#except it involved seagulls

[raillue]

One Destiny 2 headcanon I’ve always had is that the Vanguard has now had to set up a very specific set of rules for all Guardians that are 90% caused by shit the Young Wolf has done.

They include but are not limited to:

1. Do not Strand grapple to ships as they leave the hangar. This is directed to one person and one person only. You know exactly who you are.

2. Don’t give random kinderguardians Gjallarhorns. We do not need to build a third Tower

3. Stop telling New Lights ‘kys’ means ‘keep yourself safe��. Crow is still running from Osiris

4. Do not use multiple fire extinguishers as a replacement engine on Sparrows, especially while INSIDE the Tower.

5. Do not use fire extinguishers as ‘jetpacks’ either

6. All fire extinguishers are now off limits to The Young Wolf. Please report any missing ones to the Vanguard

7. Do not create a ‘pigeon army’, lead them to the Tower, throw a bag of bird seed on the ground and then leave. Seriously I have never seen this many pigeons in one place before. Wolf where did you get this many pigeons

8. If you set off fireworks in the Tower, don’t let them fall over please

[joelletwo]

v i cant decide if im oocing krauss bc i suddenly cant remember if u ever see him being a Dad outside of ep 4 which is necessarily making everyone look better than they might actually be kjsf who knows! krauss dad can be whatever u want

[bruhstation]

Wait a sec, so if Hiro was a time traveler who fast forward through 100 years did he leave anyone behind in the past like say.. a wife or maybe a child?

Did Hiro have any family ?

hiro does, sadly. his family never knew what happened to him despite the outrage his disappearance sparked in japan, and hiro in casa tidmouth didn’t know how the entirety of his nuclear family got destroyed by one of japan’s greatest natural catasthropes.

hiro’s wife and children (except satoko) were eventually wiped out the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, but he does have descendants of his own that he managed to meet after the events of casa tidmouth’s Hero of the Rails arc.

(more info about them under the cut)

THE YEAR IS 1894.

Hiro Hideki

秀紀 弘 Hideki Hiro

Age: 57 (before transportation, canon Casa Tidmouth is 62)

The patriarch of the Hideki family. Wise, calm, level headed, but has a tendency to overwork himself and put others before himself. He has a mindset of finishing his work first before rewarding himself with the most basic necessities such as eating or going to the bathroom which exasperated Kamome.

Hiro originated from 1894, the Meiji era. Before he was transported to 1994, he’s a civil engineer and railway inspector that was heavily involved during the modernization and westernization of Japan and oversaw the construction of the Tokyo to Yokohama railway in 1872 and its subsequent expansion to Kozu in the following years.

In an attempt to further the connections with the United Kingdom and as part of a collaboration to improvise their engines and railways, the Emperor formed a research group and sent them to England and its surrounding islands – one of them being the Island of Sodor, infamous for its rumored supernatural influence and cases of outsiders going missing (not a great idea, Emperor). Hiro was sent there alongside his colleagues and seniors and the next thing he knew… his environment was alien, his clothes were tattered, he cannot remember anything, and he’s all alone in a steep siding.

Kamome Hideki

秀紀 鴎 Hideki Kamome

Age: 54 (83 at death)

Hiro’s wife. Their marriage was arranged by their parents but Hiro fell in love with her at first sight. While Hiro speaks gently and avoids unnecessary conflict, Kamome is blunt and goes straight to the point when talking. She was constantly seen wearing a tasuki sash and was well-toned for her age. The neighbors and family’s acquaintances see her as a scary woman with a sharp tongue and even sharper eyes, but… that’s just how her face is. Kamome doesn’t take compliments well and instead of smiling, she usually purses her lips or scrunch her eyebrows to express her happiness (Hiro thinks it’s cute).

During the early years of Hiro’s disappearance, Kamome put on a strong facade for their children. She didn’t have much financial worries because their children already had jobs. Hirokazu’s and Akira’s families visit from time to time, and Kamome quickly came into terms with Hiro’s disappearance, but the loneliness and frustration inside her heart still well.

I took her given name from the limited express train service that JR Kyushu operated, Kamome. Her name also means ��seagull”.

Hirokazu Hideki

秀紀 弘和 Hideki Hirokazu

Age: 34 (63 at death)

Hiro’s eldest son. He was named after his father. Hirokazu was a serious, rigid man — always bent on following every rule there in his line of work and wouldn't hesitate to reprimand people for messing up. He liked expressing his thoughts (usually related to Japanese politics) without sugarcoating anything and got a knack for debating with his peers, so he’s often exhausted with his father who’s always calm and open to anything Hirokazu says without refuting much of his opinions. Despite being polar opposites, Hirokazu greatly respected and adored Hiro — hence why he followed in his footsteps to become a civil engineer.

Ever since Hiro disappeared, everytime Kamome looked at Hirokazu she felt like he resembled Hiro more and more. Hirokazu’s responsibility in taking care of his family (especially his elderly mother) grew stronger and his need to live up to his father’s legacy eats away at him.

Akira Hideki

秀紀 明 Hideki Akira

Age: 31 (60 at death)

A shy, stoic woman whose social battery drains quickly. She’s soft spoken and doesn’t talk much because of her social anxiety, so he enjoyed conversations with her gentle father more. Akira is also kinda awkward at socializing — behind her neutral face, she’s constantly nervous when faced with a crowd or an unexpected acquaintance of either his father or mother who wanted to chat with her, something she’s extremely self conscious about (Hiro told her she’s fine the way she is). When she succeeded in a conversation, however, she got all fired up and overly proud of herself Akira married a wealthy textile businessman who’s been seeing her for a while and is incredibly smitten with her.

After Hiro went missing, Akira’s husband, mother, and siblings often find her wandering around the train station, sitting solemnly or even asking railwaymen and random passersby if they’ve seen her father. She wasn’t doing mentally well, but luckily her family was there for her.

Masaharu Hideki

秀紀 雅治 Hideki Masaharu

Age: 24 (53 at death)

A student from the Tokyo Imperial University. He studies medicine and was an apprentice of his professor at a hospital in Tokyo. He’s timid, always stressed out, and have trouble standing up for himself, especially against his professor who always reprimand him for even the smallest things such as being late to a conference or being too slow to hand him an operating tool. Masaharu was also a mama’s boy. Kamome fusses over him and always tells him to eat more. Hiro too, but he’s not the most stern.

His professor used his connections to help Masaharu look for his father. Rescue teams, fellow colleagues from Europe, even autopsy labs and funeral homes — he looked everywhere, yet he and Masaharu are stumped. Masaharu felt so useless and even considered dropping out, but Kamome and Hirokazu dragged him back to reality, which made Masaharu end up crying.

Hisae Hideki

秀紀 久愛 Hideki Hisae

Age: 21 (50 at death)

Spunky, stubborn, and always up-to-date. She is IN LOVE with western fashion and a HUGE francophile. She’s a tad spoiled and always asks Hiro for some money whenever new clothes hit the market. Hisae likes dressing up her younger sister Satoko in various clothes she made or bought. She also worked at Irohanayama’s tea house because government officials and their wives always visit in their western attire. She’s also good at talking with people and pleasing upper-crusts. She dreamed of visiting France someday, though this is mostly because of the rose-tinted glasses she has for Europe.

After Hiro went missing, Hisae spent most of her days moping, not wanting to eat or leave her room until Hirokazu and Satoko convinced her to. One day, she suddenly stopped holing herself up in her room, quit her tea house job, and planned on opening her own clothes shop.

Satoko Hideki

秀紀 聡子 Hideki Satoko

Age: 17 (46 during Great Kanto Earthquake)

Being the youngest and most obedient, Kamome frequently asked her to go out to town to run errands. Generally a quiet person, though she always butt heads with her more hotheaded sister Hisae. Most of her clothes during her late teenage years are hand-me-downs from her. She didn’t really have any notable abilities or talents, but she likes collecting hairpins and combs.

In 1923, Satoko survived the Great Kanto Earthquake because she lived at her husband’s hometown far from Tokyo, making her the only living member of Hiro’s nuclear family (some grandchildren from the Hideki family survived but that’s another story. It’ll make this tree longer)

She is Kenji and Kana’s great grandmother.

———

THE YEAR IS 1999.

Kenji and Kana met Hiro during their visit to the Great Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum. When Kana was taking pictures of the memorial hall for her school assignments, Kana spotted Hiro staring at the list of names. Kenji went to the bathroom for a second, and Kana saw Hiro sitting alone on the bench. Kana sat beside him and sparked a conversation, leading to them eventually becoming friends. Kenji joined them shortly after, and they parted ways soon after it got dark and Kana urged Kenji to take her home so she can print her photos. Hiro bid them farewell, looking wistful but also satisfied with himself.

Neither of them knew that they’re Hiro’s great great grandchildren… until much, much, later.

Kenji Shirogane

白鐘 健二 Shirogane Kenji

Age: 22

Lives in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with his younger sister, Kana. Ever since their parents went abroad for work-related purposes, Kenji has been acting as a guardian for his sister. He studies biomed at Tokyo University in Bunkyou. He goes there via the Yamanote line.

Kenji’s great at cooking and Kana only likes his curry rice because he doesn’t put any ���weird” vegetables in it. He likes Japanese variety shows like Takeshi’s Castle and Gaki no Tsukai.

Kana Shirogane

白鐘 華菜 Shirogane Kana

Age: 16

Lives in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with her older brother, Kenji. Second year in high school. She’s in the sports club at her school and is a star for the girls’ running team. A cheerful and hyperactive girl, Kana is rather mischievous and can put on crocodile tears whenever Kenji doesn’t allow her to do something. She frequently gets into trouble at school because of her purple inner dye and grommet belt.

Kana is also quite foul-mouthed and has little respect towards most adults that boss her around, labeling her as a problem child at school. Kenji’s fond of her, but he also describes her as “disrespectful towards older folks”. She would also pull on his nose whenever she’s hungry in the middle of the night and saw Kenji sleeping by the couch to wake him up. However, she truly cares about her family and loves her older brother. Kana’s just a kid being a kid.

[bajablastflavoredsaxreed]

hey gang. i may or may not be trying to piece together a cohesive lore/universe for life in the world to come, a show which notoriously does Not Have Lore. i have a list of characters/facts that i can pull just from my head rn but im almost certainly missing so many things. if you’d like to help me out and tell me ur favorite characters/bits/tidbits that would be mad wicked awesome

The List

will can do a backflip from a standing position

will is literally neil cicirega

chris is a red belt in taekwondo but showing a lot of potential

mama doo wop

tommy lasagna

jordan peterson

tom waits

jeff bezos

bug woman

big carl

buffalo wild wings

bobby sugarbones

cinnamon pepper

beans mcsprout

strong + many arms

sun has a gun

fish will have boobs

manosphere guys will all be thrown into a grease pit to fight it out except for Jordan Peterson, who will will save from the pit and kidnap him to raise like a son/parrot

Leopard Planet will be the name of a band

Therapists will be birds

frogs will be physically indistinguishable from mountain lions four generations after the bombs

jordan peterson will be a hydra type beast who continues his 14 things you need to know about life

your parents are going to have a weird nightmare polycule with satan/a spider that involves your dad being cucked

do NOT accept the spider’s bargain

Don’t Trust It, It’s Not Your Dad

you will dream of the suffalo

last week before the apocalypse spider man will be here delivering pizza

jewish coming of age traditions will all involve bugs that hate you

will will die, become blind, become possessed by the ghost of a pirate (no specified order of events)

the sun’s gun will have a son

Gerard Way will become a many-headed many-armed Akira flesh beast who is also the US president

Reddit is a literal pit in the ground where people yell at each over to get the other stoned to death

will will not have fingers for a little while

there will be no books, but there will be a guy named book who shouts literature at the top of his lungs

italians will not exist

the air will become juice

jewish people will sail out to sea and befriend seagulls in order to evade geese

pringles cans will grow out of the ground like vegetables and will be reinforced with titanium

[cosmic-ghost-hermit]

Past Life Reading

Hey fellas! Please please please donate to my CashApp or interact with my post so I can do this full time! If you can't donate please interact with this post. We made it to 200 followers and I can't thank you all enough. Also if y'all wanna suggest readings go ahead and dump those recommendations in my ask box!

⚡Donate to my CashApp☀️

Decks used are the Archetype Oracle, the Anime Tarot, and the Starseed Oracle.

This reading will go over one of your Past Lives and how it affects your current incarnation. Remember reincarnation isn't linear and there are other planets with life on them. HAPPY FULL MOON IN CAPRICORN!! Take what resonates and leave the rest behind but always be open to new experiences!

______________________________________________________________

PILE ONE

Astrology: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio

Past Life Song: Pale Blue Dot by TWRP

Current Life Song: 3 Strange Days by School Of Fish

Vibes: Black, white, ocean blue, pearl, moldavite, coral reef, seagulls, gold rings, gray hair, globe, strong aura, childlike wonder, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, Zues, Posideon

Cards: The Fool, The Hierophant, Queen of Cups, Justice, The One, The Seed, Perspective, Child of the Cosmos

Welcome, pile one! I am feeling some kind of royalty from this previous life. I think you were a spiritual leader in this life too or you were very involved with spirituality. I think you were probably really superstitious and trusted the divine more than you trusted humans. You had a strong faith in tradition and routine. I see this is a huge contrast to your current life. In this previous life, you were very connected with your guides. I see you could probably communicate with them easily and often. You have many sea spirits that look after you that you connected to in this past life. They followed you because of how much spiritual work you did in this past life. I see in this life you were guided by your living ancestors into the role you took. You had to learn that walking a path for the sake of the collective is a high honor and it is not a role for the weak. You had to give up a lot of opportunities that would have been for selfish gain for the sake of others. You have lots of built-up anger from this past life of sacrifice. You were extremely noble in this past life. In your current life, this behavior still pops up from time to time. You are learning how to serve yourself over serving others. I see you have some people-pleaser tendencies that leak into this life. You are still meant to be spiritual but you are also meant to learn about your own opinions/morals and hold them above the beliefs of the many. I see in this life you are finding your own moral compass. I see you have been betrayed by mentors you thought you could trust with everything. They withheld information that would have been extremely helpful if you had known ahead of time. I see that your parents were not kind to you. Despite these hardships' you still have a pure heart. Except now you are more capable of ruthlessness. Be ruthless in your morals. Serve justice out on a silver plater so your enemies look at their reflection while they face your wrath. In this life, you will release the anger you held from the last. You must be selfish. You must harness your wrath. Seek truth. Do not follow without knowing why you follow.

