#emperor AU

[the-pudding-is-a-lie]

I am once again down with a nasty cold but today I felt well enough to colour this one. :)

I was thinking about the background of this one and I think it fits my Imperial AU quite well but can be a stand alone as well. Maybe canon universe, maybe canon divergence where things turn out a lot nicer and better for everyone because I want these two to be happy. That's all. :)

Image description in alt text.

[drabbles-of-writing]

how would your aus be like now that we know more stuff about the show?

oh god there would be sooooooo incredibly many changes. some I'm gonna leave alone unless directly asked but for some main ones atm--

Four Years: oh dear god so many changes. both just from learning more and also from the fact of being an au I came up with when I was 14 and I would never recommend anyone ever be the age of 14, my sincerest apologies to one luz noceda. I could make a whole other post about this but just to keep it simple lets sayyyyyy...first of all, Amity doesn't go into the Emperor's Coven. I personally still like the idea, but it doesnt really fit. theres helping her mom show off to customers, and then theres being forced into a Coven that wants to murder her crush and her crush's adoptive mom. Amity gives me the impressive of someone who would just start biting. Escaping Expulsion was Amity's "standing up to her mom" episode and I love that sm for her, I'm thinking maybe it could be redone in this au to also involve refusing to even consider the Coven? Dunno, but I know Amity doesn't join it, and neither do the twins.

Keene doesn't exist anymore, obviously. we're back on the Hunter show babey and his redemption arc (like most arcs here) take a much longer time to get on with. most remains the same, but he has a lot more interaction with Luz & the gang prior to Eclipse Lake. that episode becomes more of a "we were making so much progress but then the Panic Button hit in and everything collapsed in on itself" and then some tension between the gang of Hunter feeling shitty and not talking, the guys trying to figure out whats with him, and then Hollow Mind comes in an fucks up everything, as per usual

No more angsty fics about Camila missing her daughter because Vee's here now! yaaaaay. but this does mean Camila went a longer time without ever realizing her daughter was someone else, although I imagine at some point she WOULD feel that something was just Off. obviously shes a regular human shes not gonna think a shapeshifter took the place of her daughter, but shes gonna know something is Off and Strange but she cant put her finger on it and Luz seems happy...most of Yesterday's Lie remains the same but since it's at least been two years, maybe three, since Luz has seen her mom, she looks MUCH different than how Vee changed her appearance, so it throws Camila off quite a bit

smaller things will also stay, such as Luz becoming the Owlet and everyone being their own kinda brand of rebel. I'd have to figure out how to slide in Raine, Darius, Eberwolf, etc, somewhere in here. I'll figure it out

Beta: this one stays the most unchanged I think? granted I was updating it slightly more with updates in the show than Four Years. Hunter is still local nephew of principal and Belos's plan still involves killing all witches but its just in the "saving humanity from these evils" instead of "saving humanity from these evils and then going home". still unsure how the grimwalkers would tie into this, if my guy was just continuously making kids or if hes not actually a puritan and just a nasty old guy, and all the other golden guards are Hunter's older brothers? and he was possibly kidnapped when he was a baby or something? that part im the least sure on

Emperor: well, first of all, the duo of Amity & Luz becomes the trio of Amity, Luz & Hunter. none of them get along. Amity is constantly exasperated by Luz and her dumbassery & Luz thinks shes uptight and a tryhard at times. Luz and Hunter are dumbass on dumbass hatecrimes because Luz also thinks hes uptight but also a massive brat who thinks hes better than everyone & Hunter thinks shes annoying as hell and beneath him on every level. Hunter and Amity just take one look at each other, smell the Gifted Child With Parental Issues Trying To Be Perfect In Every Single Way on each other, and immediately drop into offensive hissing cat positions.

