#black lotus store

[ame-kobayashi]

- C R E D I T S -

•Hair: WASABI.

• Face Tattoo: S-RANK.

• Dress: Cynful Clothing & Co. / Eye Candy Set (Fatpack) / equal10

• Body Tattoo: Black Lotus / Ayame Tattoo (Now in 2k) / MAINSTORE.

• Body: LEGACY PERKY.

• Backdrop: BAD UNICORN.

Thanks to Nea for posing with me.

[cordiallyfuturedwight]

kim seokjin for vogue korea (south of france ver.)

[daflowerzine]

✨ PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN ✨

ARDENT BLOSSOM: A BOTANICAL COMPENDIUM is now available for preorders from September 21 to October 21! 

This book features 30 illustrations and 18 original codex entries exploring the language of flowers, in the format of a traditional floriography book. Each illustration is paired with notes written by our writers, intrepid members of the Botanical Society of Thedas!

ARDENT BLOSSOM is available in the following bundles:

Elfroot Bundle: High-quality PDF of the zine

Embrium Bundle: Physical copy of the zine

Black Lotus Bundle: Zine & all DAO-themed merch

Blood Lotus Bundle: Zine & all DA2-themed merch

Dawn Lotus Bundle: Zine & all DAI-themed merch

Crystal Grace Bundle: Zine & all merch from all 3 games!

Dragonthorn Bundle: Merch-only bundle

Prophet's Laurel add-on: Make your zine hardcover!

We are also announcing six stretch goals!

All stretch goals are automatically added to all merch bundles. The travel postcards will have 1 postcard added to their respective game bundles, and all 3 added to full bundles!

50 orders: Travel Postcards

100 orders: Veilguard Sticker Sheet

150 orders: Gold Foil Cover

200 orders: Enamel Pin

250 orders: Tote Bag

300 orders: Pocket Field Journal

Reblog this post for the chance to win a free full bundle or a refund on the bundle you purchased!

Store ✨ Info ✨ Twitter ✨ Contributors

Artists

Abby (tumblr / bsky) | Alice (linktree) | Annalise (insta / twitter) | Annie (website / twitter) | Asphodel (twitter / insta) | Bloo (twitter / insta) | Chloe (tumblr) | CR Scannell (tumblr / insta) | Elliot (insta / tumblr) | Erika Hollice (twitter / website) | Eunha (twitter / tumblr) | Ev Cole (website / tumblr) | Fervanis (tumblr / insta) | Frei (carrd) | Hanna Schroy (website / linktree) | Harley (twitter / insta) | Jee (tumblr / twitter) | Jura (tumblr / insta) | Kali Samutratakul (twitter / tumblr) | Kiera (insta / tumblr) | Lily (twitter) | Liv (twitter / insta) | Luposlipaphobya (insta / tumblr) | Mer (twitter) | Noah (website / tumblr) | Punto (twitter / insta) | Tarte (twitter / tumblr) | Tifany (linktree) | Zaz (tumblr)

Writers

AKnightOfAGoodKing (twitter / tumblr) | Arcadia (twitter / ao3) | Ardie (tumblr) | Casey (tumblr) | Casper (twitter / tumblr) | Chissprincess (ao3 / tumblr) | Collette (twitter) | ContreParry (tumblr) | Harding (tumblr) | Katie (ao3 / twitter) | lysmune (twitter / ao3) | Owlpockets (tumblr) | Polymerre (twitter / ao3) | Sandal (tumblr / ao3) | Tas (tumblr / ao3)

Mods

Lucy (ao3 / tumblr) | Jenny (twitter / tumblr)

[gloomglimmer]

𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑-𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒  …  (  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞  𝐨𝐟  𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬  )  set  the  scene  with  these modern &  evocative  prompts  inspired  by  florals  &  their  hidden  meanings. themes:  city living, devotion,  sacrifice,  healing  &  protection.   

⁽   *   ⁾    𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒  𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊   →   sentence  starters

“I  will  always  find  you,  no  matter  how  lost  you  feel.”

“Let  me  take  your  pain—if  I  could  bear  it  for  you,  I  would.”

“You  don’t  have  to  stand  alone—I’ll  always  be  here  to  catch  you.”

“Your  scars  do  not  make  you  less  worthy  of  love.”

“Rest  now.  I’ll  be  here  when  you  wake.”

“I  will  stand  between  you  and  the  storm.”

“Tell  me  your  story—I  want  to  know  every  part  of  you.”

“Run.  I’ll  hold  them  back.”

“Let  me  hold  you  until  the  nightmares  fade.”

"If  they  want  you,  they’ll  have  to  go  through  me  first.”

“I  will  always  be  your  light,  even  in  the  darkest  moments.”

“Come  back  to  me.  I’ll  wait  as  long  as  it  takes.”

“I  won’t  let  them  take  you—I’d  give  anything  to  keep  you  safe.”

⁽   *   ⁾    𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒  𝐒𝐄𝐄   →   scene  prompts

LAVENDER  →  A  small,  cozy  apartment  in  the  heart  of  a  busy  city.

CHERRY  BLOSSOM  →  A  rooftop  bar  with  twinkling  fairy  lights.

RED  ROSE  →  A  luxury  penthouse  suite.

SUNFLOWER  →  A  sunflower  farm  just  outside  of  town.

RUE  →  A  quiet,  almost  abandoned  street  in  the  heart  of  the  city.

FORGET-ME-NOT  →  A  run-down  but  charming  vintage  record  store  tucked  between  newer  shops

BLACK  VELVET  PETUNIA  →  A  chic,  underground  jazz  club  in  a  city’s  artsy  district.

MARIGOLD  →  A  farmers’  market  on  a  busy  weekend  morning.

MOONFLOWER  →  A  secluded,  trendy  rooftop  lounge  overlooking  a  sprawling  cityscape  at  night.

POPPY  →  An  abandoned  warehouse  on  the  outskirts  of  town.

MANDRAKE  →  A  small,  independent  cafe  nestled  on  a  quiet  street.

LILY  →  A  serene,  minimalist  art  gallery  with  bright  white  walls.

CARNATION  →  A  high-end  florist  shop  with  glass  vases  of  colorful  blooms.

PEONY  →  A  luxury  spa  retreat  by  the  beach.

ORCHID  →  A  rooftop  garden  in  a  sleek  modern  building.

DAFFODIL  →  A  trendy  brunch  spot  by  the  lake.

TULIP  →  A  chic  urban  loft  filled  with  large  windows  and  tulip  arrangements.

CAMELLIA  →  A  sleek  art  deco  hotel  lobby.

JASMINE  →  A  night-lit  garden  terrace  attached  to  a  modern  apartment.

SNAPDRAGON  →  A  secret  garden  tucked  behind  an  old  café  in  the  city.

LOTUS  →  A  chic  yoga  studio  with  floor-to-ceiling  windows  overlooking  a  busy street.

AZALEA  →  A  late-night  food  truck  park.

[buffetlicious]

If all Zong Zi or Rice Dumplings look the same to you, you’re not alone! Zong Zi (粽子) or Bak Chang are a variety of glutinous rice dumplings traditionally eaten by the Chinese during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). Here are six types of popular Zong Zi from various dialect and ethnic groups in Singapore.