______________________________________________________________

PILE TWO

Astrology: Libra, Aquarius, Leo

Past Life Song: Run Boy Run by Woodkid

Current Life Song: Being Real is the New Fake by Toni Jones

Vibes: Mint green, lavender, pink, gold, painting, flower crown, lightning, Celtic knots, ribbon, modesty, alchemy, museums, strawberry, smoking, drinking, dive bars, Hermes, Persephone

Cards: The Empress, The World, Death, 2 of Swords, The Creator, The Riddle, You're Not Alone, Cracked Open

Hello, pile two! I see you were a traveler in this specific past life. I see you traveled in style and luxury. You didn't start in luxury though. You earned it. You worked hard for the opportunities you gained. I see you had to jump many obstacles that didn't make much sense, in the moment. Some of them were difficult for you to pass but others were a breeze. I think you were a pilot for the military. You earned many awards while in service. You saw the most beautiful sights in situations that didn't allow you to appreciate them. You lost so many friends to a nasty war. This made you feel really alone. After you finished serving in the military, I think you became an airline pilot. This allowed you to be in the sky and make more friends along the way. I see you enjoying tourism and seeing the sights. You got to experience so many different cultures and learned to love every part of the planet for its different aspects. I see you took many lovers in your travels but never settled down. You picked up a creative hobby in your travels. I see maybe a martial art also became a hobby of yours in this life. You learned in that life that humans can be scary and life can be hell but you also learned that humans are wonderfully creative and life can be heaven. You had the pleasure of seeing every part of what it is like to be alive. The good and the bad. In your current life, I see you still are quite creative. You pull a lot of inspiration from other cultures. I feel you miss the sky a lot. You might create lots of art relating to the sky. In this life, you are learning how to connect with your fellow humans. You traveled so much in your past life, this definitely made it hard to make permanent connections. Now you must adjust to stay grounded and learn to live in mostly one spot. Don't fret though. You will still travel spiritually. Your soul is a free one and needs to see the stars once more.

______________________________________________________________

PILE THREE

Astrology: Sagittarius, Virgo, Pisces

Past Life Song: Sunday Candy by Nico Segal

Current Life Song: Live Your Life by MIKA

Vibes: Cyan, periwinkle, peach, orange, butterflies, Jupiter, Saturn, tigers-eye, winter, sports, yen coins, peregrine falcon, feminity, Hestia, Hera

Cards: Page of Wands, 10 of Cups, 5 of Pentacles, 4 of Swords, Agape, Gnosis, You're Not For Everyone, The Void

Hey there, pile three! Welcome to your reading. I see in this past life you were a romantic. You were perhaps a mother in this life or you took the role of one to your community. You had an abundance of love that you handed out like candy. I see you were very spiritual and read many religious texts in your spare time but this wasn't something you shared like your love. You supported many youngins in their dreams but never got to fulfill your own. You were too busy making food for your children and community. You were planning events and hosting parties for your family reunions. You were the glue that held together your loved ones. I see you went under-appreciated a lot of the time but you were immensely respected by everyone you knew. Even when you grew old you still had the heart of a spry little one. It surprised everyone how active of a person you were. I see you lived a loooooong life. You learned how to lead and how to see the love everywhere you went. In this life, you are meant to fulfill the dreams you couldn't in the last one. I see you seeking knowledge. Maybe you are a student. I see you putting aside your studies to help teach others. Old habits die hard I guess. Make sure you are spending your current life on yourself. Your community was assisted enough in your previous life. You definitely reincarnated into the same family. I see you have both a grand trine or a grand square in your astral chart. Allow yourself to learn for the sake of you. Learn that selfishness isn't as evil as people say it is. I hope you find the information you are looking for in this life. Your soul is determined to gain knowledge so allow it to learn. Allow yourself to be an oddity. Allow yourself to be the black sheep that isn't understood. You don't have to take the same role you took in your last life. You can serve yourself. You should be your priority.

______________________________________________________________

PILE FOUR

Astrology: Capricorn, Aries, Gemini

Past Life Song: Discovery Album by Daft Punk (yes the whole album)

Current Life Song: Me@U by Middle Milk

Vibes: Soft pink, rainbows, yellow, owl, pyramid, egg, horns, mountains, quartz, karma, star clusters, long hair, short bangs, malachite, copper, Sirius, mental health issues, Iris, Apollo

Cards: The Devil, Queen of Swords, Ace of Pentacles, 8 of Wands, The Vision, The Starborn, Messenger, Star Ancestors

Hey there, pile four. Welcome to your past life reading! You had it pretty rough in your past life. You spent a lot of it seeing weird visions and remembering other worlds. I see you could have been suffering from intense mental health issues. You were most likely hospitalized for a lot of your previous life. Your body was chained to earth but your mind was elsewhere. Your soul was being pulled into the astral realm by your guides and ancestors. Meanwhile, your body was facing incarceration. You could have other past lives on other planets and your last life consisted mostly of your soul adjusting to Earth's energy. Your soul is not new at all but it is semi-new to Earth. You were learning how wild Earth can be. You had to acclimate to the lower vibrations. There is nothing wrong with low vibrations by the way. They were just different than what you were used to. I see in this life you still have crazy dreams and visions. You are really attuned to the spirit realm. You are just now experiencing Earth for the first time consciously. You are meant to be a seer on earth while simultaneously learning all you can about what it is like to be human. You serve as a messenger for those who don't have the skill to hear the spirit realm as well as you do. You are learning very fast that it is rough out here. You are just starting to feel the weight of karmic connections. You will be learning a lot here but your main mission is to bring as much harmony and balance as possible to Earth. You understand how sick Earth is right now and it hurts you to think about but you have the wisdom to help her feel better. You have the wisdom to assist humans. It is hidden in your soul, friend. This is an opportunity to heal her and her citizens. I know it is tough out here and I'm really sorry that it is. I wish you could have had a warmer welcome but this is a fantastic opportunity.

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Li Zeyan’s MQ: Burning Imprints (Eng Translation) - Part 1

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a mind quest, 灼痕, that is yet to be released on the global server! ♡

✦ Part 1 || Part 2 || ASMR

🔞 Additional Warning 🔞 Same old but more severe warning this time LOL. The steamy parts of the MQ are as explicit as they can get, i.e., some of the most explicit stuff you’ll read in a CN otome game right now, so if you don’t qualify for the game’s 17+ rating (CN server), I’d very highly recommend that you don’t proceed under the cut~ :>

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

──────────────

【Subbed Video】

【Chapter 1】 

Toot–– 

The melodious steam whistle sounds from afar. A ferry sails over the shimmering, crystalline waves, its sleek and majestic hull gradually becoming clear in the field of vision.

Accompanied by the heavy thud of the ferry entering the port, the seagulls on the coast are startled, scattering and flying into the azure sky.

I exchange a few words with the staff next to me, and eventually, we fine-tune our respective appearances. As we look on in anticipation, the ferry slowly lowers its gangway.

In no time, people begin to descend in small groups of two or three.

Employee A: Wow! I can’t believe the entire island has been booked for team-building. The company really is committed to this.

Goldman: After all, we’ve managed to seize back several projects from FengZhen Group, and the financial report has some commendable highlights. Anywho, the only one who is capable of making such strides is our LFG. [1]

Executive B: Indeed, let’s have the administration team shoot a few extra videos. We can use them as promotional material when recruiting from universities next year.

Amidst the continuous ebb and flow of conversation, a staff member next to me props up their head ornament and walks up to the crowd.

Staff Member: Welcome, travelers from distant lands, to Nan’Ao Island!

Staff Member: I am an elven emissary of this island. In the time that follows, I will be accompanying you on this journey of exploration along with my companions.

In cooperation, I point the “wand” in my hand toward the direction of the shore. As I watch the expression on the staff members’ faces, either of astonishment or admiration, the weariness accumulated over the past few days of running around dissipates a little.

With the Spring Festival approaching, LFG offered employees the opportunity for company-sponsored travel as a benefit. Nan’Ao Island was among the destinations that were up for choice.

This place has just undergone the transformation into a vacation-themed resort with a “Magic Holiday” theme. In addition to the subsequent promotional campaigns, [MC’s Company Name] was also involved in designing the majority of the activities.

In order to closely follow up on the initial operations, I decided to stay on the island. Concurrently, I made most of the opportunity and assumed the role of an “NPC” to promptly identify and address any potential oversights that might occur during the process.

MC: Now, please make your way to the nearby golden beach. We’ll be guiding each of you to choose your own “abodes.”~

The crowd follows the guidance and walks toward the beach. I maintain a courteous smile, my gaze subconsciously scanning around, but I’m unable to find Li Zeyan’s figure.

...Could it be that he got caught up with some last-minute work? Or could there be some other reason?

As I silently ponder to myself, memories of the conversation during our video call the other day surface in my mind.

–

──── [FLASHBACK STARTS] ────

LZY: …they can only truly relax when the higher-ups are not around.

LZY: There are still many year-end matters to attend to, and not all members of the management, myself included, necessarily need to be directly involved.

I let out a prolonged “Ah” and lean a bit closer to the screen.

MC: Team building is an essential component of corporate culture… how can CEO Li, as a member of LFG, make an exception?

MC: In such opportunities to strengthen team cohesion, if the boss also actively participates, it can provide even better motivation for everyone!

MC: Moreover, “sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the cutting of firewood.”  Taking a break before the New Year also means entering work with a better mental state afterward, don’t you agree?~

Li Zeyan, on the screen, locks eyes with me for a brief moment, and his motion of flipping through the documents comes to a halt.

LZY: If [MC’s Company Name] ever incorporates a debate competition into team-building activities, a certain someone here would surely come out on top.

MC: So, to translate your words, does it mean that CEO Li has been persuaded by me?

Li Zeyan leans back against the chair noncommittally, and though he doesn’t confirm or deny, a touch of softness settles in his expression.

LZY: Don’t celebrate just yet; I need to arrange my schedule first.

LZY: If I can carve out time, I’ll try my best to make it there.

───── [FLASHBACK ENDS] ─────

–

Seeing the stream of people on the pier gradually thinning out, my gaze falls on Goldman, and subconsciously, I consider asking him about Li Zeyan’s situation.

But considering that there are still numerous unfamiliar LFG employees present here, and given my current role as the “Elven Emissary,”...

After some thought, I decide to play the role of an “NPC” for now and find a moment to give him a call later.

Click.

A soft sound emanates from behind. I reflexively turn around and find myself involuntarily squinting my eyes into a smile.

Li Zeyan is leisurely leaning against the railing of the pier, holding up his phone in my direction. His hair dances in the sea breeze, revealing his deep-set eyes and brows.

Perhaps due to the vacation atmosphere, he is dressed somewhat casually today. The collar of his shirt is loosely open, allowing the sunlight to sketch out subtle contours.

Noticing that I’ve turned around, he then shifts his gaze away from the screen. A barely perceptible hint of a smile lingers on the corners of his lips.

At this moment, only the two of us are on the boardwalk. I finally can’t resist the urge to let a smile tug at the corners of my mouth and briskly walk up to his side.

MC: Hm-hmph, I knew you’d definitely come~

MC: By the way, were you sneakily snapping photos of me just now?

LZY: I’ve been standing here for quite some time already.

LZY: You were the one who didn’t notice me, so you can’t really call it being “sneaky.”

LZY: Besides, I haven’t seen a certain someone for several weeks. Am I not even allowed to take a few pictures now?

MC: Hehe, Sir, you’re allowed to do whatever you please~

MC: After all, this “Elven Emissary ” here is so cute. It’s only normal if you want to treasure this moment~

LZY: [laughs helplessly] …as usual.

His voice carries a subtle undertone of helpless resignation, causing me to involuntarily burst into laughter. Li Zeyan looks at me and slows down his pace.

LZY: Your mood seems exceptionally upbeat today.

MC: Of course~ After all, I had a hand in creating this tourism project, and the first batch of guests to be welcomed here happens to be employees from my boyfriend’s company.

MC: One must acknowledge it’s a wonderful stroke of fate.

The bright and beautiful sunshine beams down, and the warm sea breeze carries with it Li Zeyan’s soft chuckle.

LZY: Turns out this kind of hectic coordination can also be viewed as a “serendipitous coincidence.”

LZY: Obviously, when the administrative department was selecting the team-building destination, in order to advocate for Nan’Ao Island to be included in the list, a certain someone even went out of her way and brought a PowerPoint presentation to explain.

LZY: What was it? Something along the lines of “since there’s a hierarchical relationship, if LFG chooses Nan’Ao Island, they can enjoy discounts and save on budget funds.”

LZY: “After tirelessly working for the entire year, what better place to warm one’s heart than heading to a sun-drenched island during the chilly season?”

LZY: While you did deploy a bunch of rhetoric, you also appealed to emotions and reasoned with logic.

MC: In any case, judging from the results, the strategy did prove effective!

MC: CEO Li, rest assured. Since I’ve strived for this opportunity, I will ensure the quality of your team building is guaranteed.

MC: I pledge that no matter what, both CEO Li and the employees of LFG will enjoy a perfect vacation~

In the midst of our conversation, we’ve already reached the end of the boardwalk and stepped onto the soft, warm beach. Li Zeyan’s voice resonates from beside me.

LZY: And what about you?

MC: I’m gonna fulfill the duties of the “Elven Emissary ” and ensure you all have a great time, of course~

LZY: …a certain someone never forgets her professionalism.

In the distance, the hubbub of indistinct yet clamorous laughter emanates from the meeting point. I clear my throat and speak in a serious demeanor.

MC: I officially welcome you to the island~ Our magical holiday journey is about to begin!

──────────────

[Tidbits]:

[1] It’s a reference to his top-up SSR from this same event.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 2】

As we get closer to the meeting point, the distant voices of conversation become increasingly clear. I loosen my grip on Li Zeyan’s arm, lowering my voice.

MC: I’ll go ahead first; we’ll catch up later, okay~

–

I gesture to another “Elven Emissary” as I speak. The latter, understanding my signal, walks in front of the unfolded map and speaks during the interval before I take the stage.

Staff Member: Up next is the segment for choosing your accommodation. Feel free to pick based on your preferences.