Luz and Hunter are the ones who get along first, mostly cause Luz getting brought over to the Emperor's Coven kind of guaranteed she'd run into Hunter first and they'd end up sticking to each other and realize they're massive nerds. Luz and Amity get along next through the power of Luz being stubborn and wlw. Hunter and Amity are last and technically it only really happens because they may be petty and spiteful but they can and will set that aside for one goal: being even pettier and even more spiteful to anyone being mildly annoying to Luz

This AU in particular hasn't had a lot of updates to it so theres a lot of room to work with her. Luz technically becomes friends with Willow and Gus because shes undercover trying to get new recruits (shes terrible at it). this also means that Hunter is more easily converted to the side of Oh Belos Fucking Sucks because he already has adopted sister Luz telling him to Run and her mildly okay girlfriend yoinking him along. course this also means it fucks up Luz even more to see that Hunter is a grimwalker and, per paraphrased word of Belos, she was the favorite. if it came down to it, Belos would've happily let Hunter die, hell, would've even done it on purpose. by virtue of being human, and Hunter being a clone, she was, in fact, given special treatment, and if anything went slightly wrong then Hunter would've died. these kids are fucked up

[herohikara-wol]

FFXIV Write 2k23 - Day 23

Suit - Emperor AU, Regula x Varis, Trans!Varis HC, tw: dysphoria mention

Regula smiled softly at the florist, this was his third visit this week and she was clearly dying for good gossip. Regula, legatus of the VIth and only son of one of the older families of Garlemald, buying flowers and wine for an unknown beau was certainly gossip. “At least tell me her name, van Hydrus.”

“Half the city would know by Darkday. No thank you.” He chuckled softly, “just my usual please ma’am.”

“Fine, but I am dying to know what kind of woman deserves Heliotropes, Honeysuckle, and Yarrow.” She huffed a bit and finished the arrangement. “There you go. One bouquet of longing and everlasting devotion. I can’t wait for the day you get to upgrade it to a bouquet of passion.” She gave him a wicked grin as he paid.

“That day might be soon, with luck, I’ll be able to propose to my love publically at the Winter Ball.”

“Oh! How exciting! I’ll make sure to watch the news after the ball for the story, unless you come tell me in person.” She giggled and waved him out of the shop as he carried the bouquet out, putting his cloak over it to protect it from the snow while he got into his car.

They’d been forbidden from being open about their relationship after Varis’ transition. He was meant to be a prince, the pregnancy that had kept Varis hidden in the palace supposedly ill with the same thing that’d taken his father had to be disguised. Solus directly blamed Regula for Varis’ condition and tried to turn the pair against each other. It hadn’t worked, it never would have worked. Varis and Zenos only survived the dysphoria because Regula was there to keep his husband from leaping off the top of a tower. Regula would always stand beside Varis, no matter what.

Solus had given them one gift when he gave the throne to a random Eorzean adventurer.

He gave them the chance to make their secret relationship public. Varis was still hesitant, worried over how the Senate and other noble families would judge him, but Regula was beyond caring. They could whisper until their lips went blue, he wasn’t letting fear of discovery drive a wedge between them anymore.

Hells, Hero was openly gay and by a quirk of his biology, able to bear children as well. He couldn’t imagine the young viera trying to keep them apart the way his predecessor had. So he’d started to drop hints, giving Varis flowers, buying him his favorite vintages of wine, giving him nice practical things like armor polish and a new quill with his name on the cover of the case in gold lettering.

The ball was next week, and he’d be damned if he missed the chance to finally have the family that was stolen from him by the bloody ghost haunting the palace. Zenos was his son, Varis was his perfect wonderful husband, and he would throw everything away if it meant he could be part of their lives properly from here on out. He pulled his car up to the tailor and parked, taking a deep breath and moving the flowers towards the warmth of the sunlight. One last chore, and then he could go home to his love.

[up-sideand-down]

Sefikura Week Day 6: Sword

Summary: Cloud refuses to live a life where he cannot serve as Sephiroth's sword

[dressycobra7]

@consumedwithtrust @oracleact @ryomen-sukuna-1-0 look at thiiiissss!!! Pls read it!!! It’s so good

(part 2 of emperor!sukuna)

It's dark, and so terribly silent.

It's not the kind of quiet you find comfort in. No peace, or tranquility, in the stillness. The silence is tense, like a breath you hold until your lungs begin to burn. Like time itself has frozen.

Two red eyes watch you from the shadows.

Vicious. Hungry.

You wake with a start.

"Noble guest!"

