#feeling the additional asters

[fuji-sen]

the 'evil imposter' just wants to be a baker!

Prologue: The Foodie turned Imposter?!

Part 2: Sweet Flowers

[ part 1 ] || [ masterlist ] || [ part 3 ]

divider is made by @saradika-graphics

Walking around you'd slowly realize you were in Mondstadt, based from the bundle of regional specialties you held in your arms. The orange makeshift bouquet of windwheel asters spun around like a regular pinwheel. Seeing that sight brought a small smile on your face, your walk around Mondstadt was peaceful, you hadn't run into unnecessary troubles so maybe your worries were for nothing.

Yeah, nvm — [Name]

You felt your stomach grumble, famished you were. But the city seemed to be nearing in the distance. Perhaps you can wait till then, but then you remember how broke you were and sighed, staring at the orange flowers in your arms. You wonder if you can sell it.

Money was definitely going to be an issue, as well as acquiring a roof over your head. Depending on the timeline, the only place left, may already be booked by the Fatui Delegates.

Food could be remedied by foraging sunsettias and wild crops.

"Oh a waypoint!" excitedly you run up to the red, unactivated waypoint and quickly you did the first thing that came to mind, slapping it with your hand.

The monument gave a hum of life before it turned blue and activated. "So that works at least" you hummed, inspecting it curiously. Up close and in real life, you could see the intricate design chiseled into the material.

Crouching down you wondered, could you use a waypoint? could you use one to go back home. . ?

"Well if I don't get to go back home, at least I don't have any more student debt" you chuckled hopelessly as you rubbed the water that pricked your eyes.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

By the time you arrived at Mondstadt, the sun was almost setting. The skies were starting to get painted with an orange and pink hue.

Perhaps you shouldn't have gotten distracted or drowned in your sentiments and emotions. .

You sniffed, hugging yourself at the cold unforgiving winds while the windwheel asters and sweet flowers (a new addition to your wildflower bouquet) were luckily still fresh despite the trials they had gone through with your short travel to the city.

The sweet flowers had a sweet fragrance, once that made you crave for some sweet snacks. You debated on whether you can eat the flower raw, it looked more like a daisy too. . you decided against it. It would be far more wiser to use it for cooking or sell it for money.

The gates to the city was weirdly enough unguarded, so you stood by it awkwardly wondering when the guards would come. Would it be okay to enter without informing the knights? After waiting a couple of minutes, you decided to walk inside the city, time was running out, it would be getting dark soon and if you couldn't afford a place by selling these asters, you decided to at least buy some essentials. A polearm maybe or a coat, and maybe join the adventurers guild and see if there are any freebies or a free uniform you could get, cause your pajamas and fluffy Cinnamoroll designed slippers aren't going to cut it with the outdoor lifestyle you'd no doubt put them through.

You frown as you stared down on your cinnamoroll slippers. . it was no longer a pristine white due to the mud you had stepped into. .

Walking into the city of Mondstadt you found the city strangely. . void of life. You wonder if the prologue had yet to start and Stormterror or rather Dvalin was bothering the region.

Morale would mean a whole time low, and probably meant that prices on essentials would have risen, or maybe hopefully they were giving donations and relief goods.

"Hello," A voice greeted you and you turned to the woman or rather doll that operated the desk of the adventurer's guild "Would you like to join the Adventurer's guild?"

The smile on the puppet's face sent shivers down your spine but you pushed those feelings aside as you nodded politely. "Alright then, would you please present me with your information," she handed you a clipboard and pen "And I'll get the standard uniform for you." and then the receptionist left for a moment.

You blinked, wasn't she going to ask you for your size? or did Katheryne came with special eyes that could measure a person's body to decide the perfect clothes?

You began writing some information down. Your name, your age and your birthday but you left your address and place of origin empty since you couldn't just put in [country] and [city name] could you??

Turning to look behind you, you met eyes with a couple of residents of the city, and politely you waved at them as a greeting. . only for them to gape at you and run away from your gaze.

Okay. . rude much? was it because you were an outlander or a foreigner??

"Here you go. Everything seems to be in order." You snap back to the desk to find the receptionist had returned and had long since taken the clipboard and was reading through your information. 'When did she—?'

Katheryne then placed a set of uniform and fortunately, boots, right in front of you and you sighed in relief. "Thank you" and just as your finger grazed the fabric the clothes disappeared in a warm yellow light.

“. . .”

“can I uh. . get another set of the uniform. ." your voice cracked in shame. But before you could say anything more—

"Halt! Who dares to trespass into the City!" She flinched, turning to the approaching Guards, the knights of Favonius based on their uniforms, they stared at you wide eyes and mouth agape "What the—"

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

For whatever reason you ended up in Jean's office, tied down and on the floor. The windwheel asters were left on the streets, possibly wilting, alone. . the sweet flowers were trampled when they were trying to restrain her. It's sweet scent long gone, replaced with something bitter.

Jean wasn't here, oh wait no, she was coming in. You could hear muffled voices from the door, strange, when had your hearing been this good?

"do they really have the face of our divine?" that was Jean right? "well we won't know if we don't enter and see for ourselves" that suggestive yet sweet and soft voice was definitely Lisa's.

Were they talking about you?

What the hell did they mean by 'face of their divine?'

for some reason it was like a cold bucket of water was poured onto you, it was cold and terrifying and you started to shiver.

The door opened and Jean and Lisa did enter, as you craned your neck to look behind you, past the door you could see groups of knights who looked at each other with emotions you could vaguely pinpoint, horrified, worried, anger. .

"My my, you really do have the face of our esteemed creator." Lisa, the ever beautiful librarian grabbed you by the chin, making you look at her as she studied your face with scrutinizing Green eyes. Your breath hitched.

"What do you think?"

"I don't sense anything special from them, maybe they truly are an imposter."

You gaped at the terms that were hurled at you, imposter?? nothing special?? okay those were unnecessary!

Jean and Lisa conversed with each other, as your brows furrowed at the growing uncertainty in your stomach. Something was wrong, when were the Steadfast Jean and the carefree Lisa this. . cold and heartless.

"Where are Kaeya and the others?" Jean asked. "They are still visiting the temples with the traveller. I left after finishing the temple I was assigned to." Lisa informed the blond who nodded at the information.

The acting grandmaster hummed "I suppose we should deal with the imposter before they return."

The sound of a blade being unsheathed made you pale, the color disappearing from your skin as you watched Jean approached you, sword in hand without hesitation. .

Was she really going to kill you?

"Wait— wait a second? Why the hell are you going to kill me? What did I even do? Sure I entered the city carelessly but that was because your knights were slacking—hic!"

You could feel cold metal on the skin around your neck, sweat started to gather as you froze under Jean's stare.

"You committed the most grave blasphemy, heresy against the most divine creator! To imitate her beloved's face is a crime punishable by death."

You backtracked "What did you mean by creator! Also also how is being born with my face a crime?! do you hear how stupid that shit sounds?! You're a knight isn't there a due process?!"

Before she could reply the windows rattled and rattled, the winds were strong, the sun had long set and it was dark yet you could see the dust and objects flying about dangerous due to the storm. .

Storm terror was here.

Quickly you stood up, gaining Jean's and Lisa's attention once more as you quickly ran towards the window, knocking Jean to the ground and grabbing her sword due to your pettiness. You stopped for a moment to cut the restraints off your wrists with the sword.

"Why don't you settle down" Lisa said with a sickening sweet voice as powerful electro manifested in her hands and—

you screamed.

For now the earlier chapters will be titled with ingredients rather than food or recipe names.

[emberdew]

Trans Danny Fic Recs 🏳️‍⚧️

Hi! For Pride Month I wanted to make a list of a bunch of fics that feature trans Danny that I like! Here we go:

One-shots

What are you going to do, fight the sun? by TheBadDragon || 1k One-shot. It's one of the few stories I've read where both Danny and Vlad are trans and I love it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by @raaorqtpbpdy || 35k One-shot. This features a really interesting AU. I love that it deals with the question "if Danny is trans and he and Dani are siblings, do people think Danny named himself after his sister?"

Original by between || 4k One-shot. This is the only story I can think of where Danny comes out as trans to Dani. It is really sweet.

Pregaming is only distasteful if the deceased is actually dead and/or a good person. by @ficauthor || 14k One-shot. This story is so funny! It has great trans jokes (written by trans author).

Wrong Feeling by @gh0stzonedarchive || 2k One-shot. A nice nonbinary Danny coming out story.

Unpacking ALL of THAT. by @kawaiijohn || 6k One-shot. A nice story about Paulina saving Danny and then having a conversation while trapped in a box. It features trans (and bi) Danny and lesbian Paulina.

making it through by @robotbeowulf || 2k One-shot. A sweet story where Mr. Lancer helps Phantom and also comes out as trans to him.

Closet Space by @ecto-american || 2k One-shot. A sweet story where Danny and Sam are both trans and swap clothes.

oh, simple thing (breathing such harsh air) by Possiblyenjoyable || 3k One-shot. A really good story where Vlad may be a villain, but at least he's not transphobic.

Multichapter and Series

A Lot To Learn by @vampyra142001 || 21k Incomplete series. A nice Vlad redemption story. I really like how Danny being trans is incorporated into the story. Plus Vlad is ace.

Friends in Strange Places by @sunnys567 || 100k Complete multi-chap. This AU is really good and I love that Danny's friends learn about their own identities during Vlad's "coming out" trip.

Lightning by @tourettesdog || 21k Incomplete multi-chap. This is one of my favorite No One Knows AU stories and one of the few fics I can think of from Sam's POV. It features the iconic line: “Phantom’s trans— what an icon.” TourettesDog has several other fics with trans Danny that I like too, including Phantom at Pride.

Cognitive Dissonance by @secretly-an-automaton || 9k Complete multi-chap. A super sweet Gray Ghost revelation story! Danny being trans is a part of the reveal, which I think is a cool concept.

the haunting murders of bristol mansion by @antelabbitsghost || 8k Complete multi-chap. A really funny Buzzfeed Unsolved inspired story. Featuring Danny calling it transphobic when furniture falls on him lol.

Casper High’s New Nurse by @thewiltingdaisy || 55k Complete multi-chap. This story features one of my favorite tropes- an OC adult who helps struggling children with their problems. Danny is trans and the OC nurse character is nonbinary, which is cool!

Food as a Love Language by GooseJacket || 13k Incomplete series. Another fic where Danny and Vlad are both trans (and pan), which I appreciate despite it not coming up in the story much. I really love Danny and Kyle’s relationship in it though; they’re really cute together.

Mundane to Monstrous Ghost by @goliath-de-senfina-sango || 75k Complete multi-chap (part of an incomplete series, but ends in a nice place). This canon rewrite is really cool! Danny uses a wish from Desiree to magically transition, which is amazing.

DPxDC

Unearthed, Reborn by @queenofthequillandink || 62k Incomplete multi-chap. An amazing story featuring soft Eternal Trio with Jason as their teen half ghost son. In addition to Danny being trans, Dick Grayson also transes their gender. Plus there are trans puns!

Rooftop Express by @cheezygoddess || 89k Incomplete multi-chap. A really good Dead on Main story featuring trans Danny and trans Jason.

Wanted: Dead and Alive by @aster-draws || 121k Complete multi-chap. A very angsty vivisection fic with a happy ending. Danny is both trans and intersex. And of course, the GIW are transphobic.

Unlimited Love by @oliveofvanders || 10k Incomplete series. Some nice one-shots featuring trans Danny and the Death Defying (Danny/Dick) ship. I especially like the second fic about the pride parade.

Of All the Things My Hands Have Held by @disillusioneddanny || 17k Complete multi-chap. A cute Dead Serious story where Danny and Damian raise a baby together. I think it's funny that Talia gives them the baby partly because she doesn't know Danny is trans. DisillusionedDanny actually has a bunch of really good fics with trans Danny, including Eat The Acid and Love Like You.

Phantom in Gotham by @artemismoorea03 || 320k Incomplete series. This series is incredible! Poor Danny has to deal with some upsetting situations, but everyone in the Batfam who learns that Danny is trans is supportive which is sweet.

Liminal Familiarity by @isitcowboytimes || 70k Incomplete multi-chap. A nice angsty AU where Danny helps Jason after he becomes half ghost. There's a scene where Danny transforms back to human after being only Phantom for a while and he gets hit with gender dysphoria and being human dysphoria at the same time, oof.

Stalking Astronauts: Gotham's Latest Social Media Craze! by @tachvintlogic || 54k Complete multi-chap. This is a really interesting twist on the usual DPxDC adoption trope where Danny is afraid of being adopted, and he doesn't need to be because he's an adult and a successful astronaut. Unfortunately because of his facial masculinization surgery, everyone thinks he looks a Wayne.

Barely Surviving in a World Antithetical to My Existence by DomesticatedOpossum and Vampirenote13 || 67k Incomplete multi-chap. Danny gets isekaied to Gotham and helped by Constantine and the bats eventually. I like that both Danny and Tim are trans in this.

Better Halves (and other such falsehoods) by @astereaes || 132k Incomplete multi-chap. An amazing fake relationship Danny/Tim story! Tim doesn't know that Danny is trans for a while but he also doesn't know a lot of things about Danny lol.

I'll be updating this list as I read/remember other cool trans Danny fics, so feel free to send recs or promote your own fics! Last updated: 9/16/24.

[suugarbabe]

foolish flowers | g.w x reader

word count: ~1.5k

summary: little georgie blurb based on an ask I recieved and lost.

warning: fluff

The dinging above the door alerted you that a customer had walked into the shop. You did your best to sound polite as you shouted from the back, “I’ll be right up.” Whoever had walked in told you to take your time, but you still found yourself rushing a bit as to not appear rude. 