Staff Member: For those seeking a quiet retreat, you can choose locations near the “Healing Hot Springs” and the “Elves’ Home Bar.” The surroundings are picturesque, and it’s convenient to reach us whenever needed.

Staff Member: If you lean towards activities, you might want to choose accommodations near the boardwalk. This not only offers more convenient access to activity spots like “Blue Sea Snorkeling” and “Dragon Wing Gliding” but also…

MC: But also, there’s a higher concentration of hidden items in the nearby area!

Seizing the opportunity, I smoothly take over the conversation and walk to the front. And sure enough, a curious inquiry reaches my ears.

Employee A: What was that you just mentioned about the hidden items?

Beaming ear to ear, I raise a string of coconut shell bracelets.

MC: This is the Easter egg segment we’ve designed~

MC: Scattered around the captivating spots worth exploring on the island, you’ll find 16 sets of these bracelets. If you find them, please pass them over to the Elven Emissaries.

MC: Once you collect them all, you’ll unlock a hidden scenery–– share this delightful surprise with someone you hold dear~

MC: Now, who would like to come up first and choose their accommodation?

The air buzzes with excitement as conversations erupt. Though no one comes forward to take the stage, everyone simultaneously turns their eyes to the back of the crowd as if in tacit agreement.

My gaze follows the direction of the crowd, and looking up, I see Li Zeyan standing alone under the shade of a tree.

Probably not wanting to draw attention to himself, he has deliberately chosen a spot slightly removed from the crowd. However, he is still unable to escape from the employees’ gazes locking precisely onto him.

The beach at the moment is akin to a natural conference room, with countless eyes of either admiration or curiosity trained on Li Zeyan, all awaiting his directives.

I struggle to contain the urge to hook my lips into a smile, suddenly recalling Li Zeyan’s words from our video call – “They can only truly relax when the higher-ups are not around.”

During the relaxed time of team-building, it’s actually a great opportunity to lessen the sense of distance between superiors and subordinates...!

Suddenly, an idea pops into my mind, and I speak with a beaming smile on my face.

MC: Although no one has spoken yet, their collective gazes have already pointed to the most fitting candidate.

MC: That handsome gentleman back there! Could you come up to the stage, please?

LZY: …

Across the bustling crowd, Li Zeyan and I lock eyes for a brief moment before he finally walks unhurriedly to the front of the stage.

The moment our shoulders brush against each other, his thin lips move almost imperceptibly.

LZY: [GAHH THE “THREATENING” WHISPER]  You’re gonna have to settle this account later.

MC: C’mon, enliven the atmosphere a bit. Please cooperate, CEO Li~

I also answer in a voice that only the two of us can hear, briskly leading him to stand in front of the map. Then, with a serious demeanor, I ask.

MC: I wonder which accommodation you’re planning to choose?

As I speak, my fingertips trace over the area near the “Elves’ Home Bar” as if inadvertently, and I stare at Li Zeyan expectantly.

His gaze wanders over the map for a moment, then he raises his hand and points to a vacation cabin nestled within the dense forest at the far end of the bay.

LZY: This one here.

LZY: However, it’s in a rather secluded location. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find my way there alone.

With this sentence, he slips one hand into his pocket and turns sideways, looking at me with an indolent gaze. Although he hasn’t said anything explicitly, I clearly catch his implication and discreetly pout my lips.

MC: ...Then, after everyone has chosen their accommodations, I’ll––

Goldman: Actually, after CEO Li’s demonstration, the process has become much clearer. We can complete the remaining steps under the guidance of others.

Goldman: Going in groups like this will also increase efficiency.

Goldman pushes his glasses up and suddenly speaks from the audience.

Several threads of understanding or confusion are thrown from the crowd, but they all nod in agreement in groups of two or three.

LZY: Could you lead the way now, “Miss Elven Emissary”?

MC: …please follow me. Everyone else, carry on.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, I escort Li Zeyan off the stage and walk out of the crowd. It’s not until we are seated in the equipped car that I turn to look at him.

MC: Sob, sob~ and here I was so sure of our tacit understanding. Did you not catch the hint I gave you just now?

MC: This place is the furthest from our offline work information exchange hub, “Elves’ Home Bar.” I’ll have to take so many detours in the future…

Suddenly, a warm touch lands on my lips. Li Zeyan raises his hand and caresses my lips, sending a wave of tingling sensation through me.

LZY: Well, isn’t that just perfect.

In the faintly intoxicating sea breeze, he leans in toward me, his voice tinged with a touch of indolence.

LZY: Since it’s so troublesome, just reduce the frequency of your visits.

LZY: Invest all the time you would have spent there on me instead.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 3】

The cozy tropical sunshine beams down as I sit on the deck of the small boat, adjusting the fishing net. Suddenly, a few drops of cool seawater land on my cheeks.

Li Zeyan floats up from the sea, lifting the breathing tube with one hand, and squints slightly as he looks in my direction.

LZY: Wasn’t it a certain someone who took the initiative for this and said she wanted to try her hand at fishing?

LZY: Why is she dilly-dallying now?

MC: Let me finish fastening this last buttonhole… don’t rush me!

I lazily scoop up a handful of water and splash it back at him. Looking at the dripping wet hair over Li Zeyan’s forehead out of the corner of my eye, I can’t help bursting into laughter.

MC: Don’t you feel this scene gives a sense of deja vu?

MC: It feels like when we were on White Pearl Island, I was waiting for you to come back from pearl diving just like this. [2]

As I speak, I adjust the equipment and give him an OK gesture. Li Zeyan seems to recall something as well, and a glint of smile glides across his dark-colored irises.

LZY: All I remember is you waiting on the deck for about ten minutes, and then you started feeling bored.

LZY: When I got on the ship, you persistently kept asking about the underwater scenery.

As he says this, he reaches out and clasps my palm, bridging the distance between him and me.

LZY: And this time, you can accompany me to see it together.

With these words, Li Zeyan pulls me along and together, we dive into the warm, cerulean sea.

The scenery undersea is akin to a picture scroll, its novel appearances unfolding before our eyes through the diving mask.

Schools of fish shuttle through the vibrant, swaying coral. Occasionally, one or two would swim alone, leisurely swishing their tails as they cruise along.

The target suddenly appears, capturing my attention instantly. I swiftly dash forward and swing the net. Unexpectedly, the fish rapidly changes direction and escapes from my encirclement.

MC: … 

Li Zeyan casts a sidelong glance at me, his long legs sheathed in a black diving suit swaying leisurely in the sea waves.

Despite the breathing tube and diving mask obscuring his face, I can still vaguely discern a smile.

Unwilling to resign myself, I chase after several lone fish again, but all my attempts to catch them end in failure. I grab his hand and float to the surface, exhaling a sigh of frustration.

MC: These fish are too agile. Can I apply for some assistance from outside?

Upon hearing my words, Li Zeyan glances at me and takes off his breathing tube.

LZY: When you say “assistance from outside,” what exactly are you referring to?

MC: I was referring to CEO Li’s Evol, of course~

MC: As long as you pause time for just a moment, we can catch them all in one fell swoop, can’t we!?~

I lean in with a beaming smile on my face but am stopped by Li Zeyan’s outstretched finger pressing against my forehead.

LZY: Even if we succeed this way, there won’t be much joy in it.

LZY: Instead, we should slow down our movements and allow the fish to relax their vigilance. Once they feel safe, they’ll come closer on their own.

LZY: When the time comes, they naturally won’t have any chance to escape.

Seeing my skeptical gaze, Li Zeyan doesn’t offer further explanation. He simply puts on his breathing tube and motions for me to join him in diving underwater again.

I follow behind him, observing as he pauses with the net in front of a cluster of coral, quietly slowing his movements. Before long, sure enough, a few fish swim over.

Silently, Li Zeyan leans forward, waiting until the fish approaches the net without any alertness, then swiftly pulls the net together.

Eyes wide, I suppress the excitement bubbling within me as we float up. I watch as Li Zeyan lifts the net, several fish floundering vigorously inside.

Glistening droplets of water cascade down his damp forehead, melding into his equally soaked neck and broad shoulders. I can’t help but gasp in awe.

MC: So amazing! You managed to really catch them!

LZY: I learned quite a few techniques from the fishermen back when we were on White Pearl Island. Just putting some of that knowledge to use. [3]

Li Zeyan lifts his hand and swings the net onto the small boat as he speaks, then helps me up onto the deck. Followed by this, he speaks with a hint of amusement in his tone.

LZY: On the other hand, a certain someone has already been on this island for quite a long time for planning and on-site inspection purposes.

LZY: How come it is that no matter if it’s diving or fishing, there’s always a sense of novelty in your reactions?

MC: Hehe, I indeed haven’t had the chance to enjoy myself here. This island is more of a workplace for me, after all.

MC: Every day, I’ve had to stay on top of the situation on-site, adjust program designs and coordinate personnel arrangements…

MC: Sob, sob, I’d just pass out as soon as I went back to my room, so I didn’t even have any time to explore properly.

A warm touch lands on my cheek as Li Zeyan casually wipes away the water streaks from my face, giving me a somewhat helpless glance.

LZY: Aren’t you always on the dot to remind me about “seizing” the chances to relax when I’m on business trips?

LZY: I remember you mentioning before that you’re not the only person responsible for this project inspection.

LZY: So, how come you didn’t sneak off to “touch fish” and relax a little? [4]

MC: I just can’t help but feel a little uneasy without seeing things with my own eyes. After all, this project is going to be recommended to LFG, so it’s only natural that I must ensure every detail is ironed out.

MC: Moreover, haven’t I already “seized” it back? Being by your side is already the best method of “touching fish.”~ [5]

Grinning, I reach out and touch the fish still flopping around in the net, the tail note of my voice carrying a cheerful lilt. Beside me, Li Zeyan chuckles softly in response.

LZY: A certain dummy has always been quite skilled at comforting herself.

LZY: So, what’s the plan for these fish?

MC: The restaurants on the island do offer processing services… but I want to push the envelope a little further.

Beaming from ear to ear, I lift my chin towards the open-air barbecue area on the shore as I speak. Li Zeyan follows my gaze, his voice now tinged with a hint of comprehension.

LZY: When it comes to troublesome tasks such as this, a certain someone really spurs into action.

MC: But I also need someone here to cooperate~ Pretty please, Li Zeyan; it’s been ages since I have experienced your culinary masterpieces!

As I speak, I fold my hands together in a gesture of prayer and gaze at him. Although Li Zeyan remains non-committal, the glimmer of a smile in his eyes grows increasingly pronounced.

—

Sure enough, once the small boat stops by the boardwalk, Li Zeyan picks up the net.

LZY: Go change your clothes.

LZY: Decide on the flavor you want, grab the condiments, and meet me at the barbecue area.

With Li Zeyan’s promise, my mood can’t help but brighten all the more.

After changing into dry clothes, I head toward the “supply point,” filled with joy and expectation, mentally calculating as I walk––

Naturally, we should include the local specialty sauces… but what if Li Zeyan doesn’t have a taste for them? I should also bring some classic condiment pairings like spiced salt and hot pepper…

Staff Member: Excuse me… Miss Elven Emissary!

A hesitant call sounds from behind me. I quickly snap out of my thoughts, and a polite smile forms at the corner of my lips.

MC: May I help you with something?

Staff Member: I just found one of the bracelets you guys mentioned while taking photos by the reef. Could you please guide me to the registration area?

The other party opens their palm towards me as she speaks. My gaze falls on the beaded bracelet, and my eyes can’t help but sparkle a bit at the sight of it.

The first bracelet has been found so quickly! This collection task seems to be progressing even more smoothly than I imagined…

MC: Of course, please follow me~

I reply in a brisk tone and send a message to Li Zeyan, letting him know that I’d be ten minutes late. Then, I escort the girl to the “Elves’ Home Bar.”

After taking care of everything, I inadvertently glance at my phone. My heart suddenly stutters.

…It’s been twenty minutes past the time I promised Li Zeyan that I’d be there.

—

I rush towards the open-air barbecue area at lightning speed, carrying the bottles and cans in my arms, and spot Li Zeyan leaning against the long table.

Several plates are already arranged on the table. As I draw nearer, the tantalizing aroma of grilled delights wafts into my nostrils, clearly indicating that they’ve been ready for quite some time.

Seemingly hearing my footsteps, Li Zeyan lifts his gaze to look at me. I promptly dash a few steps forward.

MC: I’m sorry for making you wait for so long… haha, the aroma is so delightful!~

MC: As expected of Mr. Li. You can maintain top-notch performance even without any condiments!

LZY: These fish have already been seasoned. You can stop buttering me up now.

LZY: While I was waiting for you earlier, a staff member passed by in the vicinity, so I asked him to help me fetch them.

LZY: Otherwise, if I were to wait for a certain someone to bring them back, the fish would have all burned.

MC: The route to the registration point was a bit circuitous. I didn’t realize it’d take this long.

As I rush to explain at lightning bolt speed, a not-so-firm yet no-so-gentle tap lands on my head.

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  Dummy, I’m not mad.

LZY: I just realized that you seem to be particularly invested in this group task.

MC: Because I designed that surprise single-handedly from scratch. Instead of it staying hidden, I rather hope it can be seen by everyone~

MC: And, to be honest, I also have a bit of a selfish motive.

MC: “The harvest reaped from a certain someone’s efforts during this time has indeed been worthwhile.”... I want to hear you say these words personally after seeing the “surprise.”~

LZY: [laughs even more helplessly] You’re already an accomplished producer in your own right, do you still need this kind of affirmation?

MC: Of course~ After all, affirmation from clients and work partners is recognition of my capabilities, which fuels my resolve to keep pushing forward.

MC: However, the affirmation from my boyfriend–– can sweep away all the weariness from this period, filling me with motivation to welcome the next challenge head-on~

LZY: [even more indulgently] Dummy.

As he says this, his baritone voice softens slightly, and he forks a piece of fish and brings it to my lips.

The delicious flavor explodes on the tip of my tongue. I squint my eyes contentedly, listening as Li Zeyan speaks in a low voice.

LZY: It’s okay to give yourself a break without any worries.

LZY: Don’t underestimate the people at LFG.

──────────────

[Tidbits]

[2+3] It’s a reference to LZY’s first UR card story: “Melding Into You.”