Your head whips to the side, only to find the young handmaid who had been assigned to serve you kneeling at the edge of your bed. Her hair is tied, as ever, into two neat knots on either side of her head, but her endearingly lopsided fringe still hangs down over her worried eyes.

"Miwa," you breathe, and perhaps it might be in relief if you had the right to feel any. You lift a hand to your chest and feel the way your heart is racing under your ribs.

"Are you quite well, Mistress?" she asks you in concern.

Miwa is a young girl, no more than twelve if you had to guess and, though occasionally her manners fail her, she's dutiful in your care. You're fond of her in your own way. Grateful for a face in your chambers that doesn't mean you harm, or reproach.

"Yes," you say quietly. Barely a whisper and even less truth. "I'm well."

Your eyes sweep around your quarters, and suddenly you have a thought.

"What's the hour?" you ask her. It's night time, you're sure of it. Late if you were put upon to wager. "What brings you here so late?"

Miwa's eyes slip away, like she suddenly has trouble meeting yours.

"Miwa?" you ask again, more insistent this time.

The young girl fists her robe in her small hands, her head hanging slightly.

"It's the Crown Prince, Mistress."

Your chest feels tight.

"Yuuji?" You sit yourself further up in your bed, your sheet slipping down to pool in your lap. "Is he well? Has something happened?"

Miwa looks up at you with eyes that glisten in the soft light of the lanterns around your room, her lips pulled into a tight line.

"I know you and the Crown Prince have become good friends, Mistress," she says to you quietly, and you're surprised. You didn't know that anyone was aware of the little Prince's visits to your quarters. The girl's nose scrunches up. "Which is why it upsets me that the head of household forbid the staff from telling you."

"What's happened to him?" You feel panic in your veins, hot and quickly spreading, in the wake of her words.

"He's ill, Mistress. Fevered. The poor thing has not had the strength to leave his bed for some two days now."

You rip your blankets from your lap, throwing your legs over the side of your bed. You stand quickly, ignoring the way your blood rushes to your head and makes you feel dizzy.

Miwa stares up at you in shock from where she kneels at your feet.

"Come," you tell her firmly, extending your hand down towards her to help her up. "Take me to him."

Miwa knows her way through the Emperor's palace in a way so familiar that you could never hope to memorize the paths similarly yourself. You wonder how long she's been serving in the royal household to be so intimately familiar with every corridor, path, and passageway. She manages to take you all the way across the expansive property, from your own court to the one in which he Prince resides, without being seen by another living soul.

The two of you pause, pressed close together in a narrow passage covered by a tapestry.

"Will there be guards inside?" you ask her, keeping your voice low.

She shakes her head emphatically.

"The guards are outside the door. This is an entry that the servants in the Prince's household use. I assure you he's quite alone in there—his maids are away to take tea since he's resting, and the court physician has left him for the night."

You nod slightly.

"If I hear anyone coming, I'll fetch you," Miwa assures you, and you know she is sincere.

You lift the edge of the silk that covers your small hiding place, and step into the Crown Prince's quarters.

His room is not wholly dissimilar to your own—a realization that only makes you feel a little ill as you realize just how out of place you are in the place you've been confined. On the other side of the wide room is an elevated bed, and there in the centre lies the small form of the Prince.

His round cheeks, though always somewhat rosy, are flushed a violent scarlet with fever. His skin is pale and waxy, and is dewy with perspiration though his little nose is ice to touch. His chest rises and falls in shaky exhales, and his lips—parted as he gasps for breath—are dry and cracking.

Your heart rends at the sight of him.

"Miwa," you call quietly towards where you know the passageway to be. When you get no response you dare to repeat yourself a little louder. "Miwa."

Her head pops out from behind the fine silk weave.

You wave her over to where you kneel at Yuuji's bedside.

"Mistress, what is it?" she asks as she approaches.

You look down towards Yuuji, brushing some of his soft blush-coloured hair back from his sticky forehead.

"How long do we have before the maids return?" you ask her.

"They often take longer than they should," she says, rolling her lip between her teeth. "They bring wine to the guards outside and overindulge in their company. The head maid of the household often scolds them for it."

You feel a pang of resentment towards the women who fall short in their care for the little boy before you. You ache upon the realization of his neglect.