You walked from the back with a bushel of Aster flowers in your arms, completely obstructing your view. You feel yourself nearly tripping over a pot as you’re making your way to your work station, quietly cursing to yourself. “Here, let me help you with those,” two large hands grab the bushel from you, placing it on the counter. 

You smoothed out your apron before looking up and meeting quite possibly the softest and kindest green eyes you’ve ever seen, “T-thank you.” The man in front of you just smiled, giving a nod before going back to look at the flowers and arrangements you had around your small shop. 

His brows furrowed reading the different cards associated with certain displays. You found yourself watching him, observing him as he looked around. He was incredibly tall, having to nearly bend in half to read anything on the counter. 

You couldn’t help but find his looks of confusion endearing. You decided it was probably best to offer your assistance, for as much as it seemed like he wanted to appear like he knew what he was looking for, he was completely lost. “Looking for something for your girlfriend?” you kept your tone innocent, but you’d be lying if you said there wasn’t motive behind the question beyond being helpful to a customer. 

“Erm, no, for my mum actually,” a blush crept up the man’s neck, dusting his cheeks along with it and accentuating his freckles. “Well then might I suggest not getting these,” you gestured towards the red salvia’s, “as they typically symbolize meaning ‘forever mine’, not quite sure that’s best for mum.” 

You gave him your sweetest smile and he returned a nervous one, scratching the back of his neck, “What, erm, do you suggest then? It’s her birthday tomorrow, my mum, that is, I just wanted to get her something nice.” 

You tapped your finger against your lips as you thought, glancing around the shop to create a beautiful and meaningful piece in your head. “How about…” you trailed off walking up to the marigolds and grabbing a handful, “and a little of…” you grabbed a small batch of chamomile, “oh and definitely…” you grabbed some fully bloomed clematis, “and lastly…” you grabbed some columbine. 

The man watched and you arranged it all in a beautiful glass vase, the purples, whites and yellows dancing together perfectly. He couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face as he watched you work. “Stunning,” he breathed, “What does it all mean?” 

You clapped your hands together in excitement, explaining pieces was one of your favorite parts of your job. “So, the marigolds here,” you pointed to the flame colored flower, “are her birth month flower and these here,” you pointed to the chamomile, “mean patience in adversity. I assumed because she was a boy mum that she probably dealt with a lot while you grew up,” you shot him a playful wink. 

He laughed lightly at this, “You have no idea.” You continued, pointing next at the clematis, “These mean mental beauty, which is simply true for any mother, and these here,” you pointed at the white flower surrounded by what looked like a purple shell and leaves, “are columbine flowers, they represent foolishness.” 

The man quirked an eyebrow at this one, “And why, pray tell, did you pick these?” You bit your lower lip slightly, “Well, you look awfully close to the moving character atop the joke shop across the street, so I just assumed you probably own it. Thus the additive of some foolishness representation.” 

He smirked at your explanation, leading you to believe that you were correct in your assumption, “Would you believe me if I told you I was born on April fools?” You giggled lightly, “I would expect nothing less coming from the man who owns a joke shop. What is it called again?” 

The man smiled proudly now, “Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.” You looked at him curiously, “So is that your name? Weasley?” 

He nodded, “Surname. My first name, however, is George.” 

“Well it’s very nice to meet you, George.” You smiled sweetly, then turned to your register, “That’ll be ten galleons.” His smile never faltered as he dug into his pocket, pulling out the coins needed. 

He grabbed the vase, walking towards the door. As he was halfway out, he turned back to you, “I just realized that I told you my name, but you never told me yours.” You shrugged your shoulders, “Guess you’ll have to ask when I stop in your shop next time.” 

George raised his eyebrows, liking the bit of mischief you were flirting with, “Alright, guess I’ll see you then, love.” With a wink, he was out the door. 

—--------

Fred stood at the top of the steps, watching the smiling faces roam around his shop. He loved the kids faces as they discovered a new way to prank, a new toy to cause chaos, or how he could see the light switch in their eyes when they saw something on the shelves that had them plotting. 

He and George would get the same look when they were younger. Godric, they get that same look still to this day, they just try their best to choose the appropriate time and place for their shenanigans. 

What his shop did not often get were beautiful women exploring his shop and looking at… “Puking pastilles?” He looked at you curiously, but you hadn’t yet lifted your head from the package. 

“Seems like they’d come in handy for the family dinner I’m trying to avoid tonight,” Fred laughed with you and you finally turned to look at him. 

“Well, you’re certainly not George are you,” your smile was sweet as Fred cocked an eyebrow at you. “And how could you possibly be certain of that, darling?” 

You looked up at the man in front of you, he looked exactly like George, very obviously a twin brother. However if you paid attention enough, there were subtle differences. You didn’t inform George of this last week but you had noticed him before he walked into your shop that day. 

There were quite a few times you had spotted him through your front window, leaving or coming to work, always dressed colorfully and having a smile on his face. When he smiled the corners of his eyes wrinkled just a little, his eyes downturned just slightly more than the man in front of you. 

But the thing that really gave it away you had noticed just last week, when he was finally close enough for you to really see him properly. Staring into friends eyes you smiled, patting his chest, “George has a beauty mark on his neck, right here.” You pointed towards the spot where George’s mark was on Fred’s neck. 

Fred’s smile seemed to grow impossibly wider, “You’re the flower shop girl aren’t you.” He said it more like a statement rather than a question. “Y/n,” you corrected. 

The redhead laughed, “Oh Georgie is going to hate that I learned your name before him.” You shook your head, “Is Georgie here?”

Fred nodded, “Yeah, boyo’s here alright, but I’m really relishing in me getting to learn more information about the girl he’s been pining after before he does.” 

He was hoping to embarrass his twin a little, so what you said next instead had Fred a bit shocked. “Well I’m glad the feeling has been mutual,” your tone and smirk quite impressed Fred. 

When you looked over his shoulder he turned, seeing his twin on the upper level of the shop, “If you’ll excuse me, not George-”

“Fred,” he interrupted. You smiled, “If you’ll excuse me Fred, I’m going to go find George.” 

Fred watched as you sauntered up the staircase, George still none the wiser as he helped a few customers out. As you made it to the top you stood behind him and started speaking, his ears perking at the sound of your voice, “Got anything here to get out of a dinner party?” 

George turned around, sly smile on his face, “Have you looked into puking pastilles?” You held up the box in your hands, “Ah yes, that’s what the other George suggested.” 

The smile on George’s face quickly turned to laughter, “The other George?” You nodded, “You didn’t tell me you had a twin; Fred was it?” 

He nodded, leaning a hand on the railing beside him now, “And you still haven’t told me your name. I’ve been referring to you as flower shop girl in my head all week.” 

Your grin widened, knowing now (thanks to Fred) that George had probably been referring to you as that for a lot longer than a week, “Y/n. My name’s Y/n.” 

“S’beautiful,” George was bold, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Fred watched from a few floors below, mentally patting his brother on the back for pulling out the moves they used to use in school.

[phoenix-downer]

Love’s First Bloom

Summary: Kairi accidentally falls into a rushing river when she tries to pick a rare paopu flower. Sora and Riku work together to rescue her and realize they both have feelings for her.

Kairi likewise has a few realizations of her own.

~5000 words. Set between BBS and KH1. Love Triangle, Friendship, Romance, Fluff, Angst, Feelings Realization, Crushes, First Love, Introspection, Hurt/Comfort. POV Kairi, Riku, and Sora.

🌸🌼🌺

How quickly life can change. Like a cool breeze picking up or a slight shift in the scenery, suddenly what you took for granted can be gone in an instant. 

“C’mon, Kairi, let’s go!” Sora called. Kairi looked up from her current crafts project: a flower crown with purple asters, white chrysanthemums, blue forget-me-nots, and big red hibiscuses. Those colors were all nice together, but a yellow flower would be a nice addition. Maybe she’d find one as they went exploring. 

She tucked the flower crown in her pocket, then grabbed her straw hat and put it on. She wasn’t like Sora and Riku—they tanned easily, especially Sora, but her skin turned red so fast. And then the red turned into dozens and dozens of freckles. Redheads weren’t made for the tropical sun, and brief memories of another place flickered through her mind. A place with a big castle and lots of flowers and waterfalls. 

“Coming!” she cried as she stumbled after the boys. They were both so much faster than her, and the sand on the beach was always hard to run on. But presently the ground beneath her feet got more solid, and the boys finally slowed down as the three of them passed through the town and started climbing the hills behind it.

“Where are we going this time?” Sora asked, looking at Riku. Riku always decided what they would do. 

Riku grinned and swung his play sword. “It’s a surprise. But I think you’ll like it, Kairi.” He looked at her like he wanted her to say something. Come to think of it, he’d been looking at her a lot lately. 

“Oh, are there nice flowers?” she asked, her fingers resting on the flower crown in her pocket. She wanted to finish it as soon as she could.

Riku’s grin got bigger, and his eyes had a teasing glint in them. “Maybe.” 

“And pretty scenery?” she pressed. Every part of Destiny Islands was pretty, but Riku always knew the best spots.

“Only the best for you,” Riku said, and Kairi felt a funny feeling blooming in her chest.

Sora frowned, his face twisting into a scowl. “I know some pretty spots too, Kairi,” he said. 

Riku rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. The stuff I showed you guys last week,” he said, and Kairi giggled into her hand. 

Now Sora was pouting. “That’s not true, I know a lot of nice spots Riku doesn’t know!” 

“Prove it, then,” Riku said, and Sora muttered something about how he would. At the branch in the mountain path up ahead, he led them to the right. They followed the path for a little longer until Sora took them off the path and through a clump of trees. On the other side was a beautiful clearing full of wildflowers, perfect for sparring. The sound of running water reached Kairi’s ears. There must be a branch of the river nearby. 

“Oh, this is really pretty!” Kairi exclaimed, clasping her hands together. She glanced at Sora, and he grinned and rubbed his cheek. 

“Hmmph,” Riku said. It was clear this was a place he hadn’t been before. Either that or he had but hadn’t thought to bring them here.

Sora pulled his wooden sword out. “Wanna fight?” he asked Riku, and at this Riku perked up. He loved the chance to spar with Sora. He pulled his sword out too and moved into an attack stance. 

Kairi smoothed her skirts and dutifully sat down on the grass nearby. Sora recklessly charged, and Riku carefully evaded him, then caught him in the back. Sora plunged into a roll and then sprung to his feet. He whirled around so quickly that he caught Riku by surprise, knocking Riku over. But Riku still had a trick up his sleeve; he waited a few seconds, then pushed himself up with his arms, using his momentum to kick Sora with both of his feet. Sora flinched and yelped but still clung to his sword. And so the fight continued with neither of them getting the upper hand. Riku was stronger but Sora was faster, so it wasn’t clear who would win.

After a while, Kairi got kinda bored watching the boys fight. They sparred so often that she felt like she'd seen every combination of tricks they could pull off, and there were some pretty-looking flowers over by the riverbank that she really wanted to pick. She skipped off in the direction of the river. A quick glance over her shoulder told her the boys didn’t even notice because they were so focused on their fight. Smiling to herself, she continued on. She usually enjoyed hanging out with Sora and Riku, but sometimes they were just such…boys. Lately they’d been constantly sparring and competing with each other, even when she wanted to pick flowers or go swimming or make seashell crafts. 

Besides, this way she could give them both flowers no matter who won the fight. 

The wildflowers along the riverbank were really pretty. Their petals were small and delicate, like little blue bells hanging off the stems. The river sped along nearby, deceptively calm for having such a fast current. Her parents always warned her about not swimming in the water when it looked like that. One wrong move and she would easily get swept under. 

Humming, she picked a few more flowers and tucked them into her pockets. She was always careful not to take more than she needed. Only enough for her crafts—the rest she needed to leave behind so there would still be pretty flowers in the future. That was what her parents had taught her. The flowers she did pick would make nice gifts and supplies for her crafts.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom. It had five petals, and the rounded shape of the petals made it look like a paopu fruit. Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower? She’d only seen it a couple times in the wild before, and never in a place she could reach it. It was supposed to be super rare, and she hadn’t expected to see one today.

Which meant she had to pick it. Who knows when she might find one again? Edging towards the riverbank, she thought about who to give it to: Sora, or Riku. A blush crept up her cheeks. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. But who did she love? She wasn’t really sure. 

Just…a little further…there. She plucked the flower and smiled, glancing back towards the boys. But the movement threw her balance off, and she gasped and dropped the flower. A clump of earth crumbled beneath her hands, and a root from a nearby tree broke off when she grabbed it. She clutched at something, anything, to keep herself from falling in, but it was too late. With a scream, she tumbled headlong into the cold, fast-moving waters of the river.

🌸🌼🌺

The moment Riku and Sora heard Kairi’s blood-curdling scream and then a loud splash, the boys dropped their swords and raced to the riverbank. Riku knew Kairi was a strong swimmer thanks to his careful lessons (well, and if he had to, he would admit Sora had helped her too), but the river was cold and the current was fast. And if she’d hit her head on anything when she’d fallen…

Riku reached the riverbank first. He yanked his shirt off and threw it on the ground. “Sora, I’m going in!” he called as Sora arrived, panting hard. “Find a branch I can hold onto and pull us out.” Sora nodded, trusting him completely, and with that Riku dove into the icy water. Man, it was cold, and the current was fast, but he had to find Kairi. She hadn’t fallen into the water much earlier than him, but—

There she was, a little further downstream. Her eyes were half-lidded and she was gripping a tree branch, but as he watched in horror, her hand went limp and she slipped back into the water. 