[4+5] The term used here is “摸鱼” (lit. meaning touch fish), which is actually used to mean “slacking off.” There are a lot of playful puns here, which I’m too exhausted to explain rn. Anyway, while I could have used the fig. meaning, I went with the lit. one b/c the conversation revolves around the whole fish imagery here, e.g., you see MC touching the fish they’ve caught together (with him guiding her) as she says her best method of slacking off, i.e., relaxing, is simply being with him– which essentially is a core part of this date, which you’ll see unfolding later ahah 🥺

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 4】

Outside the vacation cabin windows, the dense patter of rain mingles with the rustling of branches and leaves.

Standing on the terrace and looking outwards, I can see the buildings near and far being shrouded in a fine veil of rain. 

I withdraw my gaze from the eaves outside and glance at the work group chat that has been continuously bombarding me with messages since just now.

The sudden downpour has only now begun to taper off. The patrol staff just reported that the beaded bracelet placed at the seaside has been washed into the sea.

If similar situations occur at the other sites where the bracelets are placed, it will surely impact the experience of the game. With this in mind, I swiftly send a few messages in the group chat.

MC: “Once the rain stops, let’s each go check the placement of props in our designated zones.”

In response, there comes a series of consecutive affirmations in the group chat. Deep in thought, I raise my head and gaze towards the forest outside the vacation cabin.

The nearest hiding spot to me is right here... I’ll have to seize the opportunity when Li Zeyan isn’t paying attention and sneak out for a quick look.

As I’m contemplating, Li Zeyan’s voice suddenly comes from behind.

LZY: It’s so late, and you still haven’t come to bed. What are you zoning out for?

I discreetly tighten my grip on my phone and turn around to look at Li Zeyan.

He is sitting reclined against the headboard, iPad in hand. His dark fringes hang leisurely, partially veiling his eyes.

A pair of glasses rests loosely on the bridge of his nose, reflecting several glimmering points of light from the screen.

I plop back onto the bed, casually leaning closer to him as if nothing has occurred.

MC: The rain outside is quite lovely, so I was just snapping a few photos.

MC: And what about you… it’s only been a few days since the vacation, why have you already started looking at documents?

Catching my curious gaze, Li Zeyan leans back and casually angles the iPad in my direction.

LZY: In order to complete a certain someone’s mission.

I move closer with some confusion, and a chart titled “Technology is the Ultimate Weapon” immediately enters my field of vision.

On the topographic map of the vacation island, at least a dozen annotations are sprawled, detailing analyses ranging from distribution patterns to minimum spacing radii, both internally and externally.

For a moment, I can’t help but be bewildered by the scale of the arrangement. Then I hear Li Zeyan’s voice coming from beside me.

LZY: As you can see, there are already people from LFG who have begun updating the guide in real-time.

LZY: In addition to taking turns searching during the vacation, they also share the locations they’ve already found the bracelets each day to avoid wasting time.

LZY: Goldman even went ahead and prepared charts, saying that it would narrow down the search area through data analysis.

I withdraw my gaze and meet Li Zeyan’s eyes with a moment of incredulity.

MC: Isn’t that taking it a bit too seriously… hang on, you didn’t assign this as a task to them, saying something like, “You must complete it within the designated time frame,” did you?

Li Zeyan shoots me a cryptic glance with a hint of ambiguity in his expression.

LZY: I haven’t become that unreasonable yet. This is something that interested individuals did voluntarily.

LZY: At the end of the day, it was a certain someone’s previous introduction that piqued their curiosity.

With a pensive “Oh,” I suddenly think of something.

MC: So, to derive from what you said, this is a private chat group? Then how are you––

There is a sudden hesitation in Li Zeyan’s demeanor.

LZY: [you can’t see me but I’m actually crying lmao 😭] …I asked Goldman to add me to it.

His voice remains very calm. I hold his gaze for a moment, but can’t help bursting into laughter.

MC: Pfft, haha, so it turns out CEO Li is also participating in this activity, huh! Then doesn’t that mean you have to lead the team and set an example?

MC: But you have the “secret weapon” in your hands! Just “please” me a little, and who knows? You might uncover some clues.

I teasingly poke his cheek. Li Zeyan doesn’t say anything and simply stares at me intently.

A moment later, he suddenly chuckles and casually takes off his glasses, setting them aside. Without the obstruction of the lenses, those deep eyes of his stare at me unabashedly.

LZY: [chuckles teasingly]  How do you want me to “please” you?

His voice seems to take on a slightly huskier timbre than usual, as he reaches out and takes hold of my fingertips.

A wet, passionate kiss descends immediately. I quiver, instinctively wanting to pull back my hand, but he restrains my movements.

LZY: Like this?

LZY: …Or would you like me to go further in?

With these muffled words, his lips quietly trail to my neck, lingering there, taking his time and igniting a growing fire.

My heartbeat accelerates uncontrollably, but I still make a conscious effort to keep my willpower intact.

MC: …I already asked you to please me. Naturally, you should be the one to think about how to do it.

LZY: Hmm, I haven’t thought it through yet.

He appears to be genuinely reflective, but the force of his delivery suddenly increases, catching me unawares. The goblet glass at the head of the bed is knocked over, its content spilling silently and soaking the crumpled bedsheet.

I tightly clench the pillow, his voice reverberating in my ears.

LZY: [shaky, breathless voice x1] But since you’ve handed over the control to me…

LZY: [x2] When we should stop won’t be your call anymore.

—------------------------ interlude ------------------------—

The rain outside has stopped at some point. Only the gauze curtains in the distance dance in the breeze, occasionally making a rustling sound.

I stealthily open my eyes. The man next to me has half of his face buried in the pillow, his features traced by the moonlight pouring through the window.

His body rises and falls gently along with his light, rhythmic breathing. It seems that he has already drifted off to sleep.

MC: Li Zeyan? CEO Li? …Zeyan gege?

In order to feel out, I speak in a soft voice. Seeing that he still hasn’t responded, I slowly move his arm aside.

Then, gently and quietly, I rise from the bed, casting one last glance at the sleeping Li Zeyan before feeling at ease and pushing open the door.

—

Creak––

Along with this almost inaudible sound, the crisp air post-rain rushes towards me head-on.

The clear night drapes over the quiet vacation village, with the vaguely audible murmurs of the waves in the distance.

I walk along the cobblestone path into the woods, carefully identifying the location of the placement point by the distant lights.

The bracelet hanging from the branches sways gently in the breeze, almost blending into the dim light of the night.

Feeling relieved, I send a message to the group to confirm that everything was fine. But just as I’m about to leave, I can’t resist muttering to myself.

MC: …Li Zeyan, you really are a dummy.

MC: This hiding spot is clearly so close to where we’re residing, and yet you still haven’t found it.

LZY: After all, considering the vast expanse of the area to search through, it’s surely going to consume a lot of time.

LZY: Instead of running around aimlessly, it’s better to wait patiently for the chance to arrive.

A familiar voice sounds from behind me. Startled, I turn around at lightning pace. There, standing behind me, is the person who I saw seemingly “sound asleep” just a moment ago, now watching me.

MC: You… You were actually pretending to be asleep!

LZY: A little correction. I was simply concerned about your safety when I noticed you were heading out so late, that’s all.

LZY: The discovery I’ve made just now can only be regarded as an unexpected gain.

Li Zeyan’s eyes mirror a contemplative interest as he speaks.

LZY: On the contrary, a certain someone here seems to be getting more and more adept at pulling the wool over people’s eyes.

LZY: While her leading foot earnestly vowed that she was genuinely exhausted and just wanted to sleep quickly, her trailing foot dashed out the door to be busy with this and that…

LZY: [GAH THAT MENACINGLY SEDUCTIVE TONE] It seems like I don’t need to be mindful of such excuses from now on.

The roots of my ears can’t help but flush a bit, and I let out a cough before offering an explanation.

MC: Circumstances change… my current action is entirely driven by my dedication to work.

Li Zeyan lets out an ambiguous “ah.” His figure is outlined by the distant lights, casting a slender silhouette that projects onto me.

Amidst the murky darkness, I discern his voice carrying a slightly deeper chuckle, and it seems a little more muffled than usual.

LZY: Sophistry.

LZY: Whether or not there’s some truth to it… I’ll examine it in my own way.

His voice drops to a whisper, and what follows is a warm and entangled kiss.

I find myself involuntarily clutching onto the corner of his garment, tilting my head back to reciprocate. The next moment, I feel the tip of his tongue gently glide across the roof of my mouth.

Despite the brevity of that touch, it sends a shiver through me, making me tremble uncontrollably. I feel as if my heartbeat is about to melt into the fiery breath of this moment.

??: Has this area not been searched yet?

Indistinct chatter suddenly echoes from a distance. I gasp and turn my head, watching as two blurry figures appear far off at the edge of the woods.

MC: They seem to be looking for clues… We…

Before I can finish my entire sentence, it’s gradually drowned out by stifled whimpers.

Li Zeyan closes in on me from the back, covering me deeply. His one hand presses against my lips, seemingly trying to hush my voice.

His slender fingers teasingly caress the space between my teeth. After playing around for a while, they irresistibly delve further in.

MC: …!

LZY: They should know what’s appropriate.

LZY: But if you can’t control your voice… that might be a problem for us.

His fingertips carry the slight chill of the night, stirring my tongue every now and then. It feels like an appeasement, and yet also a form of punishment.

All the sounds in my ears fade away, leaving only the pounding of my heart, growing more and more violent amidst the whimpers. Unconsciously, I bite down on the fingers he has inserted.

His embrace, imprisoning me, tightens even more. A moist kiss descends onto the nape of my neck, followed by gentle nibbles, trailing down to my chest.

Rumble–– 

The rain, which came to a halt, has begun pouring down at some point unbeknownst to us, pitter-pattering onto the surface and creating ripples.

In the embrace of the night, everything is steeped in the surging tide.

──────────────────────────────────────────

Continue to Part 2: here!

────────────────

[xyeh2o]

SkyWing guide for my fanfic

based on the wikifandom SkyWing Overview

Alternate Names: Mountain dragons, sky dragons, or fire dragons (to humans).

Location: Reside in the mountains on the "wing" of Pyrrhia.

Current Ruler: Queen Crimson, descendant of Scarlet, Ruby, and Cliff.

Description

General Appearance:

Based on traditional Western dragons.

Scales: Red, crimson, orange, or yellow; described as "jewel-hard."

Eyes: Typically yellow, orange, or amber; exceptions include Peril and Sky.

Wings: Largest wings among all dragon tribes.

Head Features:

Long, thin snouts with a nose spike and an additional horn on the jaw.

Long, curved horns on their heads.

Eggs: Pale red, orange, or red-gold in color.

Diet

Primary Diet:

Scavengers, mountain goats, chicken, foxes, deer, bobcats, cows, pigs, sheep, rodents, cougars, squirrels, rabbits, and birds of prey.

Roasted seagulls.

Agriculture: SkyWings grow their own crops.

Abilities

Flight:

Fastest flying dragon tribe due to large wings and high endurance.

Built for long-distance flying with notable stamina.

Dragonets learn to fly young.

Fire:

Capable of breathing fire, powerful fighters.

Can hold fire to achieve maximum temperature (similar to NightWings).

Some SkyWings have a condition called firescales:

Firescales: Extremely hot scales that burn anything flammable on contact.

Immune to IceWing frostbreath, which causes temporary numbness if hit.

Rain evaporates upon contact with firescales.

Occurs in twin dragonets where one absorbs more "fire," leaving the other fireless and sickly.

SkyWing law mandates execution for firescales dragonets due to their dangerous nature.

Animus Magic:

SkyWings had animus dragons in the past but killed them due to the danger they posed.

Animus dragons have been absent for centuries.

Society

Personality and Values:

Stereotypically grumpy and aggressive; seen as militaristic and fond of violence.

Value entertainment, such as gladiatorial combat, during wartime.

Enjoy music performed by orchestras, especially during celebrations.

Enjoy dancing, singing, and wing-clapping at parties.

Tolerate few “dangerous differences”; animus and firescales dragons are executed.

Traditions and Social Structure:

Wingery:

Place for young dragonets to grow and play, including areas for practicing flight.

Family Structure:

Loose family ties; not all SkyWings seek partners, instead using a breeding program organized by the queen.

Weddings: Quiet, involving ritual words spoken while flying. During Scarlet’s rule, weddings involved arena fights.

Burial:

Deceased dragons are wrapped in white cloth or silk and offered to the sky for seven days, then burned.

Ceremony allows the dragon’s spirit to reincarnate as a SkyWing.

Held in a cave near the peak of Jade Mountain.

SkyWing Arena:

Originally for parades, art shows, and beauty contests.

Converted by Queen Scarlet into a gladiatorial arena for entertainment.

Prisoners fought for freedom but would be pitted against Scarlet’s champion before reaching enough victories.

Converted into a hospital by Queen Ruby post-war.

Clash of Claws Tournament:

Held every seven years, where SkyWings competed in a weeklong event to prove their skills.

Winners earned fame, glory, and a seat at the queen's advisory table.

Trivia

Hearing: Sharper when flying.

Reputation:

Once referred to as "the friendly tribe" sarcastically in Darkstalker’s time.

Behavior:

Make a unique hissing sound before breathing fire; used as both a threat and a respectful signal.

Preferences:

Prefer living high in mountain peaks, valuing height in their kingdom.

[dogtoling]

Biology of Inkfish - Diet

Neocephalopods are primarily carnivorous creatures, with the majority of their natural prey consisting of crustaceans, insects, fish and birds. They are certainly not picky when it comes to prey, and many cephalings are known to be opportunistic cannibals*, or even readily eat other cephalings that stray into their territories. Out of modern cephalings, only inkfish are able to supplement their diets with plant-based food, but their digestive system is not designed to extract the necessary nutrition for survival from plants alone save for basic carbohydrates and sugars. Therefore, all neocephalopods are obligate carnivores.

(*A staggering number of real cephalopods are cannibalistic, and/or prey on other cephalopods when given the chance. This is something that likely got weeded out in most species as stronger social bonding developed, and in the modern day it is obviously not very popular or legal to eat other sapient species. The exception to this are tentacles, as they get left over from haircuts and eating them is considered "pretty metal".)