Hokkien Rice Dumpling (福建咸肉粽) - One of the most common Zong Zi that can be found in markets and stores, the Hokkien Zong Zi is wrapped in bamboo leaves is recognized by its dark appearance from soy sauce infused rice and distinct aroma from the five-spice seasoning. Usually made with pork belly, salted egg yolk, chestnuts and dried shrimps.

Cantonese Rice Dumpling (广东咸肉粽) - The ingredient that sets Cantonese Zong Zi apart is the filling of mung beans or green beans. One can also order a variation with a salted egg yolk. The glutinous rice is also seasoned with salt and garlic oil instead of soy sauce.

Nyonya Rice Dumpling (娘惹粽) - The Nyonya Zong Zi is the most distinguishable rice dumpling for its bright blue tip that is typically made from the extract of the butterfly pea flower. It is also sweeter in taste and aroma because of its pandan leaf wrapper and candied winter melon.

Teochew Rice Dumpling (潮州粽) - The savoury yet sweet taste of a Teochew Zong Zi comes from various ingredients such as red bean paste or lotus paste, fatty pork belly, earthy mushrooms and dried shrimp. Chestnuts are also added to the dumpling for texture.

Hainanese Rice Dumpling (海南肉粽) - The Hainanese Zong Zi’s most distinctive trait lies in its portion. It is filled with generous chunks of pork belly, whole chestnuts, mushrooms, and seasonings of savoury additions like five-spice powder, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. It is also usually served with a dollop of palm sugar syrup, adding a nice balance of sweetness to its savoury and slightly spicy flavour.

Hakka Rice Dumpling (客家粽) - Steamed in bamboo leaves, the Hakka Zong Zi consists of preserved vegetable filling, juicy pork belly strips and savoury mushrooms. It is also sometimes filled with beans.

Zong Zi info from here and images from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

[mavyunivrse]

┊͙ 𝓘nduce ℒucidity ☽˚.⋆

This is a dream/lucid dream sachet tutorial!

*** This is not needed to shift or become lucid in your dreams. Only a tool there for you to use if you’re interested.

This is a revamp post from my tiktok @/mavyunivrse

My Masterlist | Click Here

One.

Pick something to store your items. Coloured mesh/muslin bag, cloth, or even a jar.

** purple is associated with astral projection, spirituality, healing, meditation

** blue is associated with communication, sleep, wisdom, patience

** white is associated with purity, balance, truth, guidance, hope, spirituality

Two.

Now you’re picking your herbs & spices.

(A a cheap way to get them is from tea bags)

𖤐 Protection:

Salt, rosemary, star anise, cinnamon, basil, dill, clove, mint, calendula, fennel seed, mullein, angelica root, black pepper, feverfew, nettle,

☾ Sleep & Tranquility :

Lavender, chamomile, thyme, pennyroyal, lemon balm, poppy seed, valerian root, yarrow, skullcap

࿔ Dreams & Dream Recall:

Peppermint, jasmine, thyme, catnip, st. johns wort

♧ Lucidity:

Mugwort, blue lotus, passionflower, damiana, nutmeg

+ Add:

Rose petals—relaxation, psychic abilities

Orange peel—success, action, purification

Hibiscus—attract prophetic dreams, passion

Bay leaf—success, manifestation, wisdom

Sigils

Essential oils

Paper with affirmations/intentions

Crystals (I have colour coordinated posts in my masterlist of crystal properties)

You don’t everything, this is solely a loose guide. Use whatever accessible to you <3

Three.

Gather what you’re using and cleanse them via incense smoke, sound, water, etc.

Each time you put something into your vessel, say what they’re being used for. Examples:

“Lavender to put me into a deep sleep.”

“Star anise to keep me protected in my dreams and as I sleep.”

“Mugwort to send me into vivid, lucid dreams.”

“Clear quartz to amplify my intentions and herbs, or to aid me in manifesting shifting realities.”

Four.

That’s all! Keep it under your pillow, nightstand, anywhere near your bed. Sweet dreams ☁️💤

– ℳ

[stokiss]

[Image ID: Fully rendered colorful artwork that is divided into three parts. The first shows Arthur leading Oscar by the hand through a labyrinth full of mirrors. Their eyes are closed. The next section shows a small silhouette of Arthur standing boldly in front of the King in Yellow. Most of the drawing is taken up by the king's flowing robes. Between them we see many bony black arms, some of which stretch around Arthur. The final drawing shows Arthur and John finally reuniting in a music store. They stand desperately looking into each other's eyes while the ceiling crumbles, letting in tons of light sand into the dim room. In the background, we see a crushed piano. end ID] My submission for the Malevolent Big Bang. It was an absolute honour to be paired up with @crowfeatherquill, writter of Final Miles, a post season 5 fic, as well as with artists @gazebodj and @banal-lotus-eater. Make sure to check out their works and many more on @malevolentbigbang!!! :]

[irrel]

I took pictures of my new Black Lotus Potion patch when I was too busy and I can see now that it was uninspired and I need to take new pictures 😂 it's so hard to find time for a photoshoot with everything else going on during busy season!

Anyways, here are some of the patches I sell in my store and my new Black Lotus Potion patch 🙌

[ame-kobayashi]

- C R E D I T S -

• Hair: NONNATIVE & SANTE. • Scars: MILA. • Tattoo: DAPPA. • Nails: BLACK LOTUS/ Nail Hud Sabbath/ SOON IN SABBATH EVENT. (OPEN 21/10) This hud is compatible with Black Lotus Mesh Nails. You must have the Mesh Nails before purchasing the hud. • Outfit: MIWAS/ Karina Outfit / NOW IN EQUAL10 EVENT. • Bat: INSOMNIA ANGEL. • Backdrop: FOXCITY.

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

Nothing in the world belongs to me (but my love, mine, all mine)

This started off as a silly conversation I had with @yuzanrath on Discord and now it's a whole thing.

Part 2 might be a bit (a lot) nsfw

For now, there's angst.

Enjoy!

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

From the day she learned that her son had locked Wei Wuxian out of his room after Jiang Fengmian had seemingly offered the new arrival more attention, Madam Yu decided Wei Wuxian was to move in to a room of his own. A favor, one might think, giving the orphan boy a place of his own in the Jiang family compound and, perhaps, even in the family itself.

However, that had been far from the truth. After all, Madam Yu had never shown true kindness to the young boy and it would have been too good of a dream to come true that she might have finally accepted him – or, heavens forbid, even grown affectionate of him – enough to care about his comfort. Rather, it was more of her way to slap her husband in the face, kicking out the son of his subordinate and rumored affair to a backroom somewhere he would not bother anybody, sharing a building with the rest of the servants as she believed he should.

And though Wei Wuxian was still little, barely above ten years old, he knew. He knew that Madam Yu did not want him around and thought lowly of him – not just because of her behavior, but because she told him to his face often how much of a burden he was. Uncle Jiang had taught him not to mind her, to let her words sweep him by as she was quick to anger and violence and did not mean what she said, but Wei Wuxian was still a child, a blank canvas for the adults in his life to leave their mark on.