“KAIRI!” he shouted, then swam to her as fast as he could. This couldn't be the end of her. He wouldn't let it be. Ever since she had washed up on the shores of the Destiny Islands eight years ago, his life hadn't been the same. She'd been shy and quiet at first, her eyes always gazing off into the distance like she was searching for someone she couldn't find, but that was before she’d opened up to them. They were all friends now, and the thought of never hearing her giggle or seeing her smile or watching her eyes light up when he surprised her made his stomach churn and drove him to reach her. He had to see the way her eyes danced and her smile got playful when she teased him and Sora again. He just had to.

Faster, he had to go faster. His senses sharpened, and his feelings were as clear as the river rushing to take her away from him: he couldn't bear for her to slip out of his life just as suddenly as she'd entered it. Her head briefly popped out of the water again, and relief flooded him at the side of her familiar red hair. He reached towards her, he was almost there, just a little farther—

“Kairi, grab my hand!” he shouted.

She latched onto his arm with far more strength than he expected, and he knew Sora had to act quickly, or they would both drown. In her desperate state, Kairi wouldn't remember to avoid dragging Riku under the water with her. It was something all parents told their children on Destiny Islands, and the warning rang clear through Riku's mind.

“Riku, grab the stick!” 

Never had he been so relieved to hear his best friend's voice. Sora had tied himself to a tree with some spare rope and was holding out a tree branch to him, his eyes filled with panic and worry. Riku grabbed on, and the unwanted thought flashed through his mind that Sora might not be strong enough to pull them both out. He was still pretty scrawny and small. But a determined glint was in his friend’s eyes now, and Sora braced himself and pulled with far more strength than Riku thought he was capable of. The muscles in his arms strained and shook, and he gritted his teeth and groaned loudly, but he refused to let go. For a split second, Riku thought he saw a blond boy several years older than him in Sora's place, but then he was gone and it was just Sora. Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled Riku and Kairi out of the river.

Sheesh. Riku must've been seeing things with how stressed out he was. He turned his attention to Kairi. She gasped and coughed, and at last enough of Riku was on the bank to pull and drag her the rest of the way up. She was shivering, soaking wet, and now covered in mud from the bank, but she was alive. He suddenly felt very, very weak, and as he glanced at Sora, he was shocked to see tears dripping down his cheeks.

“Thank goodness,” Sora said, sniffing and rubbing his red eyes, his voice filled with relief. “I thought I was gonna lose you both.”

Riku was irritated at how much of a crybaby Sora was being. Again. Seriously, he'd been such a crybaby ever since they were kids, and even at twelve years old, he still cried shamelessly in front of other people. Then Riku was annoyed at how little faith Sora had in him. Did Sora really think he wouldn't save Kairi? 

But when Sora smiled at them both and knelt to hug them, all of that melted away.

We really matter that much to him, don't we? A pang of guilt shot through Riku at how he'd been treating Sora lately. Putting him down in front of Kairi to try to impress her. Goading him and teasing him when he reacted and got upset. Turning everything into a competition because a tiny, green-eyed voice deep down wondered if Kairi liked Sora more.

Not that Sora noticed. The idiot was still so oblivious to his own feelings, let alone Kairi’s.

But Riku didn't push Sora away or tell him not to hug them. He didn't like how clingy Sora was being, but after what they’d all just been through, he would allow Sora to be clingy. Just this once.

“Kairi, you’re as cold as ice,” Sora said. He pulled away from them and frowned. He was right. When Riku touched her arm, it was way colder than it should've been. She coughed and wouldn't stop shivering, and when Sora said her name again, she didn't respond. 

“Kairi, wake up,” Sora begged, but she still wouldn't respond.

“I think she needs to see a doctor,” Riku said. “Hang on, let me grab my shirt so you can put it over her, then I'll go get her parents.”

He found his shirt upriver a little ways away from them, right where he’d left it, and brought it back. He tossed it to Sora and took off running, following the path of the river. He had to make it back to town as quickly as possible. But he was tired, so tired from going after Kairi. Would she really be okay? If only he were stronger, he could carry her all the way back to her parents or to the doctor himself.

Another pang of guilt shot through him. He needed more strength. More strength to protect her. His body was growing every day, but it still wasn't fast enough or strong enough. He still had to rely on adults for help. One day, he would have the strength to protect his friends himself. He had to. 

The thought urged him forward even as his legs ached and his lungs burned. Strength, to protect what matters. That was what he wanted, more than anything else.

🌸🌼🌺

Sora didn't know what to do. Even though he’d wrapped Riku’s shirt around Kairi, she kept getting colder and colder. She wasn't responding to him anymore, like she'd fallen into a deep deep sleep. She was still breathing, but her face was as pale as a ghost’s.

His heart was thundering in his chest, and his head swam. His arms ached from lifting Riku and Kairi out of the water, and he felt so useless. What good was it that he'd gotten her out of the water if she died here?

“Riku, hurry," he pleaded, but he knew he had to do something before his friend returned with help. It would still be a while yet before anyone else came. So he pulled Kairi close to his body and held her tight, hoping with all his heart that his warmth would make her body warm up again.

This was the closest he'd ever been to her, but all he could think about was how cold she was, how limp she was, how he wanted nothing more than for her to open her eyes again. Her eyes were so pretty. Blue like the sea with just a hint of purple, her favorite color. How did he not notice how pretty they were before? And now she might never open them again.

“Wake up, please,“ he begged, and the words sounded strangled and choked. “Kairi, you have to open your eyes!”

How could he have been so stupid? The thought of losing her made him realize just how much she meant to him. She was such an important part of his life, woven into so many memories as tightly as she wove her flower crowns and daisy chains together into beautiful creations. He couldn't imagine the future without her. In his mind, he'd arrogantly acted like she would always be there. But today had shown him he couldn't ever take a single moment with her for granted.

So he willed with all his heart that she would live, that his warmth would be enough. If it was, he would be sure to treasure every memory with her from now on.

After what was probably only minutes but felt like hours of agonized waiting, her skin felt ever so slightly warmer. At first he thought it was his overactive imagination, but no, a slight flush had returned to her cheeks. He gripped her even more tightly. A minute passed, and then another, and at last she stirred and opened her eyes.

“Sora?” she said weakly. Her voice sounded more like the croaks of the frogs they liked to catch in the pool on the Play Island, but to him it was the most wonderful sound in the world.

“You're awake!” He smiled, and in that moment he thought his heart would leap out of his chest. A warm, tingly sensation tumbled through him, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Just exciting and new. He would think about it later.

She smiled back. “You saved me. Thank you.”

He couldn't help himself. He hugged her tightly, and a moment later, he felt her arms wrapping around him. This was a very different hug from the quick hug he’d given her and Riku earlier. She was close, closer than she'd ever been, and something stirred deep inside him. His face, no, his entire body felt warm. He’d never been so aware of his body like this before, let alone hers. He was embarrassed by what he was feeling, but at the same time, he didn't want to let go of her either. It was like he couldn't move and didn't want to. She wasn't pulling away either. Did she like hugging him? He sure liked hugging her.

What was all this? He’d never felt like this before. Before he could make heads or tails of it, Riku returned with the grownups. 

The look on Riku's face was strange. Like Sora had just said something awful and punched him. Sora felt oddly…guilty. Like he shouldn't be hugging Kairi like this in front of Riku, even though it felt better than he could've imagined. So he pulled away from her even though he could've sat there hugging her for hours.

“Kairi, are you okay?" her mother asked, holding a blanket out to her daughter. The grownups took over from that point, and Sora just sort of watched everything in a daze.

Until Kairi wondered whose T-shirt she was wearing, and Riku shyly said that it was his. Kairi thanked him and tried to give it back to him, her cheeks pink as she avoided looking at his bare chest. Riku shook his head and insisted she keep it, and his cheeks were flushed too.

Sora felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. The breeze that had felt pleasant earlier felt cold now. Like the world was strange and different and off kilter because he knew something he wished he didn't. 

He understood now why Riku had given him that strange look. A tiny green-eyed monster reared its ugly head inside him. A creature of shadow that whispered Kairi's mine. Sora pushed the creature deep down to where he couldn't hear it anymore. Kairi wasn't a possession to own, she was a person. She was his friend. How could he even think something like that?

But a part of him didn't want her hugging anyone else the way she'd hugged him. And that part of him did not like the way she had looked at Riku, or the way Riku had looked at her.

Sora had stepped into a storybook he didn't want to be any part of. Riku was his best friend. Kairi was also his friend. He didn't want to hurt Riku, and he couldn't bear to watch Kairi smile at Riku or blush because of something Riku had said or giggle because of something Riku had done. He had the funny sense that the little green-eyed monster would grow bigger and stronger every time she did.

So when the grownups took Kairi back to the town, Sora stayed behind. She looked disappointed but didn't argue, and he promised he'd see her tomorrow. Now he was wandering back and forth by the river and kicking clumps of grass. He didn't think he could be around Riku or Kairi right now. He was relieved she was okay, but he had no idea what was going on with himself. The three of them were friends. They would always be friends. Right?

He wanted everything to go back to the way it was. Things had been fine this morning. Sure, Riku liked to tease him, and Kairi liked to tease him too, but he knew where his place was in that world. This new world, with these confusing new feelings? He had no idea. All he was sure of was that he wanted to hug Kairi again like that, but he didn't want to hurt Riku's feelings. And he knew that if Kairi ever hugged Riku the way she had hugged him, the monster might destroy him from the inside.

Not that he could ever let either of them know that. All of this felt so wrong and so complicated. 

He wandered over to the spot where Kairi had fallen in the river. A yellow flower with five petals caught his eye. Huh. The rounded shape of the petals kinda made it look like a paopu fruit. He picked it up and carefully tucked it in his pocket. It was a nice flower, and for some reason, he felt like it should stay with him. Maybe it was a token of good luck that had kept Kairi safe. He would take it home and put it in a vase. That would help it live for a while longer.

As he walked home, the future didn't seem so scary anymore. Those strange thoughts he had had earlier, those weird new feelings…it all felt a little silly now. He and Riku and Kairi would always be friends. He put his hands behind his neck and whistled as he walked the path home.

A tiny part of him, not the little green-eyed monster but something smaller and more delicate and yet harder to kill, hoped that someday, Kairi would hug him again like that, and that Riku wouldn't hate him for it.

🌸🌼🌺

The next day, Kairi was feeling much better. A good night’s sleep, her mother's miso soup, and the day off from school had worked wonders. Still, that had been an awfully close call, and she promised her parents never to do something so foolish again just to try to get a flower.

She sighed sadly. She'd been so close to having a legendary paopu flower of her own. Imagine what she could've done with it! Oh well. It certainly wasn't worth her life, and she knew she would find another one eventually.

The weather was perfect today. She happily skipped down the path to the main part of town, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Her father was the mayor, and her family lived in a big special house on a hill overlooking the town. Sora and Riku's families lived in town, so it was a bit of a walk to reach them, but she didn't mind.

She decided to stop by Sora's house first. It was a little closer, and he'd acted strange after their hug yesterday, and she wanted to know why. He’d gotten all quiet and thoughtful, which wasn't like him at all. She was a little bummed out he hadn't walked her home along with the grownups and Riku. But he’d said he wanted to stay behind a little longer, and she’d been too tired to argue.

She knocked on the door, then rocked up and down on her heels as she waited for him to answer, her hands behind her back. His mom opened the door instead and invited her in, and she greeted her politely and took off her shoes. Then she took the stairs two at a time and burst into his room. He was lying on his bed with his hands behind his neck, and he sat up, surprise written on his features until he realized it was her. His face lit up and then softened into a smile.

“Hey, Kairi! I'm glad you're feeling better.”

She tilted her head and leaned closer, which made his breath catch in an adorable way and a flush creep up his cheeks. “It's all thanks to you and—“

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom carefully placed in a simple glass vase on his bedside table. It had five round petals, and Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower she’d picked yesterday? 

“Sora, where did you find that flower?” 

He grinned. “Oh, that? It's pretty, isn't it? I found it on the riverbank yesterday and brought it home because I liked it.” He paused for a moment, studying her face. “Do you want it?”

She just stared at him for a few moments. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. By fate or by chance, the flower had made its way to Sora. And in that moment, her feelings became crystal clear. The flower was a sign, but it hadn’t made up her mind. No, it was simply confirmation of what she already knew, deep down inside her heart.

She was very grateful to Riku for saving her from the river and for his friendship over the years, and like every other girl on the islands, she thought he was attractive, so of course she had blushed at seeing him shirtless yesterday. But she'd also realized something very important, something that had taken her by complete surprise.

Sora was the one she had a crush on. Sora. On paper she should prefer Riku. He was older, he was more mature, he was stronger and faster and good-looking. So why didn't she like him like that?

The answer was Sora. As she gazed at him, her heart grew warm and a blush spread across her cheeks. She couldn't stop thinking about the tender way he’d hugged her yesterday. How safe and gentle his arms were. How he had warmed her cold, shivering body up. The smile on his face that was meant only for her. It had lit up his eyes when she woke up and transformed his entire appearance. And his eyes were so pretty. How had she never noticed before? They were as blue as the sky at midday without a cloud to shroud them. She loved his messy mop of spiky brown hair and his dorky clothes, too. 

He was so brave and kind and goodhearted. Finding the strength from deep in his heart to rescue both her and Riku from the river, even though it must've been really difficult to pull them both out of it.