Inkfish can enjoy a variety of fruit in their diets. Fruit became a part of the inkling diet because of their high water content, something inklings are naturally drawn to due to their high water intake needs. As a result of their adaptation to eat fruit, inklings are also tuned to taste sweetness, unlike typical carnivores. Parallel to fruit, vegetables that are high in water content are also sometimes eaten, but they tend to be less interesting both flavor- and color-wise for the average inkfish.

[An octoling preying on an unsuspecting seagull. The ink of inkfish allows them to camouflage almost seamlessly onto any flat ground, giving opportunities for ambush attacks.]

Neocephalopods primarily use their limbs and sharp beaks to hunt. Some species, such as neonautiloids and cirrates, are quite slow-moving and opportunistic and prefer to trap smaller prey within their tentacles upon coming across some. More social species, especially squid, tend to be active hunters and even take down prey that is larger than themselves through cooperative pack hunting. It is still generally more common for neocephalopods of all kinds to favor small and weak prey, such as small fish or crustaceans. Inkfish hunt using a combination of their camouflage ability, powerful limbs and beaks, venom, and using their ink as an offensive tool. Cuttling and squidling species have a fifth pair of limbs, the hunting tentacles, which are equipped with clubs and suckers designed for grip. These cephalings typically hunt by reaching out their hunting tentacles and snagging small prey from multiple meters away in a flash. Inkfish are masters of both ambush predation and active predation, and the primary way of hunting depends on the species and their individuals. The most common way of hunting involves hiding in ink, then quickly pouncing out to ambush prey - anything caught in the tentacles or arms of an inkfish has very poor chances of breaking out.

The main way of killing prey in neocephalopods is the use of their beak to inflict lethal injuries or inject paralyzing venom. The beaks at the size of the average neocephalopod are powerful enough to crush bones, crack straight through crustacean shells and rip apart flesh and muscle with ease. Most species use their rasping tongue, or radula, to grate pieces of the prey down their esophagus. Due to this way of eating, they tend to struggle with foods that are too flaky or sticky. The throat itself is very narrow and located at the base of the radula. Most cirrates lack a radula, and are limited to eating small prey and small pieces of food due to swallowing it whole.

Neocephalopods typically have small stomachs, as the prey they eat tends to either be relatively small, or in the case of inkfish, shared with other school members. As a result, neocephalopods naturally tend to eat small portions compared to most fish. However, the caloric needs of inkfish are quite high due to their active lifestyles, and as such they have to eat quite often. The inkling metabolism is very adaptable and variable, greatly depending on the amount of activity. For example, the average inkfish partaking in physical labor or intensive activities such as hunting needs several meals per day, but a hibernating inkfish with little to no activity could go over a month without food - at the expense of most of their body functions falling into dormancy.

[curryfury13]

KHOC Week 2024 Day 7 - Future

We've reached the final day of @khoc-week and it's been such a wonderful whirlwind. Six years it's been going! I can hardly believe it. This prompt helps me look towards the future in my own life as well as Hinata's.

Speaking of Hinata, let's get it!

You may have noticed Hinata wearing a golden locket. It's more than just a simple necklace, it holds her future. Well, more technically it's a recording of a vision of her future.

During "Third Beginning", the Organization began hunting Hinata. Any time she left the mansion the Organization or a bounty hunter were there. It got to the point that her father confined her to the mansion in Twilight Town. The building had a barrier around it keeping outsiders from being able to break in uninvited.

This worked for a while. Until Hinata couldn't handle being locked away. She became restless and frustrated. And eventually she convinced Riku to head back to a world they'd been to in the past, a world that had a certain oracular pig that could show visions of the future.

If the vision showed her with a happy future, then surely things would be ok of she left the mansion.

So Riku and Sam went to Prydain, the origin of the Black Cauldron. After an arduous journey that involved the Horned King coming back as a Heartless, having to regain Taran's trust, and getting Hen Wen back from the Heartless King, they were rewarded with their visions.

Sam asked to see her father, who had disappeared over two years ago. While Riku asked to see Hinata.

B.E.N recorded the resulting visions and Sam created the lockets to house both of the visions.

Hinata wears her locket on a necklace and often holds it, tracing the indentations, when she's anxious. For her it's a reminder that everything will be ok. No matter how dark things become, there's a light waiting there at the end.

Below the cut is an except from Chapter 39 of "Third Beginning", describing the vision in its entirety.

_-----------_----------_-----------_

Riku wordlessly nodded and looked over at Hen Wen, catching her blue eyes gazing back at him. Something about her made him feel uneasy, as if she was looking right into his soul. He slowly knelt down beside her and took in a deep breath as he took off one of his gloves.

Barely touching the surface of the water, he gently moved his finger in a circular motion, repeating the words, "Hen Wen, from you I do beseech, knowledge that lies beyond my reach…"

Hen Wen followed his movements with her eyes, before lowering her snout into the water. The surface shimmered as Ben lit up his eyes, beginning his recording. A familiar sight appeared on the water's surface: a blue sparkling ocean that went out as far as they could see. Clouds speckled the sky as seagulls flew by, landing on the tall coconut trees that surrounded them. Hinata walked into view, her hands clasped behind her as she looked around. Her hair tapered past her shoulders, swaying softly with the breeze. A blue floral fabric was tied at her hips, billowing in the wind, and a black swimsuit top was fastened around her chest. She looked over her shoulder at Riku, her tattoo glowing brilliantly as she spoke, yet they couldn't hear her voice.

In the vision, Riku walked forward and pushed a few strands of Hinata's hair behind her ear, making her giggle before she looked back out at the ocean view. Behind them, Sora and Kairi came running up, both of them in their swimsuits, laughing as they approached. Kairi tackle hugged Hinata, almost making them topple over as Sora stopped beside Riku, grinning over at him. Suddenly, the vision swirled, making the image disappear before bringing up something new.

Riku stood in front of a group of familiar faces, Hinata being one of them. Star and crescent moon shaped windows were along the walls behind them, showing a deep space outdoors. In the center of the room was a long table, where a man with a long grayed beard sat, speaking to him. His eyes appeared stern and serious, but given the smiles on everyone else's face, Riku felt calm and welcomed. Beside the man stood Mickey with Donald and Goofy at his side. Behind them, Hinata had her hands clasped in front of her chest with a sweet expression on her face. She looked over to the right of Riku, making Riku look over to see Sora standing beside him with his hands linked behind his head as he spoke with a goofy grin molded onto his face. Sora noticed Riku's stare and looked over at him. The moment their eyes met, the vision once again swirled, about to change into a new image.

"I don't understand," the real Riku spoke up, shortly glancing up at Sam as she had walked over to see the vision. "These seem really far in the future."

Sam met his gaze, her eyes equally as confused as his. "Just keep watching, we'll figure it out."

Riku frowned, but looked back at the vision, showing him walking through a forest. Lush green trees surrounded him and soft grass speckled with flowers covered the ground. He noticed Hinata in the distance, sitting on top of a plush red—checkered quilt beside a woven picnic basket. In front of her was a little girl, no more than the age of six. Her hair was the same color as Riku's, reaching all the way to her waist. She sat patiently while Hinata braided her hair, weaving in some of the flowers from around the forest.

"Wait, is that…?" Sam softly began to speak, kneeling down to see the vision better.

Before she could finish her sentence, both the little girl and Hinata looked over. Their eyes didn't meet with Riku's but a little below to the right of him. Hinata's smile turned into a grin as she held out her arms. A little boy, barely over the age of two, with dark red hair, toddled into view from Riku's side. He stumbled a bit, but ran into Hinata's arms, receiving a warm hug. Hinata laughed, kissing the little boy on his forehead before looking up at Riku. A sweet glow was in her matured face and smile.

The real Riku gasped when their eyes met, his breath catching in his throat as his heart jumped. He knew exactly who those children were. A warm flush covered his face as tears threatened to fill his eyes. Swallowing hard, he looked away, unable to keep his gaze with Hinata's without being overwhelmed with emotion.

"T—that—" his voice came out hoarsely, making him clear his throat, "That's enough."

Taran reached forward and rippled the water, making the vision disappear. Riku leaned back, feeling the couch behind him to support his weight. He looked over at the crackling fire, wrapping his mind over everything he had just seen. His heart fluttered every time he replayed the events, a blush permanently on his cheeks. Ever so slowly, a smirk appeared on his face, eventually transforming into a full smile.

He tore his gaze from the flames to see Sam. She noticed him looking over and smiled at him, shaking her head and letting out a breathy laugh.

"Might not have been what we were looking for," she laughed, her voice still stained with tears. "But you have to admit, that was pretty amazing anyways."

[girldragongizzard]

Chapter 16: Courting a nightmare

From what I’ve been able to learn from reports in my Discord, is that Wentin has the smallest territory of any local dragon.

Mine is second smallest because maybe I gave too much of it to Joel as reconciliation for hurting him so much in our fights.

One of those fights happened within Wentin’s territory, the Fairport Arboretum, and it was very loud and involved fire. And Wentin didn’t intervene or show itself at all. Pretty seriously atypical of a dragon.

It turns out that we can saunter through each others’ territories without much trouble a lot of time, if we’re quiet and lucky about it. Luck is less important now that we’re talking to each other online, though. Getting permission smooths things over a lot.

But there are still rivalries. And we also all mostly just stick to our territories as much as we can. Most of us feel very responsible for them. Anurak being something of an exception.

But that fight happened before we all started getting to know each other, and Wentin just let it happen without rebuke for some reason.

Every dragon is wildly different. Even those of us who have similar morphologies have a few significant traits that are not the same. Both physical and emotional. We don’t all share the same instincts.

So, while Wentin’s behavior is atypical, it’s also stereotypical. In that its behavior is unique to it.

One of my hopes is that Ptarmigan will have the opportunity to perform a thorough divination on it and learn more than she might with anyone else, because it is supposedly a walking nightmare. According to her.

I do find myself asking if Wentin is actually a dragon, though.

Not, does it rate as a dragon? It certainly does. But, is it something older and worse?

And right after that, I ask myself once again, what does it actually want?

—

Saturday. September 21. The day before the Fall Equinox.

I keep missing these old special dates with whatever I’m doing, for some reason. The full moon, the new moon, the equinox. They matter to some people. Maybe they’re important. But I keep forgetting to schedule for them because I’m more focused on what’s in front of my face, I guess.

Middle of the day. One of the last Farmer’s Markets of the season is happening up across the street from Flounder Sound Brewpub, and this park is relatively empty of people.

It’s close enough it normally wouldn’t be. There’d be kids playing in the playground. Which I was banking on, actually. I wanted human witnesses.

I wanted a reason to keep the violence and scary posturing to a minimum.

But something is keeping the humans away from Joel’s favorite park, today.

I’ve watched from my rooftop as kids have climbed on Joel like he’s a piece of playground equipment, with his eyes closed and his breath long and relaxed. So it’s not Joel.

There’s a guy at the end of the peer with a panicky dog on a leash, and he’s trying to keep the dog from jumping in the water to get away.

And there are some absolutely ignorant seagulls picking away at things left in the park by people earlier in the day.

On a picnic table, there’s the skeletal remains of a fast food meal that was just left there. And the birds have knocked over the milkshake, and popped the lid off, and it was half full. The gulls care more about that than the possibility of being swallowed by me. Or than whatever it is that’s keeping the humans away or terrifying that dog.

Are gulls the harbingers of something in someone’s culture?

If I were in my human disguise, it’d be easier to look that up real quick.

And looking at Joel and Chapman and Ptarmigan, who are arrayed to either side of me in the middle of the field, I’m thinking not think as much about any of this as I probably should.

I’m wondering how Rhoda is doing. I’m worrying about what she’s thinking while holed up in her apartment alone. I’m hoping she’s taking this moment to get down to the shop and have a nice tea there by herself without the rest of us there, maybe. And I’m hoping I’m doing something she’d actually approve of.

Even though it can’t fly, and we’re in the middle of a large field in an open park in the middle of the day, Wentin still manages to make an ominous entrance.

While glancing around at my surroundings, waiting for it to appear, there’s a moment when one of my tiny blind spots, the wedge of space directly behind my head, is aimed at the area in front of my body.

And when my head twitches to look at something else, Wentin is there.

I’m not the only one startled by this. All four of us are, including the two Artists.

Maybe it was the one moment we were all looking away.

“Hello!” Wentin croons like a saw on a chalkboard.

Joel jumps back and barks, almost like a dog but way bigger.

Chapman’s hands suddenly go out to hir sides, like sie’s trying to steady hirself.

Ptarmigan looks up and blinks and grimaces.

I find myself reared up and flapping my wings and hissing like an alligator doing an impression of a goose. It’s almost like I see this in third person, the dissociation is instant and fleeting.

“Oh! You honor me, Meghan! Thank you,” Wentin screeches. “Please, though, can we get down to – oh, hello.” It notices Ptarmigan and takes a step back to lower its head and look at her. “I recognize you.”

“I wondered if you would,” Ptarmigan said. “How’s life?”

“I’m quite enjoying it, thank you,” it answers magniloquently.

I currently come up to its breastbone. Like, the lowest point of its chest as it hangs between its two front legs, while I’m on four legs too. Rearing up, I could place my head neatly in its mouth.

While it and Ptarmigan regard each other with apparent respect, I take out my tablet and arrange it for talking.

“How much do you remember?” Ptarmigan asks Wentin.

“Oh, this and that,” it responds. “I remember what I am more than anything. Which is truly the most important thing! Don’t you think?”

“It certainly saves a lot of trouble.”

“Have I ever told you that you are not my favorite Artist?” Wentin asks, but doesn’t give room for an answer. “I quite like you and respect you, yes, dear Nightmarist. But there are others that are more inspiring to my work, it turns out. And you are more like a doctor than a muse, if I’m not incorrect. Yes?”

I notice as Ptarmigan starts saying her next words, she also begins to move her right foot in circles and swirls on the grass, and my shift nerve starts to buzz as she says, “You are quite correct. I find it satisfying that you recognize –”

“Oh, what is it that you are doing?” Wentin squeaks. “Don’t you recall that I can feel that? Especially from you.”

“I’d like to figure out what your place is in this new development. How did you get a physical form along with everyone else,” Ptarmigan says unperturbed, and continues scribbling with her foot. “It shouldn’t hurt and it shouldn’t give me an advantage over you. I’ll share my findings if you let me continue.”

“What should I do if I don’t like them?” It asks with a very suggestive tone.

I interrupt by asking, “What do you want, Wentin?”

