the tianquan. let me tell you, she knows everything that happens in liyue, so be sure to keep a low profile alright?"

you blink a few times before looking at the chef, not listening to her warning moments ago. "who was that?"

-> thanks to the chef, you've learned a few things about liyue harbor.

-> although you're planning on talking to atsuko, it was easy to say that you're more interested in getting to know more about beidou and ningguang–

-> after all, who wouldn't be interested in getting to know the very two people whose names are written on your one wrist?

-> while everyone in teyvat has one name in each of their wrist, yours have two. it was one of the most strangest things in inazuma for everyone, with them wondering whether you should be lucky to have two lovers or be unfortunate to have two enemies.

-> it didn't help that people constantly ask you about your marks, as though they expect that you knew all the answers.

-> you felt trapped with the weigh of the so-called destined people of yours. you wished you knew the answers that your peers are asking, but what exactly can you do? you couldn't even bring yourself to leave the nation since you had no reason to tell everyone and not have enough experience in traveling.

-> however, the moment you heard news about the raiden shogun's sudden commands in closing off inazuma from the other nations and announce the vision hunt decree, you knew you had to run away.

-> which brings you to where you are now, determined to find and confront the two women who could be your destined lovers.

-> however, it appears that they already beat you to it.

"greetings, are you uhm.. y/n l/n?" you flinch in surprise when a blue haired woman suddenly confronts you, causing her to smile apologetically. "my apologies in surprising you."

"oh uhm, it's fine. no need to apologize- and yes, i'm y/n l/n."

the woman sighs in relief. "oh good. my name is ganyu, secretary of the qixing. i've been sent by the tianquan to give you an invitation to visit the jade chamber when you're available."

"the tianquan wants to see me?" you ask in disbelief. was it because you're from inazuma?

ganyu nodded in response. "yes. unfortunately i can't provide you a reason as to why she sees you but she expects you to come as soon as you're available."

you thought of the situation for a moment, thinking of what to do. were you this lucky to caught the attention of the tianquan or should you be worried that you may become a target to a high authority?

surely the tianquan wouldn’t do anything bad to the person who can be her lover, right?

you exhaled and look at ganyu with a determined look on your face. "...i can go now."

-> you’re honestly thankful that you decided to come with the secretary, especially since the way to the jade chamber was complicated and confusing for someone like you.

-> as much as you're excited to see the woman that you've been dying to meet ever since you were a child, you couldn't help but feel intimidated of what is to come. what if she's threatening you to get out of the nation because of your homeland? what if she thinks you've done something wrong that you didn't do?

-> when you and ganyu arrived, your eyes widens at the sight of the woman.

"as expected, you have arrived." she says, your heart skipping a beat from her smooth-like voice. if elegance was a person, the tianquan is surely the right one. "i am ningguang, the tianquan of the qixing. it's a pleasant to meet you, y/n." she introduces herself.

"i've heard winds about your presence in liyue harbor. as the tianquan, i would like to personally welcome you." she explains. you watched as she opens her fan with a small smile. "how do you feel about the city? i hope you're feeling comfortable with what it offers."

you suddenly felt your cheeks warm, looking away from her gaze. "well uhm, i would like to thank you for inviting me to your humble place and uh, to answer your question: the city is very welcoming and lively.”

"i'm glad to hear that.” she then gestures the jade chamber behind, turning around and head towards to the front doors of her home. “come with me, i would like to show you the inside of the jade chamber."

-> when you entered the jade chamber, you were astounded from how extravagant the inside is. every area and detail screams luxury, giving you more reasons to respect the tianquan with every step you take by her side.

-> as you two head towards an area that ningguang describes as the lounge, you noticed another woman drinking alcohol while sitting on one of the seats.

"..beidou." ningguang says, unpleasantness laced within her tone. "it appears that our guest has arrived quickly than we thought."

your eyes widens, watching the woman, beidou, putting her bottle aside and look at you curiously.

you couldn't help but be surprised by how her facial expression suddenly changes so fast.

"ah! you must be y/n," she exclaims, walking towards you with a grin. "i've heard about you from xiangling. sorry if ningguang over here intimidated you, haha!"

you look at beidou and then at ningguang, unsure with the purpose for this visit. "i'm sorry if i sound rude but... may i know what's going on?"

the woman beside you chuckles in response, closing her fan and kept it aside. "you haven't realized yet, dearest?" she asks in amusement.

your breath hitches when you felt beidou's arm wrapped around your shoulder, causing you to feel overwhelmed from the sudden change of atmosphere that went from light heartedness to something sinister and dark.

ningguang then continues, her tone now darker and determined unlike before. "you are our lover, dear y/n. it would be a shame if you were to get away from liyue like how you got away from inazuma, hm?"

your face suddenly pales in response to what she’s hinting, your heart slowly drops in dismay.

just when you thought you finally found freedom, you found yourself being trapped once again.