Sora was a good person. And knowing he was a good person, that he would go to any length to save her, painted him in a different light. Or maybe she was finally seeing what had been there all along.

She suddenly felt bad about the look on his face yesterday when she’d tried to give Riku back his T-shirt. He looked so hurt in a way she hadn't ever seen before, but he’d quickly masked it. Was it possible he was jealous? The thought sent a little thrill through her.

He had nothing to be jealous of. The paopu flower was only confirmation of something that had been growing and growing until today it had burst into bloom. Its yellow petals cast everything in a different light, like rays of the sun showing her Sora’s true self.

He tilted his head, a faint smile twitching at his lips. “Kairi? Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry! I just got lost in thought, that's all.”

He just shook his head and grinned. “And you give me such a hard time about daydreaming,” he teased, putting his hands behind his neck. Then his expression softened and he lowered them. “But seriously, do you want the flower? You can have it.”

“Oh! No, no I want you to keep it. It suits you, and it suits that spot on the window.”

Still…The fact that he’d offered her the flower…was that confirmation he had feelings for her, too? 

No, he didn't know what it meant. She wasn't even sure he knew what his feelings were. But maybe one day he would. And then maybe he would tell her.

“Okay!” He glanced out the window looking out over the area in front of the house, where Riku was now waiting for them. “C’mon, Riku’s here.”

“I'll be right down,” she told him. With that he took off and clambered down the stairs while she lingered, staring in awe at the flower. It had found its way to Sora like it was supposed to and had revealed her feelings to her. Her heart.

This was all so strange and sudden and new. She needed time to think, to process her feelings before she went downstairs and joined the boys. A blush crept up her face, and she giggled into her hand. Sora! She liked Sora! Selphie would tease her endlessly about it if she knew.

But she didn't have to know yet. For now, this was Kairi's precious, private secret. She didn't have to tell anyone until she was ready. How this would all unfold was uncertain, but these new feelings were wonderful, and she would treasure them in her heart just like she treasured Sora in her heart.

And, when the time was right, she would tell him. Glancing at the flower one final time, she knew how she would do it. It was all in the flower’s namesake. She descended the stairs with a smile, looking forward to the day her daydreaming would become a reality.

🌸🌼🌺

A/N: Happy birthday to @hollypollly! 🥳 She gave me a very detailed prompt and outline for the story which was a lot of fun to write ❤️ Thank you so much for everything, Holley, and I hope you have a wonderful day and a fantastic year ❤️ I'm really grateful we met, and I'm glad you're a part of my life 🥺❤️

And thank you all for reading ❤️ I really enjoyed exploring how each of the characters felt in this situation because I do think they would all be feeling conflicting emotions, and it was fun to put that Ventus cameo in there too. I also really enjoyed exploring the world of Destiny Islands more and expounding on the paopu flower concept Holley came up with. Hope you all enjoyed!

[redbullgivesyouwingedkuriboh]

hi. if you’re reading this that means it’s my 21st birthday. I had this idea and had to write it down immediately (it’s may 29th. see y’all in just under 6 months) so. yeah. enjoy. happy 21st birthday to me!

The GX Cast In: What they would order for their first legal drink at a bar

DISCLAIMER: blair is excluded from this one cause I can’t fathom her being an adult rn. all characters are considered to be of legal drinking age for the purposes of this post. I do not condone underage drinking. drink responsibly and always call for help if you or a friend are displaying symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

Jaden Yuki: I have determined that Jaden doesn’t like whiskey, but if it’s mixed in something he might be okay with it. a rum and coke would be his go-to. on the rocks, he can’t drink warm liquor.

Chazz Princeton: straight vodka. i have a working theory that the more trauma someone has the better they take shots. (this is not a healthy theory, to be sure, but Chazz certainly qualifies as an observable subject.) he will spit out any food that contains the tiniest amount of carrot but pounds vodka like a champ. he’s definitely tried to do the whole lime and salt thing but found he prefers the burn. I just want him to be okay :(

Dr. Crowler: wayyyyyy back in the day, a very hot, very gay bartender gave him a shot of raspberry schnapps on the house because he “looks like a raspberry schnapps kinda guy”. keeps a bottle of it in his office for feeling nostalgic. atticus has gotten into it more than once, with zero evidence left behind.

Syrus Truesdale: the fruitiest goddamn cocktail you’ve ever seen. there’s a bendy straw and a paper umbrella. probably served out of a pineapple. he does not want to so much as SENSE the alcohol

Alexis Rhodes: whiskey sour. asks for the lemon on the side and squeezes the juice directly into her mouth.

Atticus Rhodes: margaritas, plural. unironically sings “gimme one margarita ima open my legs” the entire time and has to be physically restrained in order to stop him.

Zane Truesdale: he can’t drink, he has a heart condition. however: him and atticus buy cheap wine from the liquor store on oct 31 and sit somewhere outside as the clock ticks over to midnight, making the switch from atticus’s birthday to zane’s. they toast. life is good. zane has palpatations immediately and never drinks again.

Aster Phoenix: wine aunt energy. exclusively drinks wine, but alternates between white and red. his palate changes depending on what he ate. for his twenty first birthday, he probably had steak (s2 fishing incident had me rolling on the ground laughing), which pairs well with cabernet (I think that’s a red) so he’d get red wine.

Yubel: technically has always been legal drinking age? regardless, the strongest whiskey you can find. Jaden dislikes whiskey, though, so has only ever gotten him to take one shot of it. collects the little shooter bottles. it’s really cute to see them all lined up.

Jesse Anderson: fruity cocktail for a fruity bitch. he’d order a sex on the beach, but it would go something like, “I’d like a, ah… ha, alrighty then. A s-sex on the… you know what I mean!”, followed up by Chazz saying, “oh my god he’d like a sex on the beach. jesus.”

Jim Crocodile Cook: not much of a drinker, but he’d also love the fruity cocktails. he would order a strawberry daiquiri. frozen. he’d also do a shot for the hell of it, probably of cheap vodka, and spend the rest of the evening wondering how everyone else is handling that stuff so well.

Axel Brodie: straight fucking gin. no additives, no garnish, no nothing. just axel and a shot glass. somehow never shows signs of being tipsy.

Adrian Gecko: beer. he thinks it makes him look relatable. unironically a beer drinker. probably PBA.

Bastion Misawa: he orders a shot of “your finest whiskey, barkeep”. sniffs it first. takes a little sip. “oh, goodness. no thank you.”

[uva124]

PRESENTING THE REDESIGN OF THE GIRLBOSS QUEEN AMAYA 📢🗣🗣(I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE FINISHED THE DRAWINGS)

It should be noted that this is a redesign for the Wish Au character written by @ animación , who helped me with the ideas and references for Amaya's design,@ animación it is very fun to collaborate with you :D

Now I will start to explain how we came to make this design:

-At first I didn't have many ideas for their design (the truth is before I was concentrating more on Aster and Asha) so I decided to watch the Whis movie to get a better idea of ​​the aesthetic I wanted to look for them………yes, the movie is not that good, later I will talk about my opinion of the movie but in terms of design I was disappointed that out of so many possibilities for the design and costumes of royalty, Disney chose a neutral color palette with small details of blue color, I don't know, I feel like there were so many striking possibilities wasted for they desings.

-Well, continuing with the topic, the author of this Au Wish sent me references about what her vision was about the design of Amaya, which were mostly about the storyboards of the movie, I really liked the idea, since it gave me vibes of a threatening but elegant queen,she also sent me some concept art of Mother Gothel that I used as a reference for the structure of Amaya's face

This gave me the idea of ​​also using Sephora that belongs to the movie "The Prince of Egypt" as a reference for the aesthetic that I more or less wanted for the character.

so first I decided to practice the structure of the face to familiarize myself with the design :D (I clarify that I traced the structure of the drawings here because it was just a practice, I used none of these sketches in the final result)

After a while I started making my own sketches when I finally understood how to draw the face

(For the hairstyle, I was guided by the photos that the author sent me, I almost forgot to put that😅)

-I also decided that instead of putting a crown on Amaya, I put a kind of headband with a jewel, because in addition to being comfortable, practical and cute (something that greatly characterizes Amaya's style)

It is also a parallel to my Asha design which has a diamond-shaped tattoo on her forehead.

-Now talking about Amaya's dress, yes or yes I wanted to design a cape with a hood, although at first I thought about adding a neckline to the top part of the dress, an idea came to me which was to be inspired by the Greek mythology character Circe, since curiously she is also a sorceress, I mentioned this to the author and she mentioned that at first when trying to draw her she was inspired by the conceptual art of Megara, who is also Greek, so in the end she decided that maybe the queen comes from from a town in Greece (Also this could have something to do with her backstory 👀)

-At some point in the story we discover that Amaya keeps different potions inside her dress (I guess for emergencies, I don't know), that's why I decided that the dress has a small opening, because in addition to making it easier for you to walk, it would also help you. get your potions out in an easier way (her potions are attached to a belt that would be on her leg or waist I suppose).

-In the end I designed these 3 prototypes and sent them to the author to help me decide which one to choose or which to combine because the truth is I couldn't choose alone (I'm too indecisive).As I said, I was inspired by the character of Circe, so I looked for references of how the Greek goddesses dressed in ancient paintings, and if you look a little closer you can notice that I added the Leo symbol, since it represents the lion. , an animal that was associated with the Greek mythology character I mentioned

Another important detail is the moons on her dress, since it represents motherhood, an aspect that Amaya uses as a facade with her people, and speaking of space, the writer gave me the idea that Magnifico represents the sun since in her own words:

"I know the association with the sun and the moon fits their personalities really well. As the sun can be seen as bright, fun and warm like Magnifico presents himself, but it can also be a force of destruction that burns and is unpredictable. And the moon can be associated with Amaya for being a protective glow in the darkness like how she presents herself as a caring guide, but the moon also has a mysterious dark side we can never see.And the moon only shines to us because the sun is shining on it, so like… Amaya only shines because she’s next to Magnifico"

(Honestly, I'm always surprised by how much symbolism the writer can find for the characters, I only put it in because of what I mentioned before and because I thought it looked cute lol).

(I came up with the belt and most of the costume thanks to this circe painting)

-Don't think that I decided on the colors yellow and dark blue just because they go together well, nonono, this one also has a meaning :D , you see, while I was looking at some of Wish's concept art there were these discarded designs of Magnifico:

And doing a little google search I found this:

-That's why I chose these colors, blue is a color that represents the truth, something that Amaya and Magnifico want to pretend, but the color yellow represents what they truly are, liars.

-And finally (because this writing is taking me more than 2 hours) the roses that are in her dress and hair are natural, and without giving you too many spoilers about the rewrite, Amaya suddenly ages a little, and when this happens the roses also have a change as they wither

Final comments :D

wow, that was quite long ,wasn't it?, I'm more than happy with the result, I hope you like it too, @annymation and I've put a lot of effort into this design and history of Amaya :)

[swannieluv]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Portraits and flowers- PLATONIC Albedo and Klee x Child!Reader

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐆𝐍!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 1,4k

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: Slight mention of a bruise.

✦⸼࣪⸳ Part II of: Alchemy, bombs... Family?

✦⸼࣪⸳ A/N: HII!! Writing for Klee is so nice, she's just a silly ball of energy. Hope you guys like it!! Also, a friendly reminder that you're free to send whatever thoughts you have about this or my other fics on my asks <3

"Stay still."

These two words had been repeated thousands of times over the last two hours. A single command that should be simple, if it weren't terribly boring to sit in an armchair posing for so long.

"I still don't understand..." Their eyes turned to the back of the easel, which concealed Albedo's work. "Why do you want to make a portrait of me?"

"Because you're our new addition to the family; it's only fair that we have a portrait of you to put on the wall."

He wanted to present them with a painting that he would do himself. Although most of his drawings didn't make it out of the sketch phase because he always found other inspiration and left his unfinished projects lying around, Albedo was clearly making an effort for them.

For Albedo, this wasn't just a gift. It had been a few days since [Name] had joined the small family made up of Albedo, Klee and Alice; although they still hadn't had direct contact with the latter.

They were still adapting to the new reality they were living in, in the midst of a great deal of internal confusion because they couldn't remember anything about their past. That's where the idea for this gift came from, something that would make them feel embraced by him and Klee.

Albedo then returned his attention to the painting. He seemed focused, trying to capture every possible detail in his work and create the best possible representation of the person in front of him.

"It's already a great honor to have the opportunity to be painted by the 'genius' Albedo..."

They teased him in a light-hearted way. Albedo was known to many as a 'Genius'. Something in his mind said that the person who told [Name] about this title was a certain Cavalry Captain with, apparently, too much free time for his liking.

He wasn't particularly fond of being called that, thinking it was a big exaggeration on people's part. Nevertheless, he decided to join in.

"And it's a great pleasure to be able to paint the great Dodoca..." he smiled and looked at the canvas, his eyes analyzing every detail of what he had already done so that he could correct the mistakes.

"The mini terrorist will surely want a portrait if she sees it."

"Mini terrorist? New nickname for Klee, I see."

In a small family of three - or four if you count Alice - Klee was the bomb-maniac little sister. Although Albedo was the one who spent most of his time looking after the little girl, now that [Name] is here, she has been dividing her time between the two of them. Whenever Klee met [Name] along the way she would jump around and show off her new bombs, causing the two to end up in solitary confinement more than five times before even a week had passed since their arrival.

And today would probably be no exception.

"Mr. Albedo!"