And so, Madam Yu’s words and behavior did affect him, her obstinate refusal to even be polite with him stinging like salt on an open wound. He had often wondered what it was that he was missing, what he was doing wrong – and no matter how hard he studied, how diligently he trained, how much he tried to prove himself, she always found fault with him and belittled even the most valiant of his efforts.

So, to hear that she allowed him his own room filled Wei Wuxian with great hope, a budding thing, beautiful and fragile, that perhaps she had changed her mind about him – shattered as soon as he was led by the then Jiang head disciple (the replacement of his father, he sadly noted) into the servants’ quarters, up a short flight of stairs, into a small attic.

“You will temporarily live here.” The man had said, trying to make it sound less like the permanent place Wei Wuxian already knew he would occupy. “It’s not much, but you should have everything you need.”

And he did – there was a bed, a desk, a chair and a small wardrobe, as well as two small shelves. Granted, they looked rather old and worn, like they had been stored into the attic long before Wei Wuxian’s arrival. But he had never been one to complain about such things, infinitely grateful to even have a place to stay at all – so he bowed in thanks to the head disciple and began putting away the few things in the chest he had dragged from the room he shared with Jiang Cheng to his new one.

If there was anything good about that place though, it was the one window above the bed that allowed Wei Wuxian a breathtaking view of Lotus Lake and the markets of Yunmeng, flickering lights from stalls and fireflies mingling together like stars fallen off the night sky. He decided he was happy with that, overriding the dust and the smell of mildew of the attic with the beauty of the scenery outside.

Of course, there was much needed to be done to make Wei Wuxian’s makeshift room livable – the corners bore thick blankets of spider cobwebs and many spider eggs nestled into soft silk; a thick layer of dust enveloped the room, often making it difficult to breathe but far too easy to sneeze; and black dots covered spots in the ceiling like ink blots, black mold festering in the wood.

But what was worse than the spiders (and other critters that scurried around the floor away from candlelight and human presence), the dust and the mold was the dark hole in one of the room’s corners, a human-sized hole that the Jiang head disciple had explained away as necessary for building maintenance. It was covered by a makeshift lid when not in use, but Wei Wuxian knew it hadn’t been just his imagination when he felt like something lived in that space, like he was sharing the room with some kind of entity that others could not, for some reason, sense, despite being skilled cultivators.

The first night Wei Wuxian had to sleep in his new room, he could not stop feeling like he was being watched, like there was something unseen in the attic, peering at him through places not even candlelight could reach, observing him.

In the morning, the first thing he did after he had awoken from the fitful few hours of sleep he had managed to get, was to drag his two small shelves over the lid of that so-called maintenance hole, thinking, in his childish, fear-addled mind that whatever lived there would not be able to get out if the exit to its home was closed off.

Jiang Yanli helped him clean up secretly, doing away with the dust and the spider webs, and placing perfumed herbs around the room to scare off the insects dwelling there as well as freshen the air. She had one of her trusted servants wipe away at the stains on the ceiling and apply the same concoction used to ward off mold in the main family’s household, leaving the room much cleaner and homely than it had been before.

She promised that she would sew him a small curtain for his window and brought him a few of the decorative china figurines she had in her room, trying to make the lonely attic seem less like Wei Wuxian’s banishment house and more like his safe space.

It had worked, it seemed, because after all the work was finished and the day came to an end, Wei Wuxian slept peacefully, no longer feeling like something malevolent was trying to drive him away.

It still lived there, though, that much was obvious – but Wei Wuxian decided to let it be, as long as it was not hostile. After all, it had stayed there long before Wei Wuxian did, so it felt unfair to him to have uncle Jiang drive it away, especially as he sometimes heard it cry at night, when he drifted off in the plane between dreaming and being awake. This being, whatever it was, seemed to carry great sorrow, and Wei Wuxian felt pitiful of it in a way that he could not explain – perhaps because he too could understand loneliness and grief.

And so, Wei Wuxian had grown used to the strange presence in his attic-turned-bedchamber, sharing the space with whatever lived with him with less and less fear every day. Sometimes, it would ruffle the small, white curtain that Jiang Yanli hung at his window when there was no wind, or flick through discarded pieces of talisman paper and calligraphy notes at night, almost as if assessing Wei Wuxian’s work. It was not rare to find blots of ink scattered across corners of parchment paper as if trying to copy the writing there.

Though these instances had frightened Wei Wuxian at the start, he felt nothing malicious in any of these strange gestures, not even when he began finding rocks and strange plants by his bed or on his desk that he had not put there.

He smiled, jokingly praising the entity for attempting to pay rent, and even talked to it about his day when there was nobody else to listen – because, in truth, Madam Yu’s plan had worked, the new room isolating Wei Wuxian from Jiang Cheng and many of his other comrades. The building was tucked in a far corner of the Jiang family compound, the very last structure of the lavish estate before the territory stretched into endless towns and villages, and none of Wei Wuxian’s friends lived there. Madam Yu did not allow Jiang Cheng to visit often, and Wei Wuxian could spend time with him and the others for a short while before he had to adhere to curfew – the servants locked the building early at night for fear of robbers.

And som all the companionship Wei Wuxian was left with was the strange entity in his room that he sometimes even doubted actually existed. Surely, he had seen the signs of its presence often, but in his loneliest days, he wondered whether he had not imagined the thing to exist so he would bear the loneliness easier.

He became certain of its existence one day, the very first day he had found himself the receiving end of Madam Yu’s violence and her wrathful Zidian. She had not hit him with it until then, but something he had done (it didn’t even matter what it had been, how small and insignificant) set her off to the point that she dragged him to his room in the attic and whipped him until her anger dissipated into exhaustion.

There were two things Wei Wuxian understood that day: one, that Madam Yu would always resent him; the second, that she had no qualms hurting him about it now. And where there had only been harsh words and ridiculous punishments, she now added violence to its most direct form.

It was hard to say what hurt more, the welts throbbing on his back or this knowledge.

But as soft sobs echoed through the room, the darkness morphed into something soft, almost comforting, a phantom feeling of somebody trying to soothe him. It was faint, barely there as Wei Wuxian struggled between sleep and being awake – but it made a small smile appear on his face, a confirmation that there was at least somebody (or, rather, something) that cared for him.

So, it had not been just two things that Wei Wuxian learned that day, but three – the third, that he truly was not alone.

He would come to learn the fourth thing years later – that he was loved.

--

The next time Madam Yu dragged him off for a whipping (she never did it in public places, either because she did not want others to know how cruel she was to her sect’s head disciple or just to drive it home how little she thought of Wei Wuxian, punishing him in the servants’ house he lived in), something unusual happened, so unusual it frightened the woman into forgoing the punishment.

Zidian did not sparkle to life.

Try as she might, her spiritual powers did not materialize into the purple lightning whip she wielded so fiercely, the ring useless on her hand. It was as though something was blocking it off from manifesting, something as powerful as it was angry. She felt it, a strange presence that exuded so much anger that it made the hair on the back of her head raise – and for a brief moment, she feared for her life. Defenseless against something unseen, something that so obviously wanted her dead.