[ticklygiggles]

Sleepover | Ayaka/Lumine

A/N: I am in loooove with Ayaka's quest and I wanted to write something with her and sweet girl Lumine for a while, so here it is~ babies being cute together.

Summary: Lumine and Paimon invite her new friend to have a sleepover at their Serenitea Pot and, as Lumine and Ayaka find themselves enjoying time together, a fun discovery is made.

(Not explicitly mentioned, but they kind of are in love with each other sdkfmdsf)

Words: 2k + (under the cut)

"I'm glad I could convince you to stay over."

Ayaka felt her cheeks heating up at the tender words and she looked up, seeing Lumine smiling at her.

"I'm grateful that you and Paimon invited me," she said with a warm smile that was quickly hidden behind her teacup. "I've never heard of this ... Serenitea Pot before. It is truly a lovely invention."

Lumine nodded, taking a sip from her tea as they both talked over the little tea table.

Ayaka looked around the room, Lumine's personal room, and couldn't help but feel amazed about all the things that existed outside of Inazuma. She never thought, when she woke up that morning, that she would spend the night inside a teapot with her new friend, but she was happy. Excited, even.

Lumine and her had been friends for a while now and after her arrival at Inazuma, they have had a chance to spend time with each other. Ayaka liked to think that they were so close already; it was so easy to talk to Lumine about everything and anything, after all, she didn't expect anything from Ayaka.

When Lumine talked to her, Ayaka felt as if she was the first person to really talk to her, not to the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan, or the Princes of Egre; when Lumine talked to her, she was talking to the real Ayaka, with not so many virtues as everyone thought, simply a young girl with her own worries and dreams.

Ayaka couldn't help but feel warm whenever she was around her new friend. Not only did she give her a chance to be her true self, but also taught her many things about the outside world. Stories that Ayaka listened to with bright eyes and a thundering heart.

"Are you okay, Ayaka?" She was a bit startled when she felt a rather cold hand against her own and she jumped slightly, looking over at her companion, who was looking back at her with a worried expression.

Something in Ayaka's chest tingled.

"Oh, yes! I am perfectly fine!" She hurriedly said, smiling gently at Lumine. "I was just thinking that it was a shame that Paimon already went to sleep, we were having fun," she giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.

Lumine chuckled, "You can have fun with me, right?" she said, winking playfully at her and Ayaka flushed to her ears.

How can she say such things without a second thought?!

"Paimon was very excited about you coming over," Lumine started, her long fingers leaving Ayaka's hand and moving to circle the edge of her cup, the place that Lumine had touched burned a little in Ayaka's skin.

"I think all of that excitement tired her out faster than she thought, she's really tiny after all," Lumine said, lifting her hand to show the tips of her forefinger and thumb almost touching.

Ayaka chuckled, lowering her eyes to her empty cup before she spoke again: "were you not… excited?"

The question had slipped out of her mouth before her brain could actually process it and she gasped, quickly lifting her head to look at Lumine with wide eyes.

"No! What I tried to say was-

"Hehe, I was very excited too…," Lumine said, making a little pause to let Ayaka relax. "Paimon is truly the best travel companion, but it's nice to talk with someone else…Especially you, Ayaka."

Ayaka widened her eyes slightly. "Y-Yes?"

"Yes. You always know what to say and always listen so carefully to what I have to say… I can't help but feel happy when I'm with you."

Time froze, or at least that was what Ayaka felt as she let those words sink into her heart, causing it to do little flips inside her chest. She was also the happiest around Lumine.

"Now, stop being so tense!" Lumine said softly, her voice almost a whisper in the quietness of the room. "You're gonna make your body hurt," she warned as her hand reached out, her finger poking Ayaka's ribs.

Suddenly, the sound of chimes filled the whole room. It was light and sweet and it made a blush crept to Lumine's cheeks.

Ayaka quickly covered her mouth, preventing more of that melodious laughter from escaping her mouth. Her cheeks were beet red and when she looked up at Lumine, a shaky smile was still pulling at her lips.

"Thahahat, that's tihi- I- I mean-

Lumine smirked. "Ayaka is ticklish?" Lumine reached out against, but Ayaka got up quickly. "Ayaka?"

Ayaka could tell her movements startled Lumine. She looked up at her and there was concern in her eyes, perhaps thinking that she had stepped over a boundary. Ayaka hastily calmed her down.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise! I just… I don't…"

Her ears turned red as her delicate hand covered the tingling spot against her ribs. It's been so long since she felt that sensation. He remembered Thoma and her playing around when they were younger; she even had a little memory with Ayato, (though, he was the one laughing his head off), when they had a bit of free time from their training… but those memories, they were a lifetime ago.