Klee appeared as energetic as ever. The girl looked as if she had just returned from her adventures in Mondstadt, adventures she could only experience outside solitary confinement. In her hands was a bouquet of orange flowers: Windwheel Asters.

"I did it! I've collected all the flowers!"

Albedo stared at Klee in silence with wide eyes, his panic inside was apparent. He had agreed with the little girl to deliver the flowers after the painting was finished, not before!

But seeing Klee's sparkling eyes, he could only laugh softly and stroke her head gently. The little girl was really excited to hand over her present.

"Thank you, Klee."

As soon as Albedo's hand left her head, she ran and threw herself over them in a tight hug. Causing some of the flowers in her arms to slip, not that that was a problem at the moment.

The seat didn't have a back support, so as soon as Klee jumped, they both fell straight to the hard floor and remained there completely motionless while hugging each other.

The sound of two awkward giggles echoed around the room. The fall was funny, but a little painful for [Name]'s back.

"That was so fun!"

Klee stood up awkwardly; her backpack weighed a lot, even if she could carry it around. The contents of the backpack? A mystery, she always took the most random trinkets out of it. The only thing you could be sure of was the dozens of bombs she must hide in there every day.

"Klee picked the best flowers she could find! Just for you!" She brought the flowers close to their faces; a sweet but early surprise for [Name].

"You didn't have to..."

They prepared to get up, wiping the accumulated snow from their clothes. Their efforts were met with a gentle hand extended to them, just like the day Albedo and Klee had helped them.

"Thank you."

They accepted the support and were finally on two feet. Their sore backs would probably end up having a few bruises from the sudden impact they had suffered, but they didn't want to have to worry when they were having such a good time.

“Did Klee hurt you? I didn't intend to…” she mumbled under her breath, a hand over her mouth as the worried girl looked at them.

“I'm not hurt at all. It's okay.”

It wasn't exactly the truth, but what heartless person would say that to her? She looked so guilty right now, fearing having hurt her new friend like that.

“You could've used your vision to avoid your fall. Why haven't you done so?”

That was a reasonable question. The fact they wielded an anemo vision and weren't actively using it when needed was quite curious for him; maybe he could get the answer he was searching for. All evidence, from their vision's shape to their past clothing pointed out their origins coming from Snezhnaya.

It would start to make sense if they truly had come from the snowy nation, since they could stand the cold naturally without feeling slightly bothered by the lack of natural warmth inside his lab – unlike Klee, who would complain to no end about how her ears were “freezing” before getting her vision and becoming the walking heater she is – and their effortless pacing around the mountain, when even skilled adventurers would find the area rather hostile for exploring sometimes.

Yet, no answer would be concrete while [Name]’s memories continued to stay locked inside their mind for who knows how long. But even so, Albedo was more than willing to help them and wait for the right time when things will finally become clear.

“I don't know…” they answered with a rather puzzled look on their face. Their hands clutching to the hanging vision on their side.

“It's alright, just take your time.”

He put a hand on their shoulder, it was a reassuring action to make sure they knew he truly meant those words. Behind him was Klee, picking the flowers that fell when she jumped.

“Remember, no one's pressuring you into remembering anything”

Albedo's tone always carried a wave of gentleness with it. Years of taking care of Klee had surely improved his skills when dealing with children, she was the perfect definition of a ball of sunshine that could melt everyone's hearts.

“Yes, thank you—”

“What's this?” Klee’s question caught you two by surprise. She was standing close to the canvas, eyes exploring the painting quickly as if she was searching for something specific. Yet her facial expression showed a hint of confusion. “Oh, a drawing?”

“Yes, I'm important now so I can have one.”

They playfully stuck out their tongue to her, which she responded by leaving the flowers on a table and putting her hands on the hips with a pouting face. Of course Klee found [Name] amazing now that she was their friend, yet it didn't prevent her from feeling slightly jealous of Albedo's attention. Though it was more of a lighthearted, childish kind of jealousy.

“Right, Mr. Albe—”

He was gone.

“Oh.”

Albedo disappeared without saying a word, leaving them both alone in the lab without any kind of explanation.

“Let me see it.” [Name] ran to where Klee was, in front of the easel. Instead of a half done portrait, there was only a sketch.

Two hours, two freaking hours staying still like a porcelain doll for a sketch. It was quite infuriating, but maybe that's how artists worked? They wouldn't know.

“...”

They were so focused on their representation in the canvas that had failed to see the other two faces composing the picture. It wasn't only them; Albedo and Klee were also present in the sketch by their side. Written delicately in a small blank space was the word “family”.

“Family…"

A cozy home, big dinner, and a fireplace. Those images appeared for a second in their mind alongside the face of a familiar woman, but they couldn't remember whose face was that. It was blurred, just like everything else about their past.

"[Name]?" Klee's voice cut their thoughts. She had the flowers in her hands, ready to gift them with it.

Klee finally gave them the Windwheel Asters. A small smile on her face as she placed them carefully in [Name]’s hands. Maybe, just maybe, they were accepting it better than they thought.

“Klee wants you to be happy. Let's be siblings! I promise I won't explode you with my bombs, really!”

This time, though, the one to start the hug was [Name]. Their arms cautiously wrapped around the smaller child, afraid of hurting her somehow.

If Klee was a small flame due to her vision, [Name] would be the calm breeze to carry her with themselves. It's the very concept of siblings, right? Fighting, yet hugging by the end of it all.

“Thank you, Klee.”

[zizz-asdf-re-r-o-u]

Headcanon time: Who might be on the aroace spectrum in a sex game?

I missed arospec week by... a few weeks lol. And hey look i'm making a Nukani headcanon post instead of a questionable theorizing analysis for once! If you have contributions for characters I don't have enough info on (especially Quincy), please add on!

Disclaimer: I'm aromantic but allosexual. For me, this means I experience sexual attraction, but not romantic attraction. In my local kink scene, I actually personally know several community members + friends who are asexual or aromantic or both, and some engage in sex while some don't. And lastly for demographic proof only, I'm in an unofficial discord server where some unspecified members are asexual, but they still play this porn game, so yes not everyone who plays this game are into romance or sex.

TLDR: someone can be asexual or aromantic or on the aroace spectrum and still have sex but that varies for everyone!

Now that that's out of the way, here are my headcanon times! None of this is true or ever will be true due to the marketing of a porn harem game, but I think it's fun to headcanon! Feel free to disagree cause I know how people reacted to that "Is Aster trans" reddit post.

Speaking of Aster. I think he's also aroacespec! In his SR room 5, we got text narration ONE time that he gushed or orgasmed or something with a vague hot rod behind Eiden's back. But we've never seen Aster naked nor involve his genitals with another body in the 5 H scenes we have with him. And unlike EVERY other character, he’s only described to have orgasmed once. He also constantly talks down on morvay’s sexual habits, and while it’s a running gag that’s played for laughs, isn’t it possible Aster actually thinks this way? But is still willing to engage in sexy times with Morvay because they're essence creatures so that's how you exchange essence, and they’re basically an old married couple & deep down they do care about each other. And remember what I said about aromantic or asexual people who still engage in kink or sex.

Next, Karu my beloved chew toy. At the time I wrote Garu/Karu analysis part 1, I thought both of them were firmly allosexual but also presented some evidence someone could use to argue Karu might be demi or aroace or something else. But the more I think about it, the more I think yeah, he might be. Or he’s just a tsundere. I swear I'm not delusional and am a logical canon-based theory fan. (Btw, according to google searching, it is possible for different alters to have different sexualities, so this does not apply to Garu).

Quincy- I have never watched a Quincy intimacy room (including his SR & R cards that I have unlocked) but my vibes based off all the other story content with him makes me think he might be in the umbrella, so Grey-ace, Demi, etc. From what I’ve heard other people say, Quincy has had a lover in the past but currently only has sex if Eiden begs for it. This might fit into the definition of people who don't really care for sex themselves, but is interested in it for their partner. If anyone has Quincy cards and has more information, please let me know!

Huey: ok so we have almost no information on him. But he didn’t have sex with his clan members. He was definitely not romantically invested in any of his clan members nor do I recall him having hints of being sexually or romantically invested in anyone else, which does not equate aromantic or asexual but its still possible. And that’s all I got. Anyone got additional input?

Eiden: ah our beloved Eiden. Let’s ignore that in meta, he’s supposed to be the audience self insert (even though he’s the least self insert type MC ever) and therefore he is not going to “prioritize” one ship over another.

Anyways, so I am 100% sure he’s not asexual. BUUUUT he has not expressed romantic lovey dovey attraction to his clan members. More significantly, he does not seem to pick up MULTIPLE clan members’ romantic hints towards him. Yes in Fateful Aegis, Eiden says “I love you too” back to Yakumo, but it’s prefaced with something like Your grandparents love you and I love you too-ish, which to me indicates found family love. Kuya has said the Chinese/Japanese equivalent of “I love you” (“the moon is bright/the moonlight is beautiful tonight”) and that totally went over Eiden’s head. Dante & Edmond are also intensely crushing on Eiden… but they’re tsunderes so it’s probably gonna take forever to get across. The other members are different types of dedicated but open relationships rather than traditionally romantic relationships (except for Rei, who’s still getting there). And I think this is a great thing! All these varying relationship styles that are given the same weight & importance & Eiden has such appreciation & care for all of them, despite not providing traditionally romantic affection back.

Aromantic people can still love their friends & family! We’re not heartless emotionless creatures. We just may not experience or be able to comprehend romantic attraction. And i don’t think that’s a defect nor a bad thing.* And I think it’s especially cool when we compare Eiden’s bad hookup habits in the real world with how he has multiple regular partners that truly value him and a new found family in Klein. If he was aromantic this whole time, it’s kind of a positive perspective, isn’t it? Some aromantic people do experience “squishes”, which is a term for when we feel emotional desire for a platonic relationship. Obviously none of Eiden’s relationships are truly platonic due to the sexual element, but they all lack the romantic element from Eiden’s side.

(Anyways, Eiden won’t ever “reciprocate” romantic love because it’s a harem game, but shhhhh. Also to anyone who says it’s an Asian game and the characters aren’t going to say “I love you”…. Well in their newest intimacy rooms, both Kuya and Yakumo literally just did. Heck one of Forest Night Kuya’s sprite dialogues repeats that!)

So yeah, I hope you enjoyed this pointless headcanons!

*Speaking from my personal experience, I’ve have several sexual partners over time, but I never had the desire to date them or be romantically invested in them. And a weirdly telltale sign, that Jaidenanimation pointed out quite nicely, is that when she listened to romance songs she was like “wait that’s what people experience when they’re in love???” I’ve read a TON of romance and have heard a TON of love songs, but I cannot relate to any one of them. I literally have not felt any of those feelings. And when I have sexual partners, the horniness is definitely the forefront compared to any ��falling in love” feelings. I did have what I now realize were several “squishes” in high school/college. What squishes feel like to me, are like “I wanna be your friend & you’re really cool & I cherish you! Like a lot! And also I don’t mind if you fucked me!” which emotionally feels different from “I’m in love with you!!!” (Which yeah i still don’t know what “in love” feels like, and I’m fine with not knowing!).

[no-where-new-hero]

Chapter 26: On the Bay Shore

I was dreading this day of the book club.

I do think this chapter succeeds extraordinarily well in setting up everything that Dean will be for the rest of the series. LMM's overall tone really changes with regard to Dean from book to book, but the tension of the dynamic is here from the outset. It spells romance, but with a shadow over it. Dean saves Emily's life, coded as romantic and chivalrous. Dean saves Emily's life and also immediately tries to have a claim on it that she resents. The push-pull of the scene is bewildering, and I feel as though Maud herself is finding herself almost distracted by her problematic new character.

We also cannot quite ignore the loving detail Maud gives us about his appearance: "beautiful" voice, "dreamy and attractive" eyes. "Dreamy" is only ever used as an adjective for Douglas, apart for Emily herself. Emily likes his mouth (show me a reaction to a mouth that doesn't immediately connote sensuality). She does not think him handsome like the Jane Eyre analogue that she is, but these reactions to his looks are more how she responds to Perry or Teddy than, say, to Father Cassidy the Brown Nut. Twice in one paragraph, Maud tells us Emily's likes "a flavor" about him and "that lean clever face of his." He has a connection to her beloved father and gives her the impression that she has known him for a long while, an apparently kindred spirit that will wait for her--romantic in notion, cringy to our modern ears, but also more universally symbolically troubling the more and more you realize that Emily's journey has to be, almost by definition, a solitary one.

I think part of why Maud seems to be trying to get us on Dean's side is the way that he's a character whose thoughts and reactions we're privy to (Aunt Elizabeth is the only other one): we know he "never forgot" how Emily smiled at him here (oho, the foreshadowing, Maud!). We know he knows she wants to recite her whole poem to him. He becomes, for the span of this chapter, a strangely immediate secondary main character. In other LMM novels, this kind of primacy is afforded to such important people as Gilbert Blythe. In addition, of course, is the fluency of his conversation. Maud's gift for dialogue shines through Dean, and despite the imbalance we can perceive between the lines, the relationship that evolves between Emily and Dean has a tangible realism not felt elsewhere in the novel (Alice Munro, in her afterward to the book in one of the Canadian editions, points this out). I think this is due, in some measure, to the tension between said and unsaid, between two natures that are similar but desiring two different things.