(Wei Wuxian had spoken into his empty-but-not-quite room about Madam Yu and her punishments – sometimes with frustration, indignant of her unfairness, other times sorrowful, nursing wounds. And so, the entity in his room knew who she was and the kind of treatment Wei Wuxian had to endure, growing resentful of her and protective of him.)

Madam Yu could feel it, the danger of the entity haunting the attic, and she realized she did not want to risk its wrathfaster than she had the time to wonder what it even was or why Wei Wuxian did not seem scared. So, she stormed out of the room, muttering curses, nervously fiddling with her unresponsive spiritual weapon.

In the attic, the atmosphere remained tense – not with fear, but with a strange sort of uncertainty. Wei Wuxian looked over the room, trying to spot any signs of the entity’s presence, and found the lid to the maintenance hole askew, as if the thing had burrowed there in shame after standing up to Madam Yu.

“Did you do that?” Wei Wuxian asked softly, crouching over the side of the dark hole, “Were you the one that stopped Madam Yu from whipping me?”

There was no answer, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t help a small, grateful smile from curling on his lips, speaking a soft, quiet “thank you” into the darkness of the hole as he fixed the lid over it with gentle hands. If the thing had revealed itself, Wei Wuxian thought, he would have hugged it.

--

Madam Yu attempted to punish him a second time after that incident, intent on using the discipline whip on him for some other minor slight she thought monumental. Wei Wuxian had grown used to her inclinations and did not bother to argue or defend himself, not only because he knew it useless, but also because he had his own pride as a man that didn’t allow him to grovel at her feet anymore.

He had grown tired of trying to do that anyway, after so many years and countless failed attempts to invoke her kindness.

Though Wei Wuxian knew that the scars of the discipline whip would never fade and he would bear the mark of Madam Yu’s cruelty for life, he did not find it in himself to be afraid, even knowing the searing pain that would follow. His expression gave away a quiet, tired resignation, as if what would be happening to him was the natural progression of Madam Yu’s hatred of him.

However, just as unexpected as last time, the pain never came, the skin on Wei Wuxian’s back unmarred despite Madam Yu’s attempts. But, unlike that time, it was not just a presence she could feel – rather, as her hand rose, building momentum for the strike, the lid covering the maintenance hole nearly flew off its hinges, a dark smoke rushing out of it and into the room, enveloping Madam Yu’s hand in translucent wisps. Though they appeared light and soft as feathers, she felt them as though lead had encased her bones, a painful, crushing pressure causing her fingers to uncoil from the discipline whip, the item falling helplessly from her hand.

She tried to scream, but no sound came out, and her struggling had not yielded fruit – but as amazed as Wei Wuxian was to finally lay eyes onto the entity that he had shared the past ten years with as a roommate, it became apparent to him that it was intending to kill Madam Yu, dark wisps curled around her neck like hungry vipers.

Terror could be read in her eyes, wide and tearful as air slowly became more and more of a luxury that the wrathful spirit would not allow her – and Wei Wuxian had to save her, despite her abuse and her violent nature, despite knowing that, on a karmic level, she deserved to die this way.

So, with a slight tremor to his hand, he reached for one of the wisps that curled onto the floor, ready to strike Madam Yu alongside the others, gently touching the formless creature as if to pet it. It startled, frozen in place, all the other wisps around Madam Yu stilling, as if shocked by the sudden contact – none as shocked as Madam Yu herself.

“You…are you doing this?!” She asked, anger sparking in her eyes among all the fear. “You monst-“

One of the wisps curled around her mouth, leaving her lips sealed.

Wei Wuxian felt immensely grateful for that, though he never said it. Instead, he leaned down and caressed the now rigid wisp of smoke, speaking to it softly: “That’s enough… you’ve done enough, let her go now…”

It shivered against his fingers, in protest, a low, gravely voice replying, in broken words, “…hurt…Wei Ying…”

“I’m not hurt, though.” He continued, reassuringly, patting the end of the wisp as if it was an unruly child.

“…protect…Wei Ying…”

“You’ve protected me, haven’t you? I’m not hurt at all. So, you’ve done what you said, you can let her go.”

The wisp curled around his hand, both protective and possessive. “Mine…”

Wei Wuxian startled at that, not knowing what to make of it or how to reply to that declaration, the intensity of it echoing into some untapped part of his heart. Had the creature become attached to him throughout the years? Had it mistakenly thought Wei Wuxian as some kind of…partner?

What would that mean for him now?

“Let her go, please. I don’t want her to die.” He decided to say, ignoring the entity’s previous statement.

It shivered around Wei Wuxian’s hand, unhappy to listen to him, but it yielded nevertheless, dropping Madam Yu to the floor. She had long become unconscious, with the fear and the lack of proper air, her arm bruised where the entity attacked her first.

“You didn’t need to do that.” He chided the creature, “How will I explain this away now?”

It coiled tighter around Wei Wuxian’s wrist, as the gravely voice from before replied in his ears. “…protect…”

The tiniest of smiles appeared on his lips, “I know. Thank you for that. But now I’m going to be in even more trouble…”

“…she will not speak…” the voice echoed into his head again. “…do not worry…”

And as unlikely as that seemed to him, Wei Wuxian believed it. Perhaps whatever this thing was, whatever it thought Wei Wuxian was to him, it really did only ever want to help him and it would protect him, no matter what. In fact, if he were to consider it, this creature had been his only friend in many senses of the word, and he had spoken to it more openly than he had to anyone.

Would it have been so unusual for it to have developed a sense of attachment to him? If Wei Wuxian were a ghost trapped in some kind of hole in a house, would he not also grow fond of the person that acknowledged him and treated him kindly?

“What is your name?”

The creature slithered up to him, formless and dark, coiling around his limbs like bracelets.

“…Lan…Lan Zhan…”

“Lan Zhan.” He repeated the name, the syllables soft on his tongue. “You’re living in that hole over there, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Wei Wuxian huffs a surprisingly fond breath, “So then, all this time, it’s been you I’ve shared this room with…” He mindlessly pats at the wisps around his wrists as he speaks, “why are you here of all places, hm?”

The voice replies in his ears, “Home…”

Wei Wuxian’s gaze softened. “This was your home?”

The voice grew quieter, almost sorrowful, as it replied, “No… looking for home.”

“You found your home here then?” He asks again, soothing over the creature’s limbs. “Just like I did?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause, the creature curling tighter around Wei Wuxian, seeking comfort. He continued caressing it, the formless smoke taking the vague shape of hands. “Why were you wandering, Lan Zhan?”

It did not reply for a long time and Wei Wuxian did not speak again until it did, its voice soft, almost vulnerable. “Lost…”

“You lost your home?”

The vaguely shaped hands squeezed tighter at Wei Wuxian’s fingers and he knew that had been the case. He did not want to ask for details, because he could tell it made the creature sorrowful to speak of it, so he muttered, gently, “You have a home now.”

“…You…” the voice echoed in his mind, and Wei Wuxian could not find it in himself to be afraid this time, strangely comforted with the creature’s presence and its words. It was not unexpected or unusual – this spirit clung onto him after it lost its home and found this attic to dwell in, with a companion to boot. Wei Wuxian had unknowingly become its family, just as it had become his.