It seems all too happy to be distracted, like it’s not actually threatened by anything that we’re doing collectively, and it says, “Oh, yes, Meghan. You are the one I really wanted to talk to. The turncoats still operate unchecked and unidentified, and I understand you have other concerns.”

I huff. I wasn’t adequately prepared for this conversation and composing the proper response will take time. And Wentin is talking in a way that makes me feel rushed. Like, if I give it too much of a pause, it will fill the silence with more of its grandiloquent ambient noise.

Fortunately, Chapman steps up and asks, “Are the turncoats actually real, Wentin?”

“Oh, there are always turncoats, especially in a population as large as Independence County,” brushes the question off. “Or should I just call them the opposition? It’s not like they declared their allegiance to Queen Meg to begin with.”

“You said options,” I manage to say.

“Yes, I did!” it chirps. “There are so many we could choose from, too. It depends on what your expectations are, I suppose. But I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if we discuss them.”

“What options? Options for what?” Chapman asks for me, as Ptarmigan starts scuffing and kicking the ground.

Joel, for his part, has plopped his butt on the ground like a giant extremely misshapen corgi, exuding the casual carelessness only the ignored can afford. It’s helping me, though. I like his manner.

Wentin actually pauses, tilting his head at Chapman and grinning to show off his broad, flat, triangular teeth that could slice through flesh like knives.

And in that pause, Ptarmigan mutters, “I should have done this long ago.”

“Scenarios,” Wentin drawls long and smoothly, tasting each syllable of the word as if it was rendering it with its mouth and not some biological stereo speaker set deep in its chest. “Oh, my dear Artist of How Things Bump, so many delicious scenarios.”

Chapman scowls and looks it up and down, and then says, “Why do I feel less scared of you with every word you say?”

“Why should you be scared of me to begin with, Artist? I’m only here to serve,” Wentin emphasizes that last word as if its meant to mean something else that pleases it too greatly.

“Yeah, no. You’re harmless,” Ptarmigan grumbles.

“Manners, please!” the monster protests.

“You’re literally one of the world’s oldest nightmares, and your job is to keep animals on their toes, their instincts honed, and ready to run when there’s a hint of danger. And talking is your weakest stance,” Ptarmigan says. “No, Wentin, I respect you. These are my manners. Interpretation is translation. It facilitates diplomacy.” She turns to me, “Wentin is effectively bearing its throat. It wants to serve you. It just doesn’t know how.”

Joel yawns and Wentin shuts up, looking just a little bewildered and maybe smaller.

It waits patiently and quietly as I look at Ptarmigan and then Chapman, tilt my head, and then look at it.

And then I’m given the time to look down at my tablet and compose a question, “Are you a dragon?”

But Ptarmigan answers for it, “Oh, yes, definitely. That was part of the whole point of my divination right now. I thought I knew exactly what it was since the first time I met it. We had a delightful series of conversations back then where I learned what it does. But, what I didn’t know was how it was related to you. It’s a dragon. Just like you are. Its place in the world is just really ancient and obvious. It might even be one of the oldest dragons.”

Chapman asks, “Wentin. May I scan you, please?”

Wentin demurely bows its head. And for some reason, now that it has fallen silent I feel more afraid of it. But Chapman takes that gesture as assent and taps hir wrists together.

Shift.

“Oh. It is there, isn’t it. It’s not in our minds, not a shared hallucination,” Chapman exclaims. Then sie asks Wentin, “How did you sneak up on us suddenly like that?”

Wentin relaxes and smiles and croons in good humor, then says, “I’ve always been able to do that. It’s just one of the little perks I provide for those morsels that deserve it.”

And suddenly I’m not scared of it again. I’m so soothed by its words and manners that for a brief moment I want to be eaten by it.

“Shit,” I say, and shake my head.

Wentin giggles.

Then it says, looking to the side to demonstrate the length of its mouth as it talks, “I can consume your vessel as many times as you may need, my lady. It is my specialty.”

I take three steps back, eyes wide, wings wide and ready to beat shit silly, tail lashing.

Joel harumphs in a bored way, and it helps me come back to myself and relax a bit. But holy shit, I feel the need to get as far away from that maw as possible. 

It’s like when I was small and wingless, standing on the edge of Ross dam and knowing that I would throw myself off it in a heartbeat if my parents weren’t there to scream at me while I did it, and holding back more because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to fly after all, even though my body insisted I could.

I wonder if humans feel something similar when I transfix them.

Ptarmigan points to me and says to Wentin, “That might be useful. If you aim it at the right person.”

“Yeah, but please don’t do that to Meghan again, thank you,” Chapman adds.

Wentin grins, “Would you like some?”

“No.”

It’s Ptarmigan’s turn to coincidentally speak for me, asking, “You don’t actually know what Daniel Säure is up to, do you?”

“I’ll never confess my weaknesses,“ Wentin complains.

“That’s OK, we can work with you anyway,” she says. “I think you’ve already helped us out immensely, and you’ll make a great messenger and agent of…” she looks at Chapman and actually grins for the second time I’ve seen, “chaos.”

“Yeah,” Chapman says. “Also, maybe stop sewing discord in the, uh.. Hm. They chose that name on purpose didn’t they? Wentin, can you please stop scaring the shit out of the other dragons?”

“Oh, but I need to eat.”

“You don’t actually eat fear, do you?” Chapman asks, squinting and frowning. Then sie looks at Ptarmigan.

“No,” Ptarmigan says. “Hilariously, it feeds on agreement. It’s just always achieved that agreement by terrifying its audiences. They agree that it’s terrifying and they run, and it grows. Or they agree to give up and die, and it eats them in their dream, and it walks away satisfied as they wake up in a self recriminating panic. For this Earthly vessel, though, I expect it needs real food.”

“I most certainly do not!” Wentin protests.

“Really.”

“I do not. Agreement, as you say, is more than enough.”

“Fantastic. That tells us more.” Then Ptarmigan turns to me with her typical stony face and says deadpan, “Meg, Your Highness, I think we may have found you a mentor. Wentin should be able to teach you things that we can’t.”

I creep carefully back to my tablet to ask, “How?”

“Wentin,” Ptarmigan addresses the nightmare. “Could you, if you wanted to, describe to Meghan what it feels like to do things like move instantly through whatever means it is that you do that? Or how to change your size and shape, as I think you can do? I’m right that I saw you shrink just a moment ago. I’m not sure she can do those things, but the sensations might be similar to other things she can do.”

“It would be a challenge,” Wentin says with an eagerness that doesn’t befit the sentence.

“Would it be more… effective? Perhaps? If, while you explained things, you did something, like…” Ptarmigan looks past Chapman at me with hooded eyes, assessing me in a way that makes me profoundly nervous, given the circumstances and present company. I realize I haven’t fully developed my trust in her. She still has an air that makes me wonder just how much of the truth she’s ever telling me. “Chase her, Wentin! And try to eat her!”

What?

—

It’s Saturday afternoon, broad daylight. There’s a huge gap in the clouds allowing everything to be illuminated by the sun, and I’m dissociating furiously. This is unreal. One moment, I was negotiating a deal of some sort with another dragon, hoping it would go OK, the next, I’m running for my life.

I can flap my wings. I can jump. I can even fly for fifty yards or so. But I cannot get high enough to bring my feet and tail more than a foot above Wentin’s reach.

It’s just like the recurring nightmares of my youth, and now I’m wondering if it wasn’t Wentin in those dreams, too.

I can’t be awake right now, it doesn’t make any sense.

But I also don’t dare fly out over the water, because I’ll have to land and I’ll find myself in the drink.

And while I can head into the city, and try to climb my building, that would mean leading Wentin into crowds of people, and I can’t do that.

And as I’m running and dodging and dashing and flapping all over the park, like a hapless chicken chased by a dog, Wentin is fucking lecturing me.

But it’s like taunting instead. Taunting with suggestion.

“That’s right, Meghan, this is all very real,” it cackles. “Everything you and I do in this little dance of ours has immediate consequences. It’s no dream this time! Hold onto that while I swallow you whole!”

I rumble, and I squawk, and I knock, and I shout “Mayor!” and say “shit” and none of it does any good.

I can’t keep this up. I’m not an endurance hunter like a human is. I can already feel my body flagging and running nearly on empty. Pretty soon my muscles will stop working, even as I dodge around old, abandoned storage tanks.

And the others just watch, like my family did in my nightmares.

“But there are rules to this, Meghan,” my nightmare screams. “And the rules have always been the same! You know them! You’ve followed them! You’ve successfully evaded me for hundreds of thousands of years! Millions!”

What?

I’m so distracted by that, I lose track of everything else and just become aware of where my body is and what it’s doing in relation to the monster. I don’t think I even remember to breathe.

I feel like that’s just dissociation, especially because of how aware I am of my situation in the moment, and the thought of wondering if I’m breathing or if it matters because I can’t feel it anymore.

Now it’s like I’m moving my body through sheer will, and there’s no resistance.

“I will eat you, Meghan. That much is certain,” it whispers, and I hear it perfectly clear through my own squawking and flapping. “But before I do, you will remember the rules. Through the repetition of practice and reflex, you will retrain your conscious mind. And you will live!”

Jesus shit, fucking Christ, Smaug on a biscuit, it almost got me that time!

“You can do anything your body remembers doing, Meghan, if you let it, or I will eat you now!”

As I jump straight up, flapping, and bring myself just high enough for Wentin’s teeth to snap shut an inch below the tip of my tail, I wonder what the rest of the city is seeing and hearing. How can anybody let this go on without comment or action, without social consequence? Where are the dreaded police that have been watching? Is this what they want? To see one dragon get eaten by another, cut in half by teeth that have evolved to sever scale and bone?

What are the rules?

[hojiteaversion]

Mehmed/MC - Fic Recommendations

An asterisk (*) before the title indicates the fic is in Russian! (I read with a browser translator and it's fine! Sometimes some things sound funny and/or pronouns are translated wrong, but it's all understandable!)

All the fics are completed!

Collision by BorgiaBarbie

Laia struggles when the return of Mehmed complicates her already messy love life with Noe. Oh, and she has one week to restore a priceless painting. Can Laia somehow figure out who she is and what she wants before the sand in the hourglass runs out? Laia/Mehmed and Laia/Noe. Mess. Chaos. Jealousy. Angst. Set after the events of Dracula a Love Story Season 4 Episode 3. Chapters 9 & 10 are set 6 months later.

Hilarious? Check ✅ Great writing? Check ✅ Fluff, angst, humor, and smut?! Check ✅

Also, chapter 4 is what most people would call a religious experience. Please, please do yourself a favor and read it.

The Sultan’s request by nesrinslittleworld

Lale Hatun has a conversation with her Uncle when she visits him with the second portrait.

Really well-written short fic. Mehmed/MC is just implied, but I really enjoyed this look into Lale's conflicted feelings about him.

*The trap of excitement by Akulova Anastasia

After her joint incognito outing with Shehzade, Lale continued to avoid Mehmed, fearing her own feelings, and he, having chosen the path of her methodical conquest, found another safe way to get closer, which could not help but seduce the gambling nature of the Sultana: he promised to teach the game of chess, bypassing the prohibitions. The tactics turn out to be correct, but soon Mehmed sets off on a new campaign. On what note will they say goodbye to Lale, and will she agree to one small bet?

This fic has excellent Mehmed characterization, excellent chemistry and development between him and Lale, an amazing dance scene, and a top-notch epilogue. No spoilers, but there's a moment between the two in the smut scene that I find beautifully done and quite touching!

*Obsession by Akulova Anastasia

“Sorry… God, I don’t know what came over me,” I muttered in confusion and embarrassment, for some reason backing away and awkwardly knocking over the paints. Damn it, in this life we ​​have known each other for only a few days and we are not connected by anything except the memories of the reckless passion of young Lale, who probably did not end in anything good, another me, who has long fallen asleep. So why am I now torn by such unbearable thirst and longing? Why did I… kiss him?

Some beautiful and memorable moments between Laia and Mehmed in this one, especially in chapters 2 and 3. To further entice you, I will say one of these excellent moments involves a knife 🙏‍🙌

*Swallow and flame by linalisavv

“I need to run away from you like fire, but I’m flying towards you like a stupid, naive moth, hoping not to scorch my wings,” Lale said almost in a whisper. Her lips collided with the Shehzade’s, and the air around sparked.

This fic (set after 3x11) imagines how Lale and Mehmed could get together in the Ottoman Empire. I think it's very well-written! And while Vlad plays a minimal role here, I think it's fun that this fic is technically set in a Mehmed and Vlad route. Kudos for the sweet epilogue too!

*A fragile tulip in his hands by Seagull with cookies.

Her mind told her: “Get out, run. He is a cruel tyrant. Madman. He will destroy you." And my heart screamed: “It won’t hurt. Can not. His feelings are too strong."

Friends... This one made me insane. It had a lot of things that fit their canon dynamic so well! I want to let you experience it for yourselves, so I'll just say: drawings, teasing, understanding, breathplay (!!!), and falling in love. Please read it.

*On the edge of the abyss by Little_romantic

"I'm scared. I'm afraid it will hurt again…" "I will never hurt you." His whisper sounded so convincing, so soulful that goosebumps ran across my skin. She knew he believed it, but…

I have recommended this one before, and I will do it again! Each chapter is independent from the others, but guys, the sheer longing in these glimpses of them as Mehmed and Lale want, more than anything, to make them work even as they're scared because, you know, it's them... I think it's a beautiful work and it makes my heart just go out to them.

[tastesoftamriel]

What are your favorite egg-based meals?

Eggs! Whether they're from chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and more, there are many dishes around Tamriel that feature this simple ingredient.

Altmer

In Summerset, a popular starter dish is a savoury steamed seafood egg custard known as chawanmushi. Served either chilled or hot enough to melt your face, this little dish is packed with prawns and shellfish and mushrooms, and topped with a slice of chewy fishcake.

Argonians

Crocodile eggs are a delicacy in Black Marsh, and the local Saxhleel have many ways of preparing them. My personal favourite is a flavourful scrambled omelette with scallions and oysters, cooked until the oysters are juicy to the point of bursting and the eggs are fluffy yet crisp. Known as or luak, this omelette is served with a healthy serving of chili sauce.

Bosmer

While people tend to hyperfixate on the meat aspect of the Bosmeri diet, they forget that eggs are just as important a food source. Poached giant snake eggs with cream sauce and smoked salmon atop cricket bread are the perfect brunch delight, especially when paired with a bit of jagga-and-honey.