Dean is very interested in symbols and metaphors; he thinks of Emily as a fairy, a star: it's dehumanizing but, right on the heels of Aunt Nancy's vivid portrait of adult womanhood in Beatrice, such a romanticized and abstracted attitude feels safer, childlike in its fancy. It is so very nearly like the return of a Douglas analogue--except for the fact that Emily is no longer a child. The preceding few chapters have assured this for us. And Emily's own obsession with the transgressions of Beatrice start echoing onto her own desire to reach out for the aster. She, like Beatrice, overstepped. She, like Beatrice (according to Dean--though he was only joking, says Maud!), cannot get off scot-free. Again, the tension between two opposing appearances confuse our takeaway.

I will always stand behind my own hypothesis that Maud just really enjoyed writing Dean. Right before she began drafting Emily of New Moon, she wrote in her journals about wanting to write a "novel for grown up people ...a psychological portrait of one person's life" that she titled Priest Pond, and my favorite LMM headcanon is that Dean would have been the main character of this novel. He has similarities to other prominent male figures in her canon (Walter Blythe and Barney Snaith), and he's also so fully rendered in a way a lot of her supporting male characters are not, which makes me suspect she had done a bit of planning for him beforehand. I think she absolutely set him up in this conflicted way because of Emily's necessary arc, but I also think that she was interested in him on his own behalf. And I'm rather sad she never wrote that other novel, going by the complexity and layers at play in this chapter.

[lavenoon]

Asterisms (~5.6K)

*An asterism is an observed pattern or group of stars in the sky. Asterisms can be any identified pattern or group of stars, and therefore are a more general concept than the 88 formally defined constellations.

Bloodstain Fool by @naffeclipse, og detective au by sunnys-aesthetic

menace4menace one-shots in order: Falling into Orbit, Conjunction, [You are here]

A bit of a disclaimer/ context: There is another drabble that will be referenced in this one, but I wrote it as a vent when I was in a very bad spot mentally and never cleaned it up, so it's now unfortunately in the "canon to the menace4menace storyline but too raw to share" limbo. You don't need to know the details to understand though (I hope). It does end with another sleepover, so that's where we start off here!

-

“So, are we friends now?” 

You take another bite from your breakfast apple, legs crossed on the couch. Eclipse at his desk tenses, his shoulders rising, and the scratch of his pen coming to an abrupt halt. But he doesn’t turn back, doesn’t spare you his standard glare. 

After a moment, he continues writing, as if you never said anything. That’s just fine — you’re too stubborn to stop now. 

“Because comforting someone during a breakdown is kind of friend behavior.”

Impossibly, he tenses further. From the way his writing sounds he’ll soon tear through the paper and just start carving onto the desk. 

“You were talking nonsense and I simply corrected you. If you interpret that as comfort, that is not my problem.”

You hope he feels how scathing your disdain is through vibes alone as you direct a deadpan stare at his back.  

He probably doesn’t know what “vibes” are. 

“You invited me over too.” 

“And you owe me for that.” 

Fine, then. If he insists on framing it as more debt that he’ll hardly be able to collect you can let it go. Otherwise you’ll just back him into a corner of stubbornness, and something tells you he’s the type to double down. 

It does mean you spare him the mention of the blanket. A soft red throw currently protecting you from sticking to the leather of the couch. Eclipse refused to acknowledge its existence, much less elaborate on the reason for the new addition to his couch yesterday, and you weren’t in the mood to ask either. The afternoon was stressful enough. 

You sigh. 

“Okay, sure. You can start a little tally on the back of the I.O.U. note I already gave you.”

Some of the tension leaves his shoulders, and you almost want to sigh again. How exhausting to see everything as transactional. 

“No need. I remember.” 

The question about animatronic memory dies a quiet death on the tip of your tongue — at the last second you decide it’s not a good idea to imply doubt right now. Instead you take another bite from your apple, and chew. Hopefully you can drop this conversation after. It didn’t really go the way you wanted it to. 

Just to make sure it sticks you decide to change the topic entirely. 

“What are you writing?” 

There’s the softest huff as his shoulders drop further. The defeat is evident, and you press your lips together to keep a grin down. Friends or not, he’s learned his lesson about your stubbornness. 

You’ll get him on the friendship, too, sooner or later. 

“A report.” 

Oh, he wants to be like that. Fine. You’ll play.

“On what?” 

The pen stops for a moment, then continues.

“The latest bounty I apprehended.” 

“You have to write reports on that?” 

In a way, it makes sense — you just didn’t think about it before. But you’re no stranger to writing reports, and detailing the events of how a certain bounty was caught seems reasonable. 

Eclipse turns to look at you for the first time, and his expression is about as tired as an animatronic could manage to look. 

“Yes. It’s not like the movies.” 

You take another bite from your apple as you keep up the eye contact, and then he turns back. Seems like your silence was enough of a concession for him. 

Leaning back against the couch, you’re just thinking that you don’t miss writing reports one bit. 

“Reports suck. My condolences.” 

Eclipse doesn’t stop writing to look back, but you do hear the soft static sound of a laugh. 

“Speaking from experience?”

You chuckle softly, matching him. Writing reports and bills - the worst part of your chosen career. 

“Yup.” 

He hums. 

“Is that why you haven’t made any efforts to work again?” 

Well, not quite — looking for work hasn’t been on your list of priorities without the immediate pressure of paying for your lodging. An oversight, you’ll admit, given that you can’t rely on your boarded room forever. But without any credentials, without your degree or even an ID you don’t really know where to start, hypothetically. 

Besides, even if you wanted to, you know that research has to go through a few more necessary steps before you can consider picking up your former work again.

So you shrug, even though he can’t see.

“Eh, mostly I don’t think my job field exists yet. Caring about kids with learning disabilities was a pretty recent development even in my time.” 

This time, the pause feels heavier than before. 

“... You worked with children?” 

You have no idea how to read his tone. Not angry, you don’t think, but there’s something that you just cannot make sense of. It sparks something defensive in you, even though you can’t tell if it’s judgement coloring his voice. You chose your job for a reason, and you know it’s a good one.

“Yeah, I mean. No one gave a fuck about my problems in school growing up. I didn’t want that for other kids.” 

“Hm.” 

That’s… It’s not acknowledgement, but it’s also not a rebuke. You don’t know what to make of it. 

You’ll poke the bear just one more time. 

“You don’t like children?” 

That poke went through. Eclipse carefully sets his pen down, and turns his head your way. Just his head - it’s unsettling, and you flinch at the suddenness. You wonder if that was exactly his intention when he narrows his darkened eyes at you. 

“Continue this line of questioning and you’ll find that I absolutely will kick you out.” 

There isn’t a hint of humor in his voice, nor even a crumb of softness. This time you decide not to bet on that being a bluff. Not with those eyes. You shrink back, hunched on the couch and pondering the nearly finished apple in your hand. Eclipse turns back, you think. You only hear the click of his neck and then the scratch of his pen again. 

The lump in your throat grows at the renewed tension that you don’t know how to alleviate. Maybe just a straightforward approach — you did push him too far. 

“I’m sorry, I won’t ask again. I just care about them.”

This time, the scratch of his pen only stutters, but doesn’t stop. You’ll take that as progress, even if his tone is still hard.

“You got to be a child.” 

You think back to your childhood, and the responsibilities you had to take on much too early. A huff of air escapes as a sigh before you can stop it. There’s nothing you really process as you stare off into space. The smile you manage twitches pathetically before you let it fall again. 

“I guess, for a while.”

Still longer than Eclipse got to be one though, to be fair. 

This time you sigh on purpose, and extract yourself from the blanket. Folding it is a bit hard with only one free hand available, but you at least don’t leave it as a scrunched up mess. You ramble on a bit, just to put out any metaphorical fires you might have set. 

“I’m filing this away as another thing I shouldn’t ask about. I won’t pry, and I get that you probably have complicated feelings about it. I have my own, different ones. We can both be justified. I’ll drop it now. Gonna wash up a bit.” 

Without giving him any opportunity to reply you slink into the kitchen, disposing of the apple core before escaping further into the bathroom. 

Not a lot you can do in here without your toiletries, and you don’t think Eclipse has a habit of expecting human visitors, much less preparing for their needs. The blanket already was a surprise, after all. You’ll just have to deal with a bit of discomfort until you make it back to your room. 

Maybe Eclipse is right. You are awfully curious, and there are a lot of lines you don’t know you’re crossing until you’ve waltzed right over them. He has every right to set those boundaries, and maybe you could learn a little tact. At least you can try. After the unexpected kindness he showed you, no matter how much he denies it, you really do owe him that. 

For now you’ll just not mention kids again, and definitely change the topic once you’re back out. 

Carefully you reemerge, and assess the situation from the entrance to the living room. Eclipse is still writing his report, focused and quiet, but his shoulders are relaxed. Well, as much as you’ve ever seen him relaxed. There is of course the pure physical difference — maybe he doesn’t have to relax as much as humans do to really feel the effect. 

You’ve seen him tense for sure. More often than not, which only exacerbates the thought that he doesn’t know how to truly relax. 

Not that you do, either. It’s not rest if you feel guilty for resting, occupying your thoughts with more anxiety, and that’s unfortunately what you keep doing, again and again. 

Yesterday, in the park — that was the latest botched attempt to relax for once. And that didn’t do jack shit for your mind until Eclipse came by and poked you until you spilled it all. Kinder than he gives himself credit for, but just as blunt as you needed. Hard to argue that self deprecation is deserved with nearly ten foot of all that glaring down at you and calling you out on your bullshit. 

Not that he did in so many words, but his threats were convincing in the moment. Now you’re just left wondering.

Apparently you stare just a little too long. 

“What?”

The question is curt and somewhat grumpy — the familiar grumpy, and thus leagues better than the hostile tone from before. 

You don’t think. It’s a bad habit. 

“Could you throw me?” 

Eclipse straightens in his chair, pausing his writing again. You don’t know what to make of that, even with his pointed follow up. 

“Excuse you?”

Any other person might agree that you’ve made some very unwise decisions, and this is barrelling towards yet another added to the ever growing tally. However, you’re you, and as long as he doesn’t sound outright hostile you don’t see the harm in elaborating.

“Yesterday, you said you’d throw me in the pond if I don’t shut up. I’m not asking you to, just if you actually could.” 

You watch as he sets the pen down, this time turning on the chair to face you. His stare is so deadpan, you’ll need a graveyard for kitchenware stat. Slowly, and without looking away he rises.

That doesn’t bode well for you. On instinct you wave your hands through the air, though you don’t have much hope.

“I said you don’t need to prove it!” 

While Eclipse is deceptively calm in his approach, you’re not oblivious enough to believe him. You duck, not quite a crouch, but you’re keyed up already. Your options are limited and you don’t have time to think - and then he’s past the coffee table, and you make a break for it down the hallway. 

Hearing him laugh definitely isn’t reassuring. 

You’re just reaching for the bathroom door when his hands wrap around your middle, and you screech. Or laugh, you aren’t quite sure. Unceremoniously you’re whipped back, your safe haven back out of reach. Eclipse lets go only for a moment, and only to turn you into a position facing him. 

That grin is not reassuring. It might be the happiest you’ve seen him yet. 

Before you can even begin to process that contradiction his hands are on you again, and then you’re up. 

You blink. Rare enough you get to look him in the eyes on face level. 

“Does this answer your question?” 

And still he sounds so happy. In a strange way, it makes sense. Maybe. If you think about it — a playful, if extremely short chase that lets him show off how big and scary he is, without any of the risks his job usually involves. It’s not even like he’s holding you particularly tightly. The pressure from his hold is mostly under your arms, and that’s gravity from dangling, not him grabbing too hard.

Just as you think about it, his fingers loosen around you even more. Just a hint, and you are still held securely, but a noticeable change. Before, he felt bad about the bruises he left on accident, and now he’s trying to adjust? Is that it? 

And yet, all that combined with his unbearably smug attitude. 

You suppress a grin, just barely, and decide to deflect. This morning has had enough realizations and tense conversations. 

“... Do I even weigh anything to you?” 

The bubble of happiness bursts, and he narrows his eyes again with a scoff. Seamlessly he turns, back towards the living room, and just for a moment you brush your fingers against the ceiling. Also rare enough you get to do that, even in places that aren’t housing a ridiculously tall animatronic. 

He ducks under the doorway, and for a second you hope to touch ground again. None of that. 

“At worst you’re a burden on my mind.” 

The dissonance between the way he’s still holding you and the venom in his voice is too great, so you promptly decide to disregard the latter. Actions over words, or something. And sure, there are nicer ways to tell someone you think about them a lot, but this is the guy who doesn’t believe in friendship. 

You pat his shoulder, and close your eyes for posterity. 

“I’m flattered. You should have said ‘No, it’s like holding a couple of grapes.’” 

When you open your eyes again you’re met with a narrow-eyed glare, radiating suspicion. Also, you have to look up again. If you weigh so little to him, the only explanation is that he wants to be taller. You file that hypothesis away for another time, when you have access to walls to climb on.

For now, Eclipse has caught onto the fact that you continue sprinkling memes into your conversations.

“I’m not saying that.” 

He dips you a little lower, and then many things happen at once. Air breezing past you, and his hands no longer holding you up — but you’re not just falling. 

No, the bastard did throw you. 

The springs of the couch creak as you land on it butt first, and your back hits the armrest at an angle.

“Oof.” 

Unaffected by your suffering, Eclipse brushes past you to settle back at his desk. 

“Now let me finish my report, or I’m kicking you out.”

His shoulders are lower, again. You smile.

Then, with a soft chuckle, you right yourself, twisting to face him even as he doesn’t face you. 

“Actually, can we do it the other way round? I wanna ask one more thing -”

Before you get to finish he’s already turning back, eyes narrow in warning. You throw your hands up placatingly and continue without pause.

“Nothing about you, stop looking at me like that. After that I’ll leave and you have the entire rest of this beautiful day to engage in boring as fuck work stuff.” 

Because he did remind you of that issue creeping closer and closer, and you have not the slightest idea how to go about fixing it before it all goes south. 

For a sigh, he slumps. A bit theatrically, you want to say, especially when he starts rubbing his forehead in exasperation, too — well, notably, the little swirl, just above his eye. Reminds you of when you did the same, just gentler.

“I feel like that will be a welcome reprieve after your exciting presence.” 

Right, back to the conversation. You click your tongue and flutter your eyelashes innocently. 

“Ahw, you just keep flattering me.” 

If you ever decide to measure how narrow his eyes go, you’d need to pinch your fingers together, and he’d definitely take offense. You’re tempted all the more. 

“Ask your question before I change my mind, you menace.” 

So he doesn’t mind the question. Could have said so in a few more words, but you’ll take it. After another little dig — you have your dignity to defend. You straighten and level your own haughty scowl at him. 

“Says the guy who just threw me on the couch.” 

His hand still set on the table tightens into a fist.

“Star.”

Right, the question. You lean back, bouncing slightly on the couch. 

“Fine, fine. Where could I work? Without any proof of my existence or education?” 

Right now, you’re boarding for free, but your conscience is starting to weigh on you. As ideal as it is, that’s not how things work, and you’ll need a source of income if you don’t want to be dependent on other people’s goodwill. 

Eclipse’s expression sours, and his shoulders droop with an overly exaggerated sigh. 

“I suppose it’s in my favor too if you get some faked documents. I’ll just need some additional information.” 

He really just jumped past a few steps you didn’t expect to be that easy of a hurdle. Then again, his legs are a lot longer, sure it’s easier for him. You can roll with that. 

There is no way you’re going to bring your name into this though. If you already get to reinvent yourself… 

Or, even better - 

“Sure. Can I have the last name Smith?” 

“Smith?” 

The suspicion is palpable, though he doesn’t seem to get the joke. That’s no problem, you’ll gladly help him out. No ulterior motives at all. 

“Yeah! Like the ‘I’m here undercover so I’m picking the most obvious fake name ever’ name.” 

His expression tells you everything you need to know about what he thinks of that idea. 

You smile, and remain silent. The proof that you can shut up. And if the timing just so happens to also make it prove that you can be a menace even without opening your mouth, well, that’s between you and your steadily growing grin. The moment stretches as Eclipse’s eyes narrow further, and his next sigh bursts with frustrated static as he turns away.

“Why did I ever think you just being quiet would be enough?” 

Mumbling to himself he rummages through a drawer, and you sit up on your knees to catch a glimpse of loose pens and papers and paperclips. 

“Silence is golden, after all. I didn’t have to say anything to annoy you.” 

Words are one thing, actions another. You take the notepad and pencil he holds out to you, and settle back on the couch.

“You’re a walking headache. And here I thought I was immune.”

“You keep saying that, and yet you keep inviting me back. I don’t think I’m that bad, or you’re a masochist.”

Oh, oh and you thought you knew his bad glares. But this one is just a tad too disbelieving — did you really have the audacity to say that? — and rather than doing the proper self preserving thing and apologize, or something, you just snort. 

Eclipse has had enough of you. 

“Just write down the information you want. If it’s ridiculous, I’m not getting it. If anything’s missing, I’m making up the least flattering filler possible.” 

Again he turns back, and you dutifully write down all the info he could need. Your desired name (including the Smith), age, and height - and then stop at the gender. After a moment of deliberation you doodle a little mischievous cat face and carry on. You think your birth town already exists, so you note it down too. What else, what else… 

For a minute or two, the room is silent except for the scratch of two pens. 

Once you’re done (at least as done as you can be without knowing what information exactly is necessary) you stand up, dusting yourself off just to stall for time. By the time you step next to Eclipse at the desk and hold out the notepad again he too has put down his pen. You shake the pad once before he takes it. 

“All done.” 

“Good. Now get out of here.” 

He stashes the pencil back in the drawer, but the notepad he leaves on the desk. Doesn’t even spare you a last glance before he picks up his pen again. There’s no fight to be won here, so you just snort and step away. Overstaying your welcome is not something you’re particularly interested in, and you’ve already teetered the edge for a while now.

Except you stop at the entrance to the living room, one hand on the doorframe. There’s a lot left unsaid, both because you’re embarrassed still about your little breakdown, and because Eclipse is about as emotionally aware as a rock and pricklier than a cactus. But if you’re leaving now anyway… 

Before you can talk yourself out of it, you turn back. Eclipse is still writing. 

“Hey, Eclipse?” 

“Yes?” 

He draws out the sound, clearly annoyed. Woe is him, you haven’t actually left his apartment yet. 

“Thank you, again.” 

Just like any time before, he stiffens at the expression of gratitude. At least he doesn’t notice your smile in response, given that you manage to suppress the amused huff. 

You’re undeterred. 

“You’re a better person than you give yourself credit for. Though if I may recommend a different succulent to emulate, aloe would be a much more pleasant alternative.” 

He turns on his chair after just a moment of processing your barb, a growl already building up. But before he catches you with his glare you’re laughing, and dipping into the hallway. 

“See you soon!” 

“Don’t you dare!” 

But for all his posturing, he doesn’t chase you again — doesn’t chase you out. After just demonstrating how easy it would be for him, that speaks volumes. 

Oh, you’ll definitely see him again soon. Life would be much too boring otherwise.

—

It’s a few days before you see Eclipse again, and by pure chance, too. For once, you’re out and about with a purpose, and seeing a bounty hunter isn’t it. 

No one will fault you for a detour, though. 

Especially not when you see that he’s talking to someone - a man, wearing nondescript worker’s clothes, and not the kind of work Eclipse engages in. No, this is someone your eyes would simply pass over in a vintage photograph of a street scene, or some sort of group shot. 

So Mr. No Friends has other reasons to communicate with people — and you’re just dying to know about what. 

Your current position puts you at Eclipse’s back, and that’s where you prefer to be for now. Means he won’t see you until it’s too late, and you’re already close enough to listen in. So you step closer, carefully and quietly, though you make no secret out of your curiosity. With your eyes on Eclipse you creep closer, arms crossed behind your back. You lean forward just slightly, like that will put you closer to the conversation. 

And then you get spotted. 

“I saw him last around — Sorry, who’s your friend?” 

Your automatic smile stiffens as you drop your gaze to the speaker. Those narrow eyes are nothing compared to what Eclipse will look like when he sees you’ve been eavesdropping.

“My -” 

Eclipse turns, a wide eyed glare finding you quickly. Think of the devil. Rage simmers just below the surface, and you remember the last time you announced yourself as his friend. Your smile twitches, and you direct a wave at Eclipse’s not-friend. An informant, maybe? That would fit into his broody bounty hunter reputation. 

The impulsive part of your brain supplies a feathery Eclipse as a chicken-puddle as he clucks offendedly, and you decide to talk before you start laughing. 

“Oh, no, I just owe him.” 

Somehow, you feel like his glare is worse now. 

Maybe-Informant scowls, then turns back to Eclipse. 

“You’re branching out, huh? Anyways, I last saw him lurking around the industrial area, hiding out in different warehouses. Lots of people on his tail these days, might be a hassle finding him in that maze.” 

Definitely an informant then. Your curiosity is officially sated, even at the cost of Eclipse once again being mad at you. 

“I’ll find him. Keep an eye out.” 

He turns so suddenly that you end up taking a step back, to no avail. His hand wraps around your upper arm, though the grip isn’t tight — but his fingertips touch. Just so, and no tighter, and then he’s dragging you after him. 

For a second, you contemplate making a show of it. Back of the hand to your forehead, pretend despair at being dragged away. You decide against it, because you don’t actually want to make Eclipse’s reputation worse, and you also remember why he started helping you out in the first place. 

So instead, you opt for a wave. It reaches nothing but air. You don’t even see the informant anymore, and don’t get the chance to look around either before Eclipse drags you off into an alley. 

At least he starts talking before you get to voice your comment about risqué behavior during daylight hours. You’re in deep enough trouble as is.

“What are you doing here?” 

You shrug, the motion pulling his hand up before he lets go of your arm. Not that he looks any happier, but also not like you aren’t used to that by now. You’ve seen him really angry, and this isn’t it. 

“Job hunting.”

Nonchalant as the response is, his reaction is the opposite. You’re pretty sure you see his eyelid twitch. 

“Job - I haven’t even gotten you your papers yet!”

Alright, maybe you’re just a little impatient. Indignance pulls up your shoulders again, and you pace down the alleyway to gesture at nothing. 

“I know, but I got bored! So I came up with a story that will keep most people from asking questions - saying you left Germany as fast as possible at the cost of documentation is apparently very easy to believe. We’re not exactly popular. Now everyone pities me instead of focusing on the everything else, which does play into my hand.” 

Eclipse stays and watches you, deceptively calm where you are restless. You trail to a stop and look at him, trying to gauge his reaction. 

It comes out almost impressed.

“... You’re more devious than I thought.” 

Uh oh, can’t give him standards. You wave off the questionable compliment and step closer again, even if it means you have crane up your neck higher. The distance between your faces is big enough even if you don’t stand half an alley away.

“Don’t give me too much credit. I didn’t think of that lie any sooner, and I had to prepare contingency plans for multiple possible lines of questioning before I felt safe enough to even attempt telling it to anyone.” 

A static rumble of a sigh as he briefly hides his eyes behind a hand. 

“This is who I…” 

Wait, what? You barely understand the mumble before he trails off, but immediately perk up.

“You what?” 

But just as quickly he drops his hand, instead glaring down at you. 

“Nothing. Did you have to prepare the other lie too?” 

He’s lost you. 

“What lie?” 

You’re not exactly in the habit of lying, don’t even enjoy this one you came up with. 

There’s a twitch to his expression, and when he elaborates, his voice is strained. Considering he’s technically always gritting his teeth this is the first time he sounds like it too. 

“That you ‘just’ owe me.” 

Oh.

You blink. 

Break eye contact to look down. 

Hide the manic grin growing on your face. 

He’s mad because you denied being his friend. 

That’s the only explanation that makes sense to you, the only reason he’d be mad about this. At some point within the past few weeks he’s changed his mind from being allergic to friends to wanting to be yours. Sure, he hasn’t admitted it in so many words. He doesn’t need to. Not with this reaction — and that glare earlier that now makes sense, too. 

Maybe he hasn’t even realized it himself.

“Don’t come up with a lie now.”

Oh, stars, if he gets any grumpier about this you absolutely will lose it.

“I’m not. I’m trying not to laugh.” 

“What?”

You look back up. The grin is undeniable, and your cheeks are starting to hurt. 

Eclipse does not look amused.

“You’re mad because I affirmed your broody loner reputation? I assumed that’s what you want, but I’ll gladly call you my bestie next time.”

He physically flinches back. This look you know, and remember well despite only having seen it once - disgust. But you no longer believe you’re a very squishy bug to him. You really, really want to laugh. 

“Do not insinuate we are friends.” 

“Why is it an issue then if I ‘just’ owe you?” 

“That’s -” 

You watch him struggle for a moment, shoulders a tense line as he breaks eye contact to scowl off into space. But only for a moment. After all, there’s giving him time to sort out his thoughts, and torturing him by putting him on the spot. 

… Though you’re probably doing that already. All the more reason to intercept. 

“You want to be friends.” 

Now if only you could reign in the smugness radiating off of you.

Eclipse meanwhile looks terribly offended. 

“I do not.”

He’s a better liar than you are, but unfortunately for him, he already gave himself away. You chuckle softly, and lean back against the dingy brick wall behind you to cross your arms. The satisfaction still drips from your tone.

"Wasch mir den Pelz, aber mach mich nicht nass." 

His eyes narrow. The tone may be undeniable, but still he doesn’t know what exactly you said, and it only irritates him more. You should talk German to him more often. 

When you don’t elaborate after a moment, he growls.

"What?" 

Your cheeks really hurt now. 

"Wash my fur but don't make me wet. I prefer it over 'you can't have your cake and eat it' because I have it to eat it." 

The glare drops into something resigned. He’s gotten used to your bullshit then, and is already tired of it. To be fair, you are doing it on purpose, at least partially. Or maybe more accurately, you are simply embracing being a natural menace. 

Eclipse grumbles. Somehow, the sound reminds you of a pissed off cat. 

"So now you're insulting me in German." 

You close your eyes, though that does nothing to diminish your grin. With a chiding waggle of your finger you continue. 

"No, I described the situation. If you interpreted that as an insult that's not my problem." 

Oh, yeah, you love being a menace. A glimpse back up shows Eclipse’s hands balled into fists and his eyes closed — maybe counting to ten in his head. You hear it’s supposed to calm you down. You wonder if it works. 

His eyes are golden and blazing when he narrows them at you again.

"I detest you." 

And you’re much too elated to take him seriously. 

"You want to be my friend." 

Still allergic to the word, his shoulders rise in defense. If he narrows his eyes any further, they’ll be closed. 

"I experienced a momentary lapse in judgement. I'm cured now." 

And yet, he hasn’t left. Is “shit-eating grin” an expression yet? 

It takes enormous effort to tamper it down into something good natured, and shrug innocently. Bat your eyes just to really sell the act. 

"Sure. Whenever you want another sleepover just hit me up." 

Eclipse’s expression jerks. You drop your gaze to watch his hands, and catch them on the tail-end of unfurling. Instead, he crosses them, and apparently decides to just ignore your offer.

“I have work to do. And you, little Star, want to get out of this part of town.” 

You click your tongue and lift one hand up to your heart, fluttering your lashes in adoration.

“Ahw, you care about me!”

There’s that lemon face you love!

“Leave before I lose the rest of my sanity!” 

He’s all coiled tension, ready to go off as he extracts one arm to point towards the main road. If you tease him any more, he might just start steaming like a cartoon. … Probably less than ideal as an animatronic. 

Better to call it a day here. Placatingly you wave your hands, though you can’t help the soft laugh that escapes with your words.

“Yes, yes. You take your non-breather breather.” 

Rather than acknowledge your parting comment he just turns, walking further down the alley. There are other little backstreets, so maybe he plans on leaving that way. 

Your cue to go then, too. You’ll take the main road, not because he told you, but because even you have enough self preservation skills to realize that traversing an unfamiliar network of seedy alleys in the late afternoon rapidly turning evening is a bad idea. 

But still you hesitate at the crossroads. You didn’t really say goodbye, and somehow that doesn’t sit right with you. Though getting mushy on Eclipse is probably worse than being a menace, so you turn for one last tease.

The narrow walls carry your voice, and all the delight in it too.

“Bye, bestie!” 

You laugh at his frustrated roar from deeper in the alley, and dip around the corner. There, gave him enough to chew on. 

Let him stew in those thoughts. 

[sleepingdeath-light]

darling ; 18+

requested by ; an ao3 user (20/06/23)

word count ; 1344

content ; painting as foreplay, praise, sort of sensation play, implied sex

fandom ; welcome home

pairing ; wally darling x female reader

read also on ; ao3

note ; playfellowxxx is the tag created by clown and the team for nsfw content — please block it if this isn’t something you want to see

additional note ; potentially ooc wally as this is my first smut shot featuring him lol — this was also written at like 8am over 30 mins so that might have contributed

minors and ageless blogs will be blocked

Being vulnerable with your partner came as easily as breathing to you — his gentle words and soft gaze as natural and soothing as a cool, babbling brook on a hot summer day or as welcomingly as a warm blanket on a cold winter evening. He was an artist and saw beauty in everything — from the fluttering wings of the butterfly that flitted in front of your faces to the curve of a friends’ smile to something as small as a fingerprint.

And never before had this trait of his been as obvious and endearing as it was now. Now that you were laid bare before him, nude body sprawled out on a blanket that neither of you minded losing, whilst he hummed in that same old way and mixed some body safe paints onto his palate. You’d seen him carefully pick up and inspect each bottle before picking out what he deemed as the most acceptable shades and turning to you — that same old smile on his face that never failed to leave your stomach fluttering with those butterflies he loved to paint.

‘I think I’ll start from the top,’ he mused, more to himself that anyone else, before kneeling down beside your head and smoothing out your hair, ‘are you okay?’

You hummed in approval and smiling against his lips when he leaned down to give you a chaste kiss — a smile that remained even as he pulled away. He had always been a worrier, even when you had been the one to propose something (as you had this), so his questioning was far from a shock — in fact you’d almost been expecting more of it.

Though, thankfully, your Darling wasn’t in much of a mood to delay your fun and quickly began to mix up his paints — and you were barely able to contain your excitement.

—————

An ocean of asters sprung up from the edges of your lips and wormed their way up above your eyes with intricate interlocking stems that you could barely feel as they were painted. A garden of purple buds and blossoms that was quickly framed by a chain of baby’s breath that dipped in and out of your hairline.

Then he moved on to your throat: splotches of daintily dotted white popping like fireworks against the sky of your skin. His brushwork more dotty than consistent as he didn’t bother drawing their stems, instead focusing on the blossoms himself as he adjusted the colours with each new press of the tip against your neck.

After that came your chest and collarbone, with which he took great care. Mixing calla lilies with camellias of pink, red and white — a bouquet of attraction that sprouted from the swells of your breasts and wound upwards and over your collar and shoulders. A display that left no skin uncoloured, undecorated, unloved whilst he offered more and more praise with each stroke of the brush.

‘I love you,’

‘You’re so beautiful, did you know that?’

‘Perfect,’

‘You’re doing so well,’

And, when you whimpered at the innocent brush of his fingertip across your nipple when he went to correct the paint, he smiled and chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you when we’re finished,’

Your stomach and sides were adorned with blossoming carnations — wedding white that faded into pink and then deep red as he approached the apex of your thighs. Pure love to a promise of remembrance to a deep love that echoed through his sweet touches and his reassuring words — promises you knew he’d keep (he always did) but that left you terribly wanting nonetheless.

Words crafted as beautifully, as intentionally, as the artwork that now adorned your body that was growing and twisting and almost taking on a life of its own as he continued to work and promise and praise and touch. Leaving no room for doubt as he decorated you.

‘You can ask me to stop if you’d like. Hm? No? Alright, but remember that you always have the option,’

‘Your beauty is astounding,’

Explaining the meaning of each flower as he painted its petals upon your flesh — your stomach, then your thighs. Leaving your head spinning, chest heaving, as he was so close — so very close — and yet still he made you wait. Making you listen to his adoration as he illustrated his affections onto your body itself.

If you’d have been a bit more patient then the romance of the gesture would have left you speechless.

—————

Red chrysanthemums; I love you. He had those flourishing in the depths of your stretch marks.

Daisies; loyal love. Those decorated the circumference of your thighs in delicate chains that tickled as they were applied.

Gardenias; you’re lovely. Their blossoms, detached, free-floated around your knees.

Heliotrope; devotion. Deep purple splotches nestled into the crease where your legs met your body, tantalising centimetres away from where you needed him.

Morning glories; affection. Dotted along the inner side of your calves, each placed on a spot he kissed as he made his way further and further down your body.

Red tulips; passion. He dotted them around your ankle, their stems intertwined with yellow tulips (sunshine in your smile) and yarrows (everlasting love) for good measure.

Red salvias; forever mine. The final flowers he painted, which decorated the outline of your sex with a beautiful array of peaking blossoms and buds that made you giggle and keen as they were applied to your sensitive skin.

Then, finally complete, Wally placed his palate to one side and stood back to admire his handiwork whilst you admired him in return: blue hair dishevelled and partially hanging over his face in tendrils of deep beautiful blue that he hadn’t bothered to put back in place; cardigan discarded and white sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his wrists and hands covered in splotches of colour that matched the mess made of his striped pants; the satisfied smile on his face as his eyes looked you over from ankle to crown — lingering on your exposed, decorated pussy for a few beats before moving upwards once again to meet you own needy, inquisitive gaze.

‘You look amazing,’ he finally offered, his words making you smile as you ushered him over.

‘Thanks to you,’

Once he was close to your level, you grasped his collar and pulled him into a kiss so passionate that it stole the breath from his lungs and neatly had him stumbling over his own legs as he hurriedly knelt down to meet you. You felt him gasp against your lips as he took a moment to adjust before he tilted his head to the side and deepened it — one paint covered hand flying to the back of your head as his fingers tangled themselves in your hair, his other reaching down to both steady you at your waist and keep himself up right as he shuffled between your spread legs.

For a moment you almost felt guilty about so many hours of work going to waste — you’d seen your reflection, after all, and Wally had done a fantastic and very detailed job. But that guilt evaporated mere moments later when you were forced to break the kiss and you saw how worked up your beloved had gotten: dilated pupils, panting breaths, parted lips and a string of saliva connecting you two that broke the moment you rushed forwards and captured his lips in another, even messier kiss.

No longer guilty about the paint not having the time to dry as he lowered you down to the floor and settled between your decorated thighs. No longer guilty about the amount of paint you were sure to get on his clothes as he rubbed his hardening dick against your wet, neglected pussy and you both moaned. No longer guilty about the artwork only lasting a matter of minutes when one of his hands left your hand reached between you to start clumsily rubbing at your clit.

No longer guilty because it was clear that he wanted to make a mess as much as you did.

[cauldronblssd]

CH 19 - Found in the Sunlight

Lucien and Elain say goodbye to Summer and return to Velaris.

Read on AO3

Thank you to my love @climbthemountain2020 for being the best beta!

Excerpt:

Elain hand grasped Lucien’s tightly as they landed on the grounds outside of the River House. Aster in a vivid shade of purple bloomed along the walkway, meandering and filling in the gaps between the stones. It had been an addition she’d planted in her second season in Velaris, after planting something similar in Una’s garden. The familiar scent of the sidra and her carefully cultivated plants wafted towards her as she looked her mate, who stood tensely next to her. In a concession to her modesty, he’d worn his hair down to cover his neck, though all it would take is a tilt of his head to reveal it. All the same, he looked breathtaking, glowing like a beacon of light in the dusky skies of Velaris. His long auburn hair gleamed under the fae lights lining the doorway. She felt a rush of butterflies in her stomach as she took him in, as if she hadn’t looked at nothing but her mate for the last two weeks. Elain swallowed down whatever she was feeling, about to propose they head in when she heard a familiar squealing sound.  

She turned just in time as she was barreled into by a giggling Nyx, flapping his wings excitedly. “My goodness, look at you!” She grabbed him by the waist in what she hoped seemed playful but was actually a very real attempt to keep him from flying away. She took a deep breath of his clean baby smell as she ruffled his soft curls.   

Feyre came running out after him, looking tired but in good spirits. She laughed as she watched her son wriggling in Elain’s arms. “Someone is especially excited to see you.”   

Lucien wrapped his arm around Elain as he reached to brush Nyx’s cheeks. His hold on Elain tightened slightly as he looked between them with a bemused expression.   

Feyre looked at Lucien curiously before her grin widened. “Looks like he won’t have to wait long for a cousin.” She winked at him conspiratorially.  

Elain blushed furiously, about to protest that there might be no children in their future at all, when Feyre simply turned and walked inside. There’s nothing to do but follow, she supposed. Everything was the same. The bouquet of flowers she’d arranged still sat in a vase on the table in the entryway. Her gardening shoes still rested outside the back door. The setting sun reflected on the bright crystals of the chandelier, casting an array of colors on the wall, in the same way it always did at this time of day. It was Elain that felt different, though she couldn’t have said how.   

Gwyn sauntered towards to her, offering her a hug, squeezing Nyx in between them. As she released her, Cassian came up to pat Lucien on the back, muttering something to him that had him tipping his head back in laughter. Elain couldn’t help but laugh herself when Cassian did not take a step towards her, merely nodding his head in greeting before turning in another direction. Nyx began to squirm in her arms, and she passed him back to Feyre with a kiss on his cheek. She turned back to Lucien, stepping closer to him. She could say it was to pacify Lucien, but it was just as much for her own benefit. He pulled her against him, smiling at her affectionately.   

He started to whisper something to her when Rhys walked up to them, his eyes passing back and forth between them. “Can I trust you not to start a brawl tonight, Lucien? Or should we go work off some energy outside first?”   

Lucien tensed, but smiled good-naturedly, “I promised my mate I’d be on my best behavior.”   

Azriel and Nesta walked into the room from the library, looking conspiratorial as always. They were always a dangerous pairing. Nesta smiled brightly when she saw Elain, walking up to her to glance over her in assessment. Azriel nodded towards them, but stayed several steps behind the group. She cut her eyes to Lucien, to make sure he wasn’t making any threatening glares towards Azriel to keep him away. Feyre giggled and when Elain turned to look at her, Feyre chimed in mind to mind. It’s your scent. Elain flushed from her cheeks to her chest thinking that her family could all smell what she and Lucien had been doing. She took a step into his side, firmly away from an unbothered Nesta.   

“Is dinner ready? I can go help in the kitchen.” Happy as she was to see her family, she wanted to go gossip with Nuala and Cerridwen and avoid everyone’s nudges and suggestive comments.   

Feyre shook her head. “Please, it’s your first day back. You don’t need to get to work already. Besides, we have some updates.”   

Elain’s heart immediately picked up in her chest. Her pointed attempts to avoid thinking about her mission in Autumn were over, then. Her thoughts crept to the richly jeweled dagger currently stuffed in her luggage. She could feel Lucien’s own nerves spike. She felt the bond much more strongly now that they’d accepted it, making it difficult to decipher his feelings from her own.   

Lucien placed his hand on her back as he guided them towards the sitting room, following her sisters and the rest of the group. Mor and Amren already sat by the window, drinking from large glasses of wine. Things between herself and Mor hadn’t been quite the same since everything changed, but she smiled at her anyway. Elain took a seat on the sofa as Lucien went with Cassian to fix drinks at the small bar in the dining room. Gwyn, apparently, was the only one brave enough to sit next to her. “Well?” she whispered suggestively.   

Elain flushed, knowing her question but choosing not to answer. “Well, what?”  

Gwyn elbowed her in the side. “Is it true what they say about Autumn Court males?”  

Elain scrunched her nose, but eventually nudged her back. “Yes! But don’t say anything to Nesta!”   

Gwyn placed her hand to her chest dramatically, “On my honor, I won’t.”   

She forgot how serious Gwyn could be. She smiled back at her when she felt Lucien nudging her from the other side. He handed her a glass of dark brown liquid, matching his own, before sitting down next to her, his arm slung around her possessively. She thought it might frustrate her, and she supposed it would get old eventually. But for now, Elain relished the feeling of belonging as she nestled into the warm crook of his arm, her side pressed against his chest.   

How many meetings and dinners had she attended with her sisters where they were close with their mates like this? It’s true, their relationships were different than her own, but for once, she didn’t feel like the outsider in the group. She could belong again. Lucien seemed to settle into more contented feelings as well, sipping his drink silently as Gwyn told