[caleohateclub]

My fav random details from TTC:

Chiron wears curlers in his tail

Artemis doesn't like when her hunters "Grow up" or "get too silly"

Grover got a black eye trying to help the hunters into their cabin.

The Hunters have a silver flag for CTF!

The Hunters have won CTF 56 times in a row

Grover camped outside the Hunters' cabin at night "Just to be near them."

All the Hunters' skin glow like they've been "taking showers in liquid moonlight"

Bianca's eyes vaguely remind Percy of someone famous but he couldn't think of who

Percy was gonna give Poseidon a seashell patterned tie for fathers day

Percy was planning on using riptide to write Christmas cards

Anytime Percy is near a beach, hippocampi will ask him to help them with their problems

Percy can see the heat of living forms and the cold of the currents when he's deep underwater

Camp sells orange thermal underwear at the store

Luke's hair was pretty grey and his scar was an ugly red as if it had recently been re-opened

Percy has always been a pretty good pitcher (but he's not really a baseball guy)

"Many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they are paid"

Grover played "race car driver" when sitting in a Lamborghini

Percy had a "The White Stripes" CD that sally loved because they reminded her of Led Zeppelin

Apollo's fake name of choice is "Fred"

Percy got freaked out talking to Bianca when the thought of her looking 12 for years after he died came into his brain.

Bianca only felt comfortable leaving Nico at camp because she figured he would be safe if there were people like Percy there

Percy really liked talking to Bianca

Bianca, after finding out how long she'd been trapped in the Lotus Casino, checked her hands to make sure they weren't wrinkled

Bianca wanted to take a hair clip shaped like a moon that turned into a Hunter's bow she found

Percy found an electric guitar shaped like Apollo's lyre

Bianca's last words were "Get it to raise its foot!"

Zoe has ancient beef with naiads

Rachel's hair is "Reddish-Brownish"

Zoe got bored and started shooting arrows at billboards and Target store signs as she was flying

Zoe dressed Percy up in a ragged flannel shirt, jeans three sizes too big, bright red sneakers, and a floppy rainbow hat

As Percy was fighting Nereus, he waved to a crowd of tourists "Yeah, we do this every day here in San Francisco".

Percy wanted to ask Nereus about Annabeth because "that's what he cared about most"

The Ophiotaurus is 500 pounds

Dionysus's blessing cause the sun to be tinted with purple, and the air to smell like wine

A guard bit his gun like it was a sword and ran around on all fours like a dog

Percy was basically about to confess that he liked Annabeth on Olympus

[projectcookiekingdom]

House of Cards: A Cookie Run Cardverse AU

⋆⭒˚.⋆ ♤ ♡ ♧ ♢ ✩ Greetings to our humble guests! Welcome to the House of Cards! Care to join us? ✩ ♢ ♧ ♡ ♤ ⋆⭒˚.⋆

This is a Magical Girl/Boy AU, inspired by the Cardverse AU.

Ideas for the AU:

The House of Cards is a group of vigilantes who are in an alliance with the Dragon Clan (former mafia group) and the Gem Mermaids Clan (a separate vigilante group that merged with the HOC)

Magic still exists in this AU but only a select few are gifted with the magical artifacts and could access it's powers (kinda like the Visions in Genshin Impact and/or magical artifacts from magical girl shows)

The Ancients, Beasts, Dragons, and other Legendaries possess the strongest magical artifacts that also grant them immortality.

The members of the HOC has a special artifact known as "Cards" that helps them transform to their magical forms. (More info will be revealed soon…)

All characters will have the same power as they have in the canon lore with some exceptions, mainly the ones who are members of the HOC due to their "special roles."

Just like the Cardverse AU, the House of Cards are split into four factions each with their own elements, weapons, Kings, Queens, Jacks, Aces, Numbers and Jokers but they are governed by the main leaders of the factions.

(P.S. Characters are gonna be OOC because I suck at writing, and also, I'm biased with certain characters.)

Original Characters:

(P.S. Images and story ideas will be revealed soon...)

Sapphire Spade

Leader of House Spade

She/Her and They/Them

Lotus Heart

Leader of House Heart

She/Her

Mint Club

Leader of House Club

He/Him

Purple Diamond

Leader of House Diamond

They/Them

Factions:

House Spade

Represents: Power

Weapon: Sword

Element: Air

Color: Blue

House Heart

Represents: Love

Weapon: Cup

Element: Water

Color: Pink

House Club

Represents: Luck

Weapon: Wand

Element: Fire

Color: Green

House Diamond

Represents: Wealth

Weapon: Catalyst (Magic Items)

Element: Earth

Color: Purple

House Joker

Represents: Imagination

Weapon: Cards

Element: Spirit / Aura

Color: Black, White, and Red

Fun Facts about House Joker: ✩ House Joker used to be a separate faction before integrating themselves into the other houses. ✩ Shadow Milk was the founder of House Joker. He left the House of Cards in order to not get them involved in his corruption. ✩ Shadow Milk is usually seen lurking in the shadows of HOC, and everyone knows it. It's literally an open secret that stays within the HOC. ✩ Shadow Milk still has a soft spot for the HOC and chooses not to mess with them. ✩ Shadow Milk wanted to switch the Red Jokers to blue but changed his mind because he wanted to be the blue one who stands out. That earned him a giggle from the other four founders. ✩ Shadow Milk eventually returns to the HOC (Team Redemption Arc for Shadow Milk).

Main Roles:

King of Spades

The Leader

The ambitious person

Representatives: ♤ Grand Madeleine (Former) ♤ Espresso (Current)

Queen of Hearts

The Second-in-Command

The caring person

Representatives: ♡ White Pearl (Former) ♡ Peach Blossom (Current)

Jack of Clubs

The Knight

The reliable person

Representatives: ♧ Lord Oyster (Former) ♧ Earl Grey (Current)

Ace of Diamonds

The Messenger

Special Role: Card's Archive

***Card's Archive: The person who collects and stores all information within their subconsciousness and can only be accessed through a special spell and a special passcode. A role reserved only for the Ace of Diamonds.***

Representatives: ♢ Light Cream (Former) ♢ Affogato (Current)

The Jokers

The Wildcard

The unpredictable

Types of Jokers:

Black Joker:

The one who sees the past.

Representative: ✩ Licorice (Black Joker of Spades)

White Joker:

The one who sees the future.

Representative: ✩ Cream Unicorn (White Joker of Hearts)

Red Joker:

The one who sees the present.

Representative: ✩ Snake Fruit (Red Joker of Spades)

(P. S. There are some playing cards that have three jokers in them, and I thought it'll be interesting to include them here. In Hetalia's Cardverse, only Black Joker (who sees the past) and Red Joker (who sees the future) exist. You can see that I changed it in this AU.)

Numbers:

Members of the house of cards with various roles and ruled under the King, Queen, Jack, and Ace.

Weapon: Based on which Faction they're affiliated with.

Element: Based on which Faction they're affiliated with.