Bretons

If there's one race in Tamriel who's mastered the soufflé, it's the Bretons. Whether savoury or sweet and set aflame with liquor, you can't deny that this tricky dish is worth every delicious mouthful. I'm personally a big fan of (surprise) four-cheese soufflé, where the egg is whipped with a clever blend of local High Rock cheeses to enhance the stiffening and therefore prevent an immediate collapse upon leaving the oven.

Dunmer

You'll never guess what this Dunmeri dish involves. Kwama eggs? Volcanic ash? Yes. Whole kwama eggs are buried beneath a mixture of lime and ash, and left to ferment for a few weeks until they have achieved a jelly-like texture on the exterior, and a creamy yet firm yolk. The eggs are served sliced and chilled, with pickled ginger on the side. Also great atop savoury saltrice congee.

Imperials

Like their penchant for eating pecorino-stuffed dormice, this dish will have you wondering what's wrong with Imperials. Balut is simply a raw duck egg, containing the lovely surprise of a two week-old foetus. Crack open the egg and sip up the whites, then season that foetus with salt and a splash of vinegar and slurp it up whole. This is, to some, unimaginably cruel, but Imperials in the Blackwood region insist that it's good for the health, and that it's delicious. I'll take their word for it, as this is one of the very few dishes I can't bring myself to try.

Khajiit

If there's a quintessential dish native to southern Elsweyr, it's probably telur balado, or twice-cooked eggs with chili sauce. Eggs are first boiled, then briefly deep fried to give them a delightfully crisp exterior while maintaining a rich yolk. It's then slathered in a rather spicy tomato-based sauce, and served with steamed rice. Also rather nice with a pinch of moon sugar.

Nords

While eggs from just about every bird are commonly used in Nord cuisine, chicken's eggs are by far the most popular and easily accessible. A signature egg dish in Skyrim is a thick omelette studded with bacon, served with sliced spring onions and rye bread. Simple, delicious, and downright good (except for its traditional, apparently Atmoran name, flæskeæggekage).

Orcs

Not everyone enjoys chub loon eggs, but Wrothgarian Orcs can't get enough of their rich, slightly fishy flavour. One popular egg dish is a seafood soup with egg drops, horker meatballs, and mudcrab meat. The egg drops are formed by whisking beaten eggs into the boiling soup, allowing the tendrils to cook on contact. It's served with seaweed noodles and a dash of strong black vinegar.

Redguards

Seagull eggs are a popular ingredient in coastal Hammerfell, and also act as a control measure against too many seagulls. This has happened numerous times in Stros M'kai, where shakshouka hails from. This famous dish is comprised of seagull eggs poached in an iron skillet with a spicy, flavourful tomato sauce, onions, and charred peppers. Usually eaten at breakfast with flatbread to mop up the sauce.

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

Stupid question but how come naturally paler birds, seagulls, snowy owls, etc, don't face similar levels of feather breakage as leuistic and albino birds from other species?

Feather structure is a very complex topic that I am not the most qualified to give a full coverage of as a raptor specialist.

The most barebones summary I can give you though is that out simply they are structured differently depending on if pigmentation is naturally going to occur in them or not.

However, you may also notice that the primary feathers on most gulls, terns, and other seabirds that need to sustain long and hard flights tend to be heavily pigmented to offer additional structure.

In general terms it isn’t uncommon to see white birds have some color to their flight feathers.

And exceptions to this rule tend to be birds that only engage in short flights to avoid predators or at least flights that are non-intensive. Snowy owls are a special case because owl feathers have a very unique structure to be soft and allow a lot of air to flow through and around them to create a silent flight. Because of the way the air interacts with their feathers, they don’t experience as much direct air resistance slamming against their feathers.

There is more to all of this that involves the difference between diluted pigment and absent pigment, but again that’s far from my specialization.

[bleachbleachbleach]

Back on my Wheels Bullshit Again

Some thoughts about why Menos are probably not a good replacement candidate for whale oil; and why the Seireitei should have an extremely racist (ghost-ist?) World's Fair

Yesterday I drove 500+ miles to see someone perform, among other things, as a seagull in a James and the Giant Peach musical. EXCELLENT, would recommend, but this also meant I had a good amount of time on the road to think about some absolute bullshit. As a result of the Great Summer Conspiracy (road construction, hours and hours), I'm also feeling dehydrated and mentally addled, so this will be word vomit I may come back to more seriously, or maybe not! Who knows!

But I was thinking about the Soul Society wheels situation. Wheels exist, if not in great numbers (filler wheels in deep Rukongai; Mayuri's Hueco Mundo caravan; the casters on the Zombie Pods, the wheels on Yachiru's sheathe). But if they wanted more wheels (transportation wheels, but any other kind of wheels or spinning thing--like, in a computer or other mechanized object), what would they use for lubricant? Is there oil they can drill for? Is the ocean close and fecund enough to have whale oil (or I guess... some other oily fish, in abundance)? There doesn't seem to be a lot of domestic animal husbandry to be using them for tallow/lard in addition to occasional food. Does the 12th have a lubricants division, and if so, what kinds of things do they develop, and what raw materials are available? I guess they probably do, but the fact remains they have way fewer wheels and spinny things than we do.

I feel like Menos would not be a good substitute for whale oil, because, despite having made a joke about Menos leather jackets once, I don't think they use Hollows like that, due to the stigma (and/or concerns over spiritual contamination). And also because it may not be that....stable? Like, it seems equally likely that a Menos body might stick around to be harvested, or would just poof into reishi motes. Maybe there's some finesse to whichever of these happens, but the whole otherworldly spirit flesh thing introduces some complications here, is what I'm saying.

Which made me think about the fact of most of the population of Soul Society not needing to eat, and the need for food production not acting as a driver for agricultural/industrial change, because the eating population is pretty small. So who needs wheels, or agriculture at scale, or orphan chimney sweeps? As long as you have enough criminals to mine for seki-sekki, you're gucci!

In terms of things shinigami would have spent time on instead, we have kidou/kaidou and killing Hollows (see above). That got interesting to me just because there does seem to be a kind of dichotomy between what we'll call military technologies and "other stuff." Like, there seem to be spiritual/ritual reasons that zanpakutou powers tend to be used only in battle/warfare applications (excepting some omake/omake-like instances). Kidou might be a little looser, but only slightly--in the sense that it seems like it's probably involved in some of their electrical/technological stuff--the worm TV, Rin's Noo-Noo thing (linked because I realize that my ~natural Teletubbies patois might not be shared, LOL). But they haven't gone, like, fully Harry Potter with what they think kidou/magic should be user for. So there's also not necessarily that same driver where military/non-military technologies are a lot more incestuous for us than they seem to be for them.

And that's all without thinking about the timescale at which they're operating, re: aging. Or the fact that thinking about shinigami specifically, they don't really have trading partners or other societies to swap ideas with (that we know of), aside from cribbing off the Living World--which certainly has made its mark on the palimpsestic cultural/technological life of Soul Society, though it's not all just stolen from the Living World, being that Sasakibe's been rocking rapiers since time immemorial, and Shinji's TBTP speaker setup, etc.

I feel like if the Seireitei were interested enough in ethnographic studies of Rukongai, there'd be some extremely interesting stuff out there. Like, sure, from what we've seen it's fairly resource-poor, and the somewhat high turnover rate from people getting eaten by monsters could go either way in terms of whether that's uhhhh helpful in driving cultural change. But there's a lot of souls out there with a lot of fragments of all kinds of weirdo memory, maybe, and a lot of different groups of people thinking about things largely independently of one another--but with some opportunity for cultural cross-pollination still. And we know they've got the hottest wheels AND the snake wine out there. I feel like there's all kinds of cool regional stuff going down out there, and it's just shinigami who are like

"Ah yes, the cultureless, primitive, flatlands of Rukongai"

"Actually, out in East 56 we have a rich history of--"

"woe are the half-lives of the ghostly"

"we have 42 lunar calendar systems and 35 linguistic sub-families--"

"nary a dinglehopper with which to entertain themselves as they await death"

[themousefromfantasyland]

The Lay of Yonec

by Marie de France, translated by Eugene Mason

@ariel-seagull-wings @princesssarisa @adarkrainbow

In fairy tales there is this type of story where a prince that can shapeshifts into a bird visits a young maiden locked in a tower and makes love with her. Madame d'Aulnoy’s The Blue Bird, possibly the origin of the term Prince Charming or Le roi Charmant as he was originally called, is one of these tales.

In my research I found this charming and bittersweet tale among the lais of Marie de France. Lays or lais are narrative or lyrical poems, usually in octosyllabic couplets, intended to be sung from medieval Breton literature that deal with courtly love and chivalric deeds, often involving supernatural fairy elements. They are like the link between chivalric romances and fairy tales.

Since I have commenced I would not leave any of these Lays untold. The stories that I know I would tell you forthwith. My hope is now to rehearse to you the story of Yonec, the son of Eudemarec, his mother's first born child.

In days of yore there lived in Britain a rich man, old and full of years, who was lord of the town and realm of Chepstow. This town is builded on the banks of the Douglas, and is renowned by reason of many ancient sorrows which have there befallen. When he was well stricken in years this lord took to himself a wife, that he might have children to come after him in his goodly heritage. The damsel, who was bestowed on this wealthy lord, came of an honourable house, and was kind and courteous, and passing fair. She was beloved by all because of her beauty, and none was more sweetly spoken of from Chepstow to Lincoln, yea, or from there to Ireland. Great was their sin who married the maiden to this agèd man. Since she was young and gay, he shut her fast within his tower, that he might the easier keep her to himself. He set in charge of the damsel his elder sister, a widow, to hold her more surely in ward. These two ladies dwelt alone in the tower, together with their women, in a chamber by themselves. There the damsel might have speech of none, except at the bidding of the ancient dame. More than seven years passed in this fashion. The lady had no children for her solace, and she never went forth from the castle to greet her kinsfolk and her friends. Her husband's jealousy was such that when she sought her bed, no chamberlain or usher was permitted in her chamber to light the candles. The lady became passing heavy. She spent her days in sighs and tears. Her loveliness began to fail, for she gave no thought to her person. Indeed at times she hated the very shadow of that beauty which had spoiled all her life.

Now when April had come with the gladness of the birds, this lord rose early on a day to take his pleasure in the woods. He bade his sister to rise from her bed to make the doors fast behind him. She did his will, and going apart, commenced to read the psalter that she carried in her hand. The lady awoke, and shamed the brightness of the sun with her tears. She saw that the old woman was gone forth from the chamber, so she made her complaint without fear of being overheard.

"Alas," said she, "in an ill hour was I born. My lot is hard to be shut in this tower, never to go out till I am carried to my grave. Of whom is this jealous lord fearful that he holds me so fast in prison? Great is a man's folly always to have it in mind that he may be deceived. I cannot go to church, nor hearken to the service of God. If I might talk to folk, or have a little pleasure in my life, I should show the more tenderness to my husband, as is my wish. Very greatly are my parents and my kin to blame for giving me to this jealous old man, and making us one flesh. I cannot even look to become a widow, for he will never die. In place of the waters of baptism, certainly he was plunged in the flood of the Styx. His nerves are like iron, and his veins quick with blood as those of a young man. Often have I heard that in years gone by things chanced to the sad, which brought their sorrows to an end. A knight would meet with a maiden, fresh and fair to his desire. Damsels took to themselves lovers, discreet and brave, and were blamed of none. Moreover since these ladies were not seen of any, except their friends, who was there to count them blameworthy! Perchance I deceive myself, and in spite of all the tales, such adventures happened to none. Ah, if only the mighty God would but shape the world to my wish!"

When the lady had made her plaint, as you have known, the shadow of a great bird darkened the narrow window, so that she marvelled what it might mean. This falcon flew straightway into the chamber, jessed and hooded from the glove, and came where the dame was seated. Whilst the lady yet wondered upon him, the tercel became a young and comely knight before her eyes. The lady marvelled exceedingly at this sorcery. Her blood turned to water within her, and because of her dread she hid her face in her hands. By reason of his courtesy the knight first sought to persuade her to put away her fears.

"Lady," said he, "be not so fearful. To you this hawk shall be as gentle as a dove. If you will listen to my words I will strive to make plain what may now be dark. I have come in this shape to your tower that I may pray you of your tenderness to make of me your friend. I have loved you for long, and in my heart have esteemed your love above anything in the world. Save for you I have never desired wife or maid, and I shall find no other woman desirable, until I die. I should have sought you before, but I might not come, nor even leave my own realm, till you called me in your need. Lady, in charity, take me as your friend."

The lady took heart and courage whilst she hearkened to these words. Presently she uncovered her face, and made answer. She said that perchance she would be willing to give him again his hope, if only she had assurance of his faith in God. This she said because of her fear, but in her heart she loved him already by reason of his great beauty. Never in her life had she beheld so goodly a youth, nor a knight more fair.

"Lady," he replied, "you ask rightly. For nothing that man can give would I have you doubt my faith and affiance. I believe truly in God, the Maker of all, who redeemed us from the woe brought on us by our father Adam, in the eating of that bitter fruit. This God is and was and ever shall be the life and light of us poor sinful men. If you still give no credence to my word, ask for your chaplain; tell him that since you are sick you greatly desire to hear the Service appointed by God to heal the sinner of his wound. I will take your semblance, and receive the Body of the Lord. You will thus be certified of my faith, and never have reason to mistrust me more."

When the sister of that ancient lord returned from her prayers to the chamber, she found that the lady was awake. She told her that since it was time to get her from bed, she would make ready her vesture. The lady made answer that she was sick, and begged her to warn the chaplain, for greatly she feared that she might die. The aged dame replied,

"You must endure as best you may, for my lord has gone to the woods, and none will enter in the tower, save me."

Right distressed was the lady to hear these words. She called a woman's wiles to her aid, and made seeming to swoon upon her bed. This was seen by the sister of her lord, and much was she dismayed. She set wide the doors of the chamber, and summoned the priest. The chaplain came as quickly as he was able, carrying with him the Lord's Body. The knight received the Gift, and drank of the Wine of that chalice; then the priest went his way, and the old woman made fast the door behind him.