"I'll need hot water, and cloths."

"Pardon, Mistress?" she squeaks, watching as you roll up your sleeves.

"Hurry, Miwa," you brush off her effort to clarify, peering up at her with resolution in your eyes. "We haven't much time."

You scoop the small boy up into your arms, carrying him over to a nearby window. You open it as quietly as you can with him in your grasp, and then settle in on the floor as the cold night's breeze rushes in. Miwa appears soon with a basin of warm water and the cloths you requested, her eyes wide as she sees the way you cradle Yuuji in your arms, smoothing your hand along his back.

"Bring it here," you instruct her, and she does as you say. She sets the steaming basin before you, and the cloths just at its side.

You shift Yuuji in your arms.

"He needs the steam to help clear his lungs and break his fever," you tell her carefully leaning the sleeping child face-first above the basin. "Place a cool cloth to the back of his neck, and drape another overtop to trap in the vapours."

Miwa doesn't argue, quickly doing as she's told.

After some time passes, you remove the cloths and shift Yuuji towards the window, his head cradled in the crook of your arm like a babe.

"He needs the dry, cool air now," you tell Miwa as she watches you curiously.

"Mistress, you know a great deal on how to treat a fever," she remarks quietly, ringing out another cool cloth in case it's needed.

You hum, eyes glued to Yuuji's sleeping face. He's breathing a little easier now, his skin a bit less sallow. You dip your finger in the cool clean water and dab it lightly upon his lips to moisten them.

"I have three little brothers," you tell her quietly.

"Really?" she gasps in surprise. "I had no idea!"

Of course she didn't. No one in this land knows anything about you. At least not anything true. They know only what hateful rumours have been circulated through the court, and nothing of your person nor your character.

"Do you have any siblings, Miwa?" you ask her in turn.

"Two older sisters, Mistress," she replies.

"And are they too employed by the royal household?"

"They work at a teahouse just outside the palace, the nicest one in the city!" she says proudly. "They have many noble customers who they attend to."

You smile a little, though it's feeble. You know the kind of teahouses, and the kind of customers, she speaks of. You also know just what attending to them means.

"They must be proud to see their little sister working at the palace," you remark.

She huffs a little. "They still treat me like a child."

You laugh a little, reaching out with the hand not holding Yuuji and ruffling her fringe. "You are a child, Miwa. But there's no harm in that, nor is there any question of your capability in spite of it."

Miwa's cheeks flush pink and she looks away shyly, though undeniably pleased.

"In any case," you note, "my older brothers are the same as your sisters, though I'm long grown. I suspect that treatment never changes."

Her eyes go wide. "You have older brothers too?"

"There are six of us in total," you tell her. "The two eldest sons above me, and then three more who are not yet taller than yourself. The youngest is around the Prince's age, in fact."

You stare down at the six year old in your arms. He looks so much like his father, a man you've come to so deeply resent, but you're helpless to the affection you feel for the little boy. You find yourself holding him a little tighter without thinking.

"Thank you for bringing me here," you say to Miwa quietly.

"You've taken excellent care of his majesty," the maid replies. "He looks much improved in such a short time."

You're grateful that you helped care for so many brothers that you have the kinds of skills needed to help in a time like this. Though the muscle memory seems to ache all the same.

"Come," you pick up Yuuji and move to return him to his bed. "The Prince's maids will return soon, shut the window and remove any trace of our having been here. We should depart."

Miwa hastens to erase any lingering evidence of your presence in the Prince's quarters, and you tuck Yuuji carefully back into bed. As you draw his blanket up to his chin, the little boy stirs for the first time. His eyes, bleary and unfocused, search unseeingly as they open. As though too heavy for his weary body to muster the strength to lift, his eyelids flutter closed again soon. His hand, clammy and small, finds yours.

"Mama?" his little voice croaks, though you know he's unaware of what he's said—too far from the periphery of proper consciousness to even remember this moment when he wakes, you're sure.

You place your hand gently on his forehead, over his eyes.

"Sleep, Yuuji," you whisper to him, and his body slackens as he obeys.

You and Miwa depart soundlessly, the beautiful silk tapestry over the servants passage slipping back into place behind you as you take your leave. The way it swings is the only evidence left behind in your wake.