Ayaka blinked slowly, so she was still… sensitive?

Lumine giggled softly and Ayaka looked at her. "You do not expect me to just let this slide right?" She said and Ayaka felt her lips trembling.

"C-Cohould you?" She asked, putting her hands together, as if making a small prayer.

Lumine shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, I can't!"

With that, Lumine also raised from her spot beside the table and launched at Ayaka, making her squeal and almost stumble as she sprinted away from the traveler.

The room was not small, but it wasn't that big either, so they both had to maneuver around to avoid crashing into furniture, tripping, or, in Ayaka's case, breaking something.

Her beautiful baby blue gown fluttered behind her as she ran away from the devious hands trying to catch her. Ayaka was agile, she was used to fighting, her physical condition was perfect and her resistance was high, but she was giggling brightly as she ran around and it was making her feel a little breathless.

"Ayaka!" Lumine was also giggling behind her and the sound made Ayaka's ears tingle. "You know I'll catch you!"

Ayaka squealed again and she felt her face burning up. This was so embarrassing! Her hair was getting messy, and look at her running around barefoot! This was not how she was supposed to behave ... So why was she having so much fun?

"L-Luhumine! Plehehease! I can explain! It d-dihidn't tickle!" Ayaka said between childish laughs, trying to convince Lumine.

"It did not? Then why did you la- ah! Careful!"

Ayaka gasped, her foot slipped when she stepped on the cushion she had been sitting on, having tea. Her body staggered back, and from lack of time, she was only able to close her eyes tightly and brace herself for the fall, but it didn't come and instead, Ayaka felt a thin, but firm arm circling her waist, preventing her from falling.

Ayaka blinked in surprise and found Lumine's pretty face hovering over hers, concern filling her eyes again.

"Are you alright, Ayaka? Did you hurt your ankle?"

"Oh, no… no, I am perfectly fine. Thank you, Lumine," Ayaka said, letting out a soft sigh of relief.

Lumine chuckled. "I told you I would catch you!"

Ayaka would've laughed that out, but she could hear that teasing tone in Lumine's voice and she tensed up. She was still tipped back, Lumine holding her tightly against her own body; out of instinct, Ayaka held onto Lumine's closest arm to try and lift herself up, but she felt gentle finger positioning over her ribs and she squealed, widening her eyes.

"So, it was right here, right?" Lumine nearly purred as her fingers started to gently claw against Ayaka's ribs.

Ayaka jolted and she kicked one leg out, making Lumine laugh as she held Ayaka's body a little closer to her.

"NAHAHA! Plehehehease! Plehehease, not thehehehere!" she tilted her head back, her long hair falling beautifully like a blue cascade, the ends almost reaching the wooden floor.

Ayaka couldn’t stop her bubbly laughter from pouring out of her smiling lips; her ribs had always been one of her worst spots, (though, she let herself think that she wasn’t ticklish there anymore), but she had totally forgotten how it was to be tickled there, and Lumine was not joke.

“I wihihill dihihihie!” Ayaka cackled, kicking softly again as she tried to cover her ribcage with her free arm.

Lumine had technique, Ayaka didn’t remember to be this ticklish even when she was a child, the nimble fingers attacking her were light, gentle, but so painfully experienced. They rubbed and pinched and clawed and vibrated against Ayaka’s poor ribs, making her body arch and jolt every time Lumine found an extra sensitive spot that was quickly taken care of, despite Ayaka's pleas.

“You won’t die,” Lumine said with that playful voice of hers that set free thousands of butterflies inside Ayaka’s stomach. “It’s just tickling, is not that bad, is it?”

Ayaka nodded, shrieking when those mean fingers pinched at her lower ribs, causing her to kick her other leg out, the one that was holding her own weight, but she barely had a moment to worry about keeping her balance before she found herself being gently placed on the floor, a cushion under her head.

“That’s better,” Lumine said and Ayaka opened her eyes, her sight a bit blurry after having them tightly shut as she laughed. “Now I can use both hands,” she said in a sign-song voice.

Ayaka squealed and she shook her head, lifting her hands in some kind of shield.

“Noho! Luhumine, I thihihink I- AHAHAHA! Nohohot thehere eitheher!” She begged, trying to cover her stomach with her arms.

“You already said that,” Lumine said, giggling when Ayaka let out a soft squeal as she felt a thumb digging on the side of her navel.

“It tihihickles too muhuhuch!”

“What? You said it didn’t tickle!”