Types:

Ten of Cards / Diece

Nine of Cards / Neuve

Eight of Cards / Ocht

Seven of Cards / Sept

Six of Cards / Sice

Five of Cards / Cinque

Four of Cards / Cater

Three of Cards / Trey

Two of Cards / Deuce

(P. S. The only number cards with names are Ace, Deuce, Trey, Cater, Cinque, and Sice. Since I thought that the others didn't have a name which I tried to search but no luck, I decided to give them one so that I wouldn't have to call them just 7, 8, 9, and 10. I added their own roles as well.)

Next Page->

[tick-clock]

Welcome to Gold Choco Cuff Cookie's Workshop that he ripped out from the Technology Development Division.

He took a random chunk of the ground to the void and placed his Workshop on it, now it'll float here indefinitely.

He also started picking a few local flora around Earthbread and planted them here. How are they alive? Don't ask me but he's gonna add more in the future.

Go to my blog's introduction (this is where most of my oc's lore and art are)

--- (What I added from new to old) ⬇️

15-11-2024

An entire sign from the Sandwich Store

Started with (top to bottom, left to right):

I've changed the size of the canvas and the position of Gold Choco Cuff Cookie

A giant blueberry bush from the forest around Hollyberry Kingdom

Pastry Peonies

Volcanic Succulent (it's on the table)

Vanilla Beans

Sour Sugar Rafflesia

Cheese Papyrus

String Cheese Grass

Special Stuff that he stole:

Black Velvet Cookie's Helmet (@bloomycali)

11-11-2024

Started with (top to bottom, left to right):

Sleeping Vanilla Orchid White Lily

Jelly Cube Bougainvillea

Star Jelly Flower

Choco Bamboo

Edam Cheese Lotus

Siu Mai Flower

Meat Mandu Flower

Sugar Stick

Tanghulu Flower

Butterfly Flower

[essenyare]

AO3 🚪 https://archiveofourown.org/works/63107014

Leon S. Kennedy x Jack Krauser 🐍🦋

Word Count: 2.8k

⚠️WARNING: NSFW, Intersex Leon S. Kennedy, Bottom Leon S. Kennedy, Top Jack Krauser, PWP, Squirting and Vaginal Ejaculation, Vaginal Fingering, Penis, Gay Sex, Omega Verse, Alpha Jack Krauser, Beta Leon S. Kennedy

🎀 🎀 🎀 🎀 🎀 🎀 🎀 🎀

Leon Scott Kennedy considered himself fairly average when it came to sex—not boring, just… straightforward. Much like his Beta designation, he wasn’t the type to experiment much. Not that he didn’t enjoy it, but with age, temperament, and thousands of days spent honing his body and skills to be a reliable, unremarkable top-tier agent, he never really had the opportunity to… ahem, explore. His boyfriend had never complained either—except for that first time they were completely naked together, when a teasing “Didn’t expect you to be a virgin, huh” nearly made Leon break his nose and storm out half-dressed.

Now, with Valentine’s Day around the corner, he found himself walking past a lingerie section in the mall. This entire floor was clearly designed with an Alpha-and-Omega demographic in mind—feathers, tassels, sequins, lace, studs, and a whole arsenal of bold, shamelessly displayed toys that made it look more like an erotic expo than a shopping center. Not that any of it was new to him; he had already seen these products on the brand’s social media. The only reason I follow that account, he reminded himself, is because they post educational sex health content every Thursday. Illustrated. Informative. This is normal. This is healthy.

The colors in the photos had seemed even gaudier, but he had to admit, they did their job of being visually stimulating. He spent a full ten seconds picturing himself in one of those pieces. The model in the promotional shot wore silver nipple clamps adorned with rhinestones. Leon shivered at the thought, already anticipating phantom pain. Krauser does like biting my nipples. Every damn time, they end up swollen… Wait—how the hell was that thigh ribbon even supposed to be tied? Confused, he furrowed his brows and shoved himself back into the mental safety of his usual loose loungewear.

It wasn’t that he had zero interest at all—he just genuinely didn’t understand. Weren’t Alpha and Omega pheromones already enough to lure and arouse their natural mates? Leon forced himself to shake off the thought with a deadpan expression and strode toward the trusted men’s underwear section in the corner. Compared to the absurd spectacle he had just witnessed, this place was like a lotus blooming in the mud, a pure oasis in a desert of depravity—black, white, gray, deep navy, and various skin tones, all in understated, sensible designs. At last, something that didn’t make his head spin.

I’m here to buy underwear. Just regular underwear for wearing under a suit. Breathable, sweat-absorbent, seamless. Leon knew his own physique well. He was satisfied with his weekly training regimen, and he was aware that people liked to stare—at his chest, his waist, his thighs. He despised the idea of worrying about underwear lines showing through his tailored suits while executing a punch, a dodge, or a leg lock. I’m a Secret Service agent assigned to the goddamn President. When shit hits the fan, I have to be able to land three solid punches, one leg choke, and two roundhouse kicks while wearing a properly pressed suit. Jesus Christ.

“Mr. Kennedy, here’s your complimentary gift for reaching the spending threshold. Please check for any defects before leaving the store—just a reminder that gifts, like purchased items, cannot be exchanged or returned once taken out.”

The sales associate was a slim young woman with streaks of purple-magenta in her neatly tied french bun. She wore the store’s signature tailored pantsuit, looking almost like an elegant young agent herself.

Leon blinked. A gift? He took the thick paper bag she handed him and peered inside. His face instantly burned.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and was just about to politely decline when the woman quickly slipped another item into the bag—a bottle of pheromone fragrance spray.

“Oh! Almost forgot this—” she said with a warm, professional smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

This was one of his little weaknesses—Leon struggled to say no to diligent retail employees. It explained why his home was full of unnecessary freebies and random promotional items. Forcing a strained but polite smile, he accepted the bag. He wasn’t even sure why he felt embarrassed or annoyed; she was just doing her job. Customer satisfaction had been this brand’s pride for a hundred years, and loyal shoppers were entitled to their membership perks.

By twilight, he was home. He unpacked the new underwear, tossed them into the laundry bin, ordered pizza, and ran himself a hot bath.

Krauser was still in his study, on a video call with the Pentagon. He had been working from home all week—the lingering early spring chill made his arm ache, and it was easier to manage discomfort this way.

The bathwater softened Leon up completely. He kicked his legs lightly, sending small ripples across the tub. The pheromone spray bottle sat on the sink, its label promising Sicilian Citrus—First Love in Midsummer. He didn’t think about the other item in the bag. Not yet.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been soaking when the diminishing warmth of the water made him shiver. As he blinked his eyes open, he was met with an upside-down view of Krauser’s face looming over him.

“Were you asleep? The pizza’s here.” His tone was neutral, unreadable.

Leon reached up with his right hand, fingers slightly spread, palm hovering just shy of touching Krauser’s cheek. The taller man stared at those blunt fingertips, then seemed to understand. He leaned in, pressing his face into Leon’s calloused hand.

Krauser heard the faint splash of water as his lover’s thighs shifted against each other. His gaze dropped lower, catching sight of Leon’s free hand pressed between his legs beneath the water’s surface.

The man crouched beside the tub. Leon’s hand remained on his face, his thumb idly stroking the old scar above his lip. Krauser bent further, catching the mischievous hand in his own, fingers slotting neatly between Leon’s. Leon drew in a quiet breath, tipping his pelvis forward in the water, parting his legs in silent invitation.