On the other side of the room, cloaked in the shadows away from the soft light of the lamps, a ruby-eyed stare narrows.

The emperor laughs, but there's no mirth in the sound.

[anona1-mous]

The Elk House Swap AU part 1 (pages 1-10)

cw/tw: blood!

another one of those cryptic nightmares

Prev | Next

[cheesy-cryptid]

Heres all my bg3 filipino coded college au so far 😁 been planning to do more soon so stay tuned!

[orbis2d]

Related ASL my beloved… related ASL

Asks are always welcome about my aus :D

[nimnitan]

Part 1 || <<Prev || Next (soon)>>

Guide!

The children start to interact with each other. Jinbe will not only learn more about his new nakamas but also about humans.

I hope you find this chapter as much fun as it was for me to draw it.

From the next part onwards, the content will have early access on Ko-fi and Patreon along with a special illustration. Thank you for your support.

Please continue to take care of me in the future.

[the-pudding-is-a-lie]

More self-indulgent art of Nie Mingjue. ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

(I decided it is set in my Imperial AU with emperor Lan Xichen and trophy husband Jiang Cheng.)

[image ID: a fully coloured digital drawing of Nie Mingjue from The Untamed/MDZS. He is in a sitting position, leaning back a little. A yellow robe with a poeny pattern and light blue trim with cloud motif is draped over his shoulders. His chest bare and one side of his torso bruised while one of his forearms is wrapped in a bandage. Scars left by blades cover his hands and arms, two round scars left by arrows mark his shoulder. His hair is partially pulled up into braids but missing any decorative hairpiece. End ID.]

[drabbles-of-writing]

Does Luz meet hunter in the Emperor's coven au?

God I haven't thought about that AU in so long. It could use some reworking I could probably make it so fun

I imagineeeeee in the re-worked context Luz would be yoinked into the Emperor's Coven, then pretty quickly runs into Teen Prodigy Golden Guard. Probably thought he was the coolest motherfucker ALIVE. Just like all her teen fantasy adventure books! The cool, quiet, mysterious, standoffish guy who actually has a heart of gold. Which works great, cause thats part of his name!

Then she spends exactly 1 mission with him that he was supposed to be leading and realizes. Oh he's an actual jerk of a complete loser. He's a brat. He's also a huge nerd. She HAS to bully him now. For being a loser-jerk and also bully him into being a nerd abt glyphs WITH her. C'monnnn they're no-magic buddies! They gotta stick together!

Hunter actively tries to sabotage/keep her as far away from him as possible. But is still won over by the power of Luz nerding out with him and those big brother genes within him getting Awakened. He and Amity are definitely still competition rivals tho. Starts off as a legit Will Fucking Fight thing until they get caught up in making sure Luz doesn't Die and form the pact of yeah okay you're alright actually

[herohikara-wol]

FFXIV Write 2k23 - Day 30

Amity - Emperor AU

“You don’t have to do this if you think it’ll be hard on you.” Varis had been fussing over Hero the whole airship ride. There weren’t any proper places that he could meet with the Alliance on equal terms, ser Aymeric had offered to host both parties but Hero knew it’d come at a heavy cost to Ishgard’s relations with the other alliance members. So they chose a location away from both nations. The city of Kugane, trade hub of Hingashi and neutral ground for everyone.

“I want to see them again, I don’t want to be their enemy.” Hero couldn’t keep himself from fidgeting though; tugging at his short black hair, stray corners of his formal armor, the collar of his shirt, tapping his foot just to hear the click of his heels. He wasn’t even able to mask his anxiety and it showed. “I thought we were friends.”

Varis sighed softly, “first rule of politics, you don’t have friends. Just people whose goals align with yours. You used to be a tool they could use to solve their problems, pliant and suggestible.”

“What part of that’s changed again?” He couldn’t help but stare right into Varis’ golden eyes with a little smirk on his lips.

The older man sighed softly, “you are technically their equal now instead of a subordinate. You only answer to those you wish to answer to.”

“Right, responsibility. Disgusting.” His nerves were settling at least, “who’s brilliant idea was it to put me in charge again? I should have them shot.”