Ayaka felt her cheeks warm up, the blush creeping to the tips of her ears. Her legs were kicking unceremoniously and her uncoordinated hands tried to catch Lumine’s, but she really was an expert; she avoided Ayaka’s hands every time, only tickling her faster and finding all of the weakest spots in her stomach, just as she did over her ribs.

“Pahahaimon wihihill wahahake uhuhup!” She tried to walk her way out of her predicament, but when she heard Lumine chuckling, she knew it wouldn't work.

“Paimon won’t hear us even if I tickle you all night, Ayaka,” she explained, moving her hands to Ayaka’s waist. “She’s pretty tired- are you ticklish everywhere or am I hitting all of the good spots?”

Ayaka shook her head, arching her back up and wiggling her torso a little in the cutest way as Lumine squeezed her waist.

“Bohohohoth! Plehehehease! I’ll reheheheally dihihihie!” She laughed out, trying to curl on her side to at least protect one side of her waist. “Tihihihickling is unfahahahair!”

Lumine chuckled. “It’s not! I didn’t know you were ticklish!”

Ayaka couldn’t say anything back, not because she didn’t have nothing to say, but because, since she was able to roll on her right side, now Lumine used both hands to tickle her left one: one hand squeezing her waist and even above her hip, the other clawing at her ribs and the back of them, making her cackle brightly.

The muscles of her stomach started to burn from laughing so much, she was getting slightly hot and her cheeks hurt from smiling so big, and yet, Ayaka was enjoying every second of this. The tickling was driving her a little crazy, but it felt good to laugh so loud, it felt good to squirm around and kick without worrying about people judging her.

It felt good to have someone enjoying making her laugh like this and she knew Lumine would stop when Ayaka really needed her to, because she was this kind and Ayaka trusted her so much that she allowed her to take advantage of this weakness that Ayaka wouldn’t even dare to show again to Ayato or even Thoma.

“Hiiee! Okay! OKAHAHAY! Stahahahap!”

“Oh, did I find the spot?” Lumine asked and Ayaka nodded frantically as she felt fingers wiggling wildly under her arms. “Your nose is scrunching up, Ayaka.”

Ayaka didn’t feel embarrassed, it didn’t sound like Lumine was making fun of her, it sounded like a compliment and she felt a wave of warmth taking over her cheeks again as she let herself laugh and laugh, rolling softly and not caring about the mess her hair was becoming or the way her gown wrinkled with each violent move.

“I think you had enough,” Lumine said with a soft giggle, and Ayaka squealed when she still tickled her for a few more seconds until she finally pulled her fingers out from under Ayaka’s arms.

Ayaka collapsed on the floor, catching her breath as residual giggles made it past her lips, even after Lumine stopped. As she started to relax and her breathing started to regulate, she heard a soft thud beside her and then felt something pressed to her arm. Looking over, she found Lumine laying beside her, a playful smile pulling at her lips.

“Did I overdo it?” She asked gently and Ayaka giggled, shaking her head.

“You did not,” she promised, letting out a soft sigh. “It was quite fun, actually."

"That's good to hear," Lumine said and she made a pause, Ayaka could tell she was hesitating to say her next words:

“I used to tickle my brother all the time,” Lumine said with melancholy, her playful smile turning sad. “He’s very ticklish just like you,” she said and Ayaka chuckled.

She stayed silent for a while, but a knot formed in the pit of her stomach and she wanted, desperately, to remove that sad smile from Lumine's face.

“I used to tickle my brother all the time when we were little, too,” Ayaka said with a soft laugh. “He’s even worse than me,” she said and her eyes beamed when Lumine laughed.

“Poor him! Such a mean sister,” she joked and they both laughed for a little until a comfortable silence set in the room.

Ayaka could hear the soft sounds of the night from the window: Lumine's pets stepping on grass, the whistle of the wind and water dripping from somewhere. She could also hear something else, a soft thumb, thumb, thumb that drummed behind her ears. Her heart was going to shoot out of her chest.

“I always… have the most fun when I’m with you,” she mumbled sheepishly, looking at Lumine.

The traveler smiled brightly at her and she nodded. “Me too, Ayaka. I’ve met many people during this time… but I’ve never had as much fun as I have with you.”

“Thank you-

She gasped softly when she felt a soft kiss pressed to her cheek, looking at Lumine she could see her cheeks turning bright pink and Ayaka could only smile warmly at her as she moved closer to Lumine, exchanging a knowing glance.

“Thank you for inviting me to spend the night here,” Ayaka said, her fingers shyly looking for Lumine’s.

“Mn. Thank you for accepting the invitation,” Lumine answered and Ayaka’s heart did somersaults when their fingers interlocked, both of them giggling shyly.

She really was thankful for being invited; not only to her Serenitea Pot, but also to Lumine’s life.