The knight and the lady were greatly at their ease; a comelier and a blither pair were never seen. They had much to tell one to the other, but the hours passed till it was time for the knight to go again to his own realm. He prayed the dame to give him leave to depart, and she sweetly granted his prayer, yet so only that he promised to return often to her side.

"Lady," he made answer, "so you please to require me at any hour, you may be sure that I shall hasten at your pleasure. But I beg you to observe such measure in the matter, that none may do us wrong. This old woman will spy upon us night and day, and if she observes our friendship, will certainly show it to her lord. Should this evil come upon us, for both it means separation, and for me, most surely, death."

The knight returned to his realm, leaving behind him the happiest lady in the land. On the morrow she rose sound and well, and went lightly through the week. She took such heed to her person, that her former beauty came to her again. The tower that she was wont to hate as her prison, became to her now as a pleasant lodging, that she would not leave for any abode and garden on earth. There she could see her friend at will, when once her lord had gone forth from the chamber. Early and late, at morn and eve, the lovers met together. God grant her joy was long, against the evil day that came.

The husband of the lady presently took notice of the change in his wife's fashion and person. He was troubled in his soul, and misdoubting his sister, took her apart to reason with her on a day. He told her of his wonder that his dame arrayed her so sweetly, and inquired what this should mean. The crone answered that she knew no more than he, "for we have very little speech one with another. She sees neither kin nor friend; but, now, she seems quite content to remain alone in her chamber."

The husband made reply,

"Doubtless she is content, and well content. But by my faith, we must do all we may to discover the cause. Hearken to me. Some morning when I have risen from bed, and you have shut the doors upon me, make pretence to go forth, and let her think herself alone. You must hide yourself in a privy place, where you can both hear and see. We shall then learn the secret of this new found joy."

Having devised this snare the twain went their ways. Alas, for those who were innocent of their counsel, and whose feet would soon be tangled in the net.

Three days after, this husband pretended to go forth from his house. He told his wife that the King had bidden him by letters to his Court, but that he should return speedily. He went from the chamber, making fast the door. His sister arose from her bed, and hid behind her curtains, where she might see and hear what so greedily she desired to know. The lady could not sleep, so fervently she wished for her friend. The knight came at her call, but he might not tarry, nor cherish her more than one single hour. Great was the joy between them, both in word and tenderness, till he could no longer stay.

All this the crone saw with her eyes, and stored in her heart. She watched the fashion in which he came, and the guise in which he went. But she was altogether fearful and amazed that so goodly a knight should wear the semblance of a hawk. When the husband returned to his house—for he was near at hand—his sister told him that of which she was the witness, and of the truth concerning the knight. Right heavy was he and wrathful. Straightway he contrived a cunning gin for the slaying of this bird. He caused four blades of steel to be fashioned, with point and edge sharper than the keenest razor. These he fastened firmly together, and set them securely within that window, by which the tercel would come to his lady. Ah, God, that a knight so fair might not see nor hear of this wrong, and that there should be none to show him of such treason.

On the morrow the husband arose very early, at daybreak, saying that he should hunt within the wood. His sister made the doors fast behind him, and returned to her bed to sleep, because it was yet but dawn. The lady lay awake, considering of the knight whom she loved so loyally. Tenderly she called him to her side. Without any long tarrying the bird came flying at her will. He flew in at the open window, and was entangled amongst the blades of steel. One blade pierced his body so deeply, that the red blood gushed from the wound. When the falcon knew that his hurt was to death, he forced himself to pass the barrier, and coming before his lady fell upon her bed, so that the sheets were dabbled with his blood. The lady looked upon her friend and his wound, and was altogether anguished and distraught.

"Sweet friend," said the knight, "it is for you that my life is lost. Did I not speak truly that if our loves were known, very surely I should be slain?"

On hearing these words the lady's head fell upon the pillow, and for a space she lay as she were dead. The knight cherished her sweetly. He prayed her not to sorrow overmuch, since she should bear a son who would be her exceeding comfort. His name should be called Yonec. He would prove a valiant knight, and would avenge both her and him by slaying their enemy. The knight could stay no longer, for he was bleeding to death from his hurt. In great dolour of mind and body he flew from the chamber. The lady pursued the bird with many shrill cries. In her desire to follow him she sprang forth from the window. Marvellous it was that she was not killed outright, for the window was fully twenty feet from the ground.

When the lady made her perilous leap she was clad only in her shift. Dressed in this fashion she set herself to follow the knight by the drops of blood which dripped from his wound. She went along the road that he had gone before, till she lighted on a little lodge. This lodge had but one door, and it was stained with blood. By the marks on the lintel she knew that Eudemarec had refreshed him in the hut, but she could not tell whether he was yet within. The damsel entered in the lodge, but all was dark, and since she might not find him, she came forth, and pursued her way. She went so far that at the last the lady came to a very fair meadow.

She followed the track of blood across this meadow, till she saw a city near at hand. This fair city was altogether shut in with high walls. There was no house, nor hall, nor tower, but shone bright as silver, so rich were the folk who dwelt therein. Before the town lay a still water. To the right spread a leafy wood, and on the left hand, near by the keep, ran a clear river. By this broad stream the ships drew to their anchorage, for there were above three hundred lying in the haven. The lady entered in the city by the postern gate. The gouts of freshly fallen blood led her through the streets to the castle. None challenged her entrance to the city; none asked of her business in the streets; she passed neither man nor woman upon her way. Spots of red blood lay on the staircase of the palace.

The lady entered and found herself within a low ceiled room, where a knight was sleeping on a pallet. She looked upon his face and passed beyond. She came within a larger room, empty, save for one lonely couch, and for the knight who slept thereon. But when the lady entered in the third chamber she saw a stately bed, that well she knew to be her friend's. This bed was of inwrought gold, and was spread with silken cloths beyond price. The furniture was worth the ransom of a city, and waxen torches in sconces of silver lighted the chamber, burning night and day. Swiftly as the lady had come she knew again her friend, directly she saw him with her eyes. She hastened to the bed, and incontinently swooned for grief. The knight clasped her in his arms, bewailing his wretched lot, but when she came to her mind, he comforted her as sweetly as he might.

"Fair friend, for God's love I pray you get from hence as quickly as you are able. My time will end before the day, and my household, in their wrath, may do you a mischief if you are found in the castle. They are persuaded that by reason of your love I have come to my death. Fair friend, I am right heavy and sorrowful because of you."

The lady made answer,

"Friend, the best thing that can befall me is that we shall die together. How may I return to my husband? If he finds me again he will certainly slay me with the sword."

The knight consoled her as he could. He bestowed a ring upon his friend, teaching her that so long as she wore the gift, her husband would think of none of these things, nor care for her person, nor seek to revenge him for his wrongs. Then he took his sword and rendered it to the lady, conjuring her by their great love, never to give it to the hand of any, till their son should be counted a brave and worthy knight. When that time was come she and her lord would go together with the son to a feast. They would lodge in an Abbey, where should be seen a very fair tomb. There her son must be told of this death; there he must be girt with this sword. In that place shall be rehearsed the tale of his birth, and his father, and all this bitter wrong. And then shall be seen what he will do.

When the knight had shown his friend all that was in his heart, he gave her a bliaut, passing rich, that she might clothe her body, and get her from the palace. She went her way, according to his command, bearing with her the ring, and the sword that was her most precious treasure. She had not gone half a mile beyond the gate of the city when she heard the clash of bells, and the cries of men who lamented the death of their lord. Her grief was such that she fell four separate times upon the road, and four times she came from out her swoon. She bent her steps to the lodge where her friend had refreshed him, and rested for awhile. Passing beyond she came at last to her own land, and returned to her husband's tower. There, for many a day, she dwelt in peace, since—as Eudemarec foretold—her lord gave no thought to her outgoings, nor wished to avenge him, neither spied upon her any more.

In due time the lady was delivered of a son, whom she named Yonec. Very sweetly nurtured was the lad. In all the realm there was not his like for beauty and generosity, nor one more skilled with the spear. When he was of a fitting age the King dubbed him knight. Hearken now, what chanced to them all, that selfsame year.

It was the custom of that country to keep the feast of St. Aaron with great pomp at Caerleon, and many another town besides. The husband rode with his friends to observe the festival, as was his wont. Together with him went his wife and her son, richly apparelled. As the roads were not known of the company, and they feared to lose their way, they took with them a certain youth to lead them in the straight path. The varlet brought them to a town; in all the world was none so fair. Within this city was a mighty Abbey, filled with monks in their holy habit. The varlet craved a lodging for the night, and the pilgrims were welcomed gladly of the monks, who gave them meat and drink near by the Abbot's table. On the morrow, after Mass, they would have gone their way, but the Abbot prayed them to tarry for a little, since he would show them his chapter house and dormitory, and all the offices of the Abbey. As the Abbot had sheltered them so courteously, the husband did according to his wish.

Immediately that the dinner had come to an end, the pilgrims rose from table, and visited the offices of the Abbey. Coming to the chapter house they entered therein, and found a fair tomb, exceeding great, covered with a silken cloth, banded with orfreys of gold. Twenty torches of wax stood around this rich tomb, at the head, the foot, and the sides. The candlesticks were of fine gold, and the censer swung in that chantry was fashioned from an amethyst. When the pilgrims saw the great reverence vouchsafed to this tomb, they inquired of the guardians as to whom it should belong, and of the lord who lay therein. The monks commenced to weep, and told with tears, that in that place was laid the body of the best, the bravest, and the fairest knight who ever was, or ever should be born. "In his life he was King of this realm, and never was there so worshipful a lord. He was slain at Caerwent for the love of a lady of those parts. Since then the country is without a King. Many a day have we waited for the son of these luckless lovers to come to our land, even as our lord commanded us to do."

When the lady heard these words she cried to her son with a loud voice before them all.

"Fair son," said she, "you have heard why God has brought us to this place. It is your father who lies dead within this tomb. Foully was he slain by this ancient Judas at your side."

With these words she plucked out the sword, and tendered him the glaive that she had guarded for so long a season. As swiftly as she might she told the tale of how Eudemarec came to have speech with his friend in the guise of a hawk; how the bird was betrayed to his death by the jealousy of her lord; and of Yonec the falcon's son. At the end she fell senseless across the tomb, neither did she speak any further word until the soul had gone from her body. When the son saw that his mother lay dead upon her lover's grave, he raised his father's sword and smote the head of that ancient traitor from his shoulders. In that hour he avenged his father's death, and with the same blow gave quittance for the wrongs of his mother. As soon as these tidings were published abroad, the folk of that city came together, and setting the body of that fair lady within a coffin, sealed it fast, and with due rite and worship placed it beside the body of her friend. May God grant them pardon and peace. As to Yonec, their son, the people acclaimed him for their lord, as he departed from the church.

Those who knew the truth of this piteous adventure, after many days shaped it to a Lay, that all men might learn the plaint and the dolour that these two friends suffered by reason of their love.

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hi, so I'm not entirely sure if your still doing match up requests, and if you aren't pretend this doesnt exist. Also I love your works so much. They're so good.

If you are still doing matchups, could you possibly do a romantic matchup for harry potter, preferably marauders era cause it's my favorite. Maybe like a girl and boy cause I'm pansexual. also please and thank youuu!

I'm a teen girl and my pronouns are she/they. I have dark brown with hints of red in my hair cause I dyed it with a box dye that didn't really work. I promise you only see like red highlights in the sun. It's not ugly. And i have curtain bangs and some layers. I wear glasses because my eyesight has become horrible in the past few years.

I love reading and drawing..it's what I do the most. I like to read romance that has adventure or like mystery involved. I love dystopian and zombie apocalypse books, but am terribly afraid of zombjes. I also like coming of age stories cause I try to romanticize my life with those books. My room looks like a library and I no longer have any room for books, but I keep on buying more. I draw a ton and I really love watercolor. It's my absolute favorite thing in earth. I decorate my room with all my drawings. I love music, like phoebe bridgers and Taylor swift ( mainly folklore and evermore) as well as beabadoobee and the backseat lovers. My all time favorite though will forever be wallows. I also like the cure and flock of seagulls.

Along with that, I love the color green, especially paired with brown or like this magenta pinkish red and light purple. It's so pretty omg. My style is kind of cottagecore on some days, or grandpa on most. I wear a lot of sweaters during fall time. I love autumn omg. It's so fun. I love going to the mountains, mainly cloudcroft because it's so near my city and taking pictures of the changing leaves and mountains there. Also it means the cold is coming and holidays. I'm only happy during those times. I'm also kind of a person who has academic validation problems, so I try my best with school and always have all A's, except pre cal and math because I suck at it. 😭

Anyways thats it. Thank you!!!

Hi! At the time that you sent this in, I was still doing matchup requests! So, no worries! And thank you! I hope you enjoy your matchup! <333

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Harry Potter (Marauders);

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(Romantic);

Lily Evans:

💐 You lived a couple of houses down from the Evans's and you actually met Lily when you were both kids - what really brought the two of you together though, was you both loved to read; before Hogwarts, you both loved to have coloring playdates

💐 You and Lily would spend a lot of time together when you both got into Hogwarts too - studying together, listening to music from your cassette player, and going to Hogsmeade when you both could

💐 When the fall break comes, you and Lily go back home, but don't stay for long, you and her often traveled to wherever you could find pretty, picturesque mountains, and take pictures together - watching the leave change color

💐 During the holidays, Lily would often gift you sweaters, and other types of cottagecore clothing that make you smile - and that you feel comfortable in; in turn, you often gift her books and other sweet gifts that remind you of her

💐 You and Lily had always been great friends, always there for each other, and always there to make the other smile; who know what is in the future for the both of you

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Remus Lupin:

🐺 You met Remus when you got to Hogwarts, it was only a matter of time since you were friends with Lily - James never seemed to leave her alone - that you would meet the secret wolfie boi

🐺 You and Remus had an instant connection, since you both read books - the moment he heard about how your room was completely filled with books, he was like (❤ ω ❤)

🐺 You and Remus often - when you weren't studying or hanging out with Lily - often spent time together in the library, reading, swapping books, and so forth; you both love discussing recent books the both of you have read

🐺 When the summer comes, you and Remus go to each other's places; at yours, you and Remus just lay down on your bedroom floor, listening to your favorite songs on your record player - just the two of you, in the peaceful abyss of music surrounding you - the tips of your fingers interlaced

🐺 You and Remus are very closely matched, having a love for books, the arts, and the world.