Krauser’s rough fingers curled around him, kneading his balls in slow, practiced motions. Leon melted at the sensation—he loved the way those hands felt. Krauser leaned in close, letting the blond rest against his shoulder. A deep, affectionate rumble vibrated in his chest. He let go of what he had been massaging and traced lower, seeking something else. Leon, ever in sync, wordlessly drew his knees toward his chest.

Wanna be fucked. Wanna get ruined by you. Leon pursed his lips together, his cornflower-blue eyes brimming with either innocence or raw desire as he sent Krauser an unmistakable invitation. It was true—they hadn’t had much leisure time lately. The narrow window before heading out for work each sunrise allowed only for quick, convenient moments: hurried blowjobs and fingers pushing inside. Leon didn’t like it when Krauser wore a condom, yet refused to let him finish on his underwear. And the exhaustion of coming home late at night translated into the dark circles they both noticed while sharing breakfast the next morning. The kind of sex where they went at it until their minds turned hazy, skipping meals, Leon crying out and shaking his head to escape his grip—hell, even throwing punches at Krauser’s already sore waist—had somehow become a thing of the past, a faded indulgence from two months ago. A sudden realization hit Krauser like a tire running over a nail—his traditionally steadfast, masculine pride letting out a slow, deflating hiss.

Damn. Work really was exhausting.

Leon’s thighs trembled, unable to press together, as two of Krauser’s fingers ravaged his cunt, constantly grazing those hypersensitive spots. His soft, slick lips stretched open in pleasure with each deep thrust, like the petals of a pink water lily blooming under the rippling pond. Krauser slid in a third finger, his thumb pressing against the small nub at his entrance, circling it faster and faster. Leon recalled that bastard’s expression from two mornings ago—when Krauser had sucked on his swollen, aching clit with single-minded focus—and the memory alone sent weak, involuntary moans tumbling from his lips.

Krauser wanted to make his writhing, gasping lover feel good. Leon shuddered like a fish yanked from the water, thrashing as if caught on a line. The hand gripping him nearly ached from the strain. Krauser gathered his strength, pressing Leon down while he rose onto his toes again, using the tight muscles of his thighs and abs to lift his lower body completely out of the water. His trembling, greedy walls clamped down, and after a few hard thrusts, Krauser withdrew his fingers. He pinched Leon’s fully engorged clit and, with a measured force, delivered a few smacks to the wet, quivering mound.

Leon let out a choked gasp, too shocked to suppress the sound. His lower abdomen tightened before suddenly unraveling, and his release came in erratic pulses—splashing straight onto Krauser’s face.

“...?!”

Still adrift in the aftershocks, Leon struggled to pull himself back to shore. Krauser coughed, but waited patiently for him to catch his breath before pulling his flushed, trembling body out of the tub and wrapping him in a clean bathrobe. Leon stepped out, unwilling to meet his gaze. Krauser’s sleeves were soaked. His face was wet, too.

Leon absentmindedly picked up a small towel and pressed it against the man's face, failing to notice the water pooling on the tiles. His foot slipped. He tumbled into Krauser’s broad chest, brushing against the unmistakable heat of his hardness beneath the fabric.

“Uh… do you want to—”

“The pizza’s getting cold.”

Krauser only ruffled his hair before turning to leave the bathroom.

…Was he really that tired? Leon tightened the robe’s sash as the thought crossed his mind, but it didn’t matter. He was starving now, anyway.

-

If it wasn’t for—damn it, if it wasn’t for catching Krauser liking that see-through lace garter belt set on social media, he would never have gotten himself into this trouble.

Leon thought angrily as he faced the mirror, pulling down the metal clasps at the back to attach them to an unripped part of the stockings—he'd been too clumsy and rough earlier.

The member gift was quality, living up to Leon's favorite brand. They hadn’t cut corners just because it was a free gift. Unlike the harsh black and red color schemes common in intimate apparel, this ivory-beige satin added at least five hundred bucks of value to his wardrobe and perfectly complemented his fair complexion that never seemed to tan.

He tugged at the straps under his chest, the barely centimeter-wide fabric firmly gripping his ribs, ambiguously crossing his torso in a breast-supporting formation. The shoulder straps felt a bit harsh against his skin. Leon convinced himself it wasn’t much different from a gun holster, but his pubic hair itched uncomfortably under the damned sheer crotchless panties. Leon took them off, irritably stuffing them into a corner of the closet. He took his first deep breath of the day, fishing out a Prussian blue house robe from among the layers of hangers. He’d originally thought he could learn from Agent Brent’s husband—Mason? That must be his name—who said something about house robes being breathable and comfortable, suitable for their age and status. He’d impulsively ordered one online without thinking, only to find upon delivery that the size was wrong—too big for him, too small for Krauser, let alone the fact that his rough partner, who only knew about shaving and pomade, would absolutely decline such flowing garments. So he returned to his college student style of Star Wars tees and boxer briefs.

Whatever. He carelessly pulled it on, the long dark fabric covering most of his body. Leon mentally nodded in approval before checking the time on his phone.

4:58 PM

In two more minutes, Jack Krauser would be free from his packed schedule of meetings. Leon thought excitedly, looking down once more to check his outfit. The stockings were so tight, and his feet felt a bit cold—should he put on slippers?

5:00 PM

As usual, Krauser would go to the kitchen for water to wet his throat, then step outside for a smoke. He hadn't left his study yet. Leon adjusted his falling bangs in the mirror. Where should he wait for Krauser? Kitchen? Study? Or just hide in the bedroom? Was he crazy? Not the living room—they’d just had the sofa cleaned last month, and next week they’d both be away on separate business trips.

5:06 PM

Assuming Krauser was already smoking in the front yard—with his military habits, he rarely made any noise when walking. Leon quickly slipped into the bathroom, grabbed the fragrance bottle left forgotten on the sink last night, and sprayed twice into the air, letting the delicate woody orange scent rain evenly onto his hair tips and shoulders.

This was meant for hair, right? He pondered in his suddenly not-so-bright mind. Pubic hair was still hair... No, forget it.

5:11 PM

Does it take that long to smoke one cigarette?

Leon snapped the perfume cap shut, turning from his distracted state toward the living room corridor. All of Krauser’s shoes were there, so he definitely wasn’t outside... He turned and walked until his toes touched the study door. What should he say? Happy Valentine's Day? Leon suddenly felt a nauseating panic. He’d fought against nearly three-meter-tall B.O.W.s, blown them up with rocket launchers, and carved a bloody path through a village of crazed Mediterraneans, but he’d never done something like this—trying to seduce his lover wearing what barely counted as a few strings. What even was all this?

Leon knocked on the door. No response.

He wasn’t sure what to say first, but before he could decide, he’d already pushed the door open.

“Krauser, what are you—” Taking an impatient half-step forward, Leon stepped on the hem of his—damn house robe.

Krauser turned around in his computer chair, wearing headphones. On his computer screen was a video conferencing app, with a row of about twelve participant headshots on the right side.

Leon wished he could return to Raccoon City, September 30, 1998.

-

Leon Scott Kennedy wasn't afraid of cold, but he decided to use every blanket in the bedroom to wrap himself into an airtight silk cocoon. He considered himself a foolish silkworm that couldn't overcome evolution. He wanted to sleep through early spring, waiting for the chrysalis to shrivel and fall with the spring rain, carrying him into the ground to rot and decompose.

He couldn’t remember who closed the door; such details were irrelevant. But he remembered the searing heat on his face exploding in his chest like New Year’s fireworks. He lay face-down in the blankets, his ears burning sizzling, as if someone had welded his earlobes into his ear canals. It felt like that moment on flights when the aircraft suddenly ascends or descends, violently lifting and churning his insides, yet he had to swallow it down hard, not letting this irritating weightlessness spread to his limbs. His fingers curled, unconsciously gripping the corners of the blanket. He could even feel the back of his neck getting slightly damp. He refused to accept reality—he’d rather Krauser swing his mutated claws and tell him to stab himself to death again. He wanted—

He wanted to cry.

Leon buried his face in the pillow with a silent sob, deciding to skip dinner too.

Krauser sighed softly, peeling the blond silkworm out of the blankets layer by layer. Leon’s eyes were red. He pulled tight the last piece of fabric covering his body—that cursed house robe—and wiped his face, pretending not to notice Krauser’s gaze lingering on his bare chest. Neither spoke.

“Are you done with work?” The young man finally broke the silence, his voice bitter and hoarse. He glanced at Krauser’s half-smiling profile, then flopped face-down into the pillow again. Son of a bitch.

“Mm, I’m done,” Krauser replied, unable to hold back a grin. “You did all this for Valentine's—”

“Please don't say anything.”

Leon shuddered when Krauser’s fingers slipped under the robe. He felt strangely resistant, but the massage at his waist made him relax slightly. Leon gathered his courage to turn over, facing the ceiling as he spoke.

“Next time I’ll wait for you to open the door yourself—” Leon’s voice was muffled, like bubbles at the bottom of a pool. “…About the meeting, I'm sorry.”

Krauser’s lips covered his, along with his broad shoulders and his scent—the cigarette smell Leon hated was strongest, followed by subtle notes of fir, lake, and black coffee. Betas weren’t as sensitive to their partner’s pheromones as other genders, but he remembered these elements. Leon felt slightly dazed amid the increasingly heated breathing, feeling arousal pooling in his lower abdomen, already dampening the sheets below. The young man embraced the man above him, kissing the diagonal scar on his cheek and lip, opening his eyes to meet the amusement in his lover's gaze. Their lips met again as Krauser reached down to untie the bow-knot at the base of Leon's thigh.

“No need to apologize, rookie. You're beautiful. I love it.”

-fin-

[tide-locked]

tagged by @howlingmoonrise, and rip to you, because tagging me and blair both means you get a lot of very samey answers.

last song: xs by rina sawayama

fave color: i am in many ways very bad at descriptive words, so i went and just fucked around until i found a hex code that has the right vibe, though i have to admit that it looks slightly less correct against a black background than it does against white.

last book: just finished daddy love by joyce carol oates so that i could pull it apart. (not worth it, imo; i feel that oates is often overrated, especially with regards to her longer and/or more recent work, and this is both. i don't think she accomplished what she set out to achieve with this one, if she did, in fact, set out to achieve anything, which i personally am not totally convinced of.)

last movie: the tennant/tate much ado about nothing, for the [mumbleth] time

last tv show: lmao still mysterious lotus casebook. both in terms of 'most recent show watched in full' and 'most recent single episode watched' (episode 34 about a week ago as fic reference).

sweet/savory/spicy: marry savoury, fuck spicy, and kill sweet.

relationship status: i think everyone who's followed me for more than a minute is aware that i conned @where-the-water-flows into marrying me. rip to them, but it's been pretty ok for me.

last thing i googled: 'plex various artist album shows random site:reddit.com', which is how you can tell that i'm old. i have spent more of my life than i care to consider preoccupied by the near-pathological need to have all of my metadata lined up neatly and the fact that it isn't working perfectly makes me want to gnaw off my own face.

current obsession: uh, same as it's been for the last like. year.

looking forward to: one of the nice things here is that much of the country lowkey shuts down for the last two weeks of the year—like, the doctor's office is closed, a bunch of stores are closed, one of my grocery stores is closed, and many of the places that aren't closed have limited hours. so blair's off work, and from right now, we have about two weeks in which not only is no one expected to do anything, but even if you wanted to defy expectations, your ability to do so is greatly curtailed.

so we have very big plans: there's an enormous quantity of charcuterie and fancy cheese in the fridge, some nice bread, and a ton of fruit—mangos and cherries and strawberries and peaches and nectarines and passionfruit and i don't even remember what else—and we're going to lounge around, watch television, absolutely gorge ourselves on fruit and cheese, have inappropriately timed naps, etc.

tagging: i hesitate to even slightly pressure anyone at an objectively terrible time of year, but i also like being tagged in things, so…tagging, carefully avoiding people who my wife has already tagged. no pressure: @failonade, @joyouslee, @nutcasewithaknife, @philologicalbat, @vgreysoncellars

[jeweled-blue-eyes]

crack theory/ headcanon: Jennette is partly a plant

I was rereading chapter 10 and was asking myself: why would Athy want to pluck the flower that badly, that she would lean over the boat edge and risk falling into the lake, when a few seconds ago she was so scared that her father would push her into the lake and leave her to drown? Why would she do something reckless that could give him any ideas? Why let down her guard and give him an opening? Back then Athy viewed Claude as a ticking timebomb and was still in survival mode. Getting distracted and endangering herself for a flower was unthinkable.

And that's when inspiration struck me: what if the "Lotus" flower functions just like Jennette does? Claude called it a mana eating plant. What if it feeds on human mana and it has taken on a beautiful appearance to catch its prey? Athy looks at the blue lotus in wonder and then, upon closer inspection, notices that it's not blue at all. It only seems that way to onlookers, because it reflects its surroundings. The flower itself has no color. Which reminds me of Jennette who has the Imperial blue jewel eyes, except no she has not. She is a construct of black magic and only appears to have the jewel eyes. Her eyes, just like her breathtaking beauty, are nothing but an illusion.

When Athy thinks "I want one." her eyes are dim and it doesn't look like she is being quite herself. The desire to possess the blue flower doesn't seem to come from her own mind, it's as if something else is possessing her and influencing her to think these things.

Furthermore the existence of the carnivorous flower has always been a headscratcher for me. Who planted it into the lake and for what reasons? I mean the plant has to live off something! Targeting Athy who was like a black hole of mana implies that the plant couldn't have been possibly satisfied by small animals alone. Who was sacrificed in the lake, so that the plant could keep on living? What use did the plant have that would make the sacrifice worth it? Claude couldn't have been the one. It's just not his style. That means the plant must have been a remnant of Anastacius' reign. It makes sense doesn't it? Anastacius was interested in ways how to steal, store and augment mana. Before he tested his theory on humans, he could have first observed animals and plants. The flower might have been his first creation, his first Jennette prototype, or it might have been an instrument or ingredient he used on Penelope so she could give birth to his miracle baby.