“Please don’t say that around anyone but those who know the truth, your Radiance. No one else would find it even remotely funny.”

“What if I say you’re the one who gets to shoot him?”

“Do not tempt me, Hero.” Varis finally cracked a smile of his own, “but between you and me? I’d shoot him for fun, even if you didn’t ask me to.”

Hero couldn’t help but clap his hands together and cackle, doubling over as he tried to muffle his laughter in his hands. “That’s the spirit! Okay, I needed that laugh!” He pulled himself back upright and rolled his shoulders before smiling at Varis. “Okay, let’s go to this meeting. Fingers crossed, we can find common ground once again. Once we’re no longer at war, we can really focus on repairing our provinces and trying to help the entire empire prosper.”

“You already have common ground with them, each of them if I recall. You know better than most what the Eorzean Alliance needs and we already have a list of approved concessions you can make. Remember, let them ask first and then barter down if possible. Try not to be too eager to give them what they want, just because you want peace. With luck, they want peace as well.”

“I mean, if I mention I’ve been training to fight alongside my army I’m pretty sure they’ll cave quickly. I’m an army on my own, much less backed by actual soldiers. I’d rather not meet them in battle- but I know they’d do anything to avoid trying to fight me. Apparently I’m terrifying when I stop holding back.”

“Who gave you that idea, couldn’t have been my son.”

“Asahi watched one of our duals recently. Zenos and I were using actual weapons- not the training weapons.” He paused as the dawning realization passed over Varis’ face.

“Is that why we need to replace a wall in the training room?”

“No! Kinda! Sorta- okay listen Zenos got a new sword from Yotsuyu that’s heavily levin and fire aspected and one thing led to another and we broke a wall. Well, a wall, two benches, and I’m pretty sure the guard survived the concussion. I was really quick on administering aid. He got three weeks of paid vacation for his trouble!”

Varis took a deep breath, looking skyward as his nostrils flared for a moment. “You had the captain of the guard hide this from me, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question, more an accusal.

“You know, a lot of people are way more pliant when you are both their leader and also actively bribing them with fresh baked muffins.”

“You bribed your own guard captain to keep this from me. Hero if we weren’t about to go into a meeting where I need to pretend like we are of one mind, I would be chewing you out for your behavior-”

“I’m not your son! You don’t get to dad me!”

“You are desperately trying to be my son in-law, and it seems like you only listen when I choose to behave like a disappointed father.”

“That’s not fair! I also listen when you tell me something I want to hear.”

“This conversation isn’t over, I can’t ground you, but I can certainly use the tone of voice that makes you wither and sulk until you get it into your head that you need to be more careful-” A sudden knock at the door startled the pair of them. Varis pulled himself back into his imposing stiff-backed stance while Hero smacked both his cheeks to school himself into a more neutral look. “Enter!”

One of the regional ambassadors entered, saluting the pair dutifully. “Your Radiance, High Legatus, the Alliance Members have arrived and are waiting for you in conference room Two.”

“Thank you, ambassador. We’ll be on our way in just a moment. Would you mind doing me a favor? Can you have someone bring tea and sweets? I know that our guests all have a sweet tooth or two. I want to be a good host.” Hero smiled as kindly as he could, hoping it reached his eyes as well.

“Ah- yes- of course your Radiance!” The ambassador left and Hero deflated slightly.

“Fuck, okay, I guess it’s showtime.”

“I haven’t forgotten Hero, we will continue this conversation after the parlay.” Varis grumped slightly before opening the door for Hero.

As they walked, Hero gave a soft quiet prayer to the Twelve, hoping that his friends would still be fond of him by the end of the afternoon. With luck, the goodwill he’d built with them would survive the change in circumstances. Of course, insurance wouldn’t hurt either, and he had his little black book on hand just in case.

[arttrashking]

Emperors AU doodles

[turquoisespace35]

🐍He protects, he attacks🐍

Previous

More

[anona1-mous]

made char sheets for my toh swap au! (finally made a design for iron maiden luz)

this is his "controlled curse" form or whatever eda pulled in the show

au rambles

[cheesy-cryptid]

Aquarium Date 🐟🐟🐟🐟 + a suspicious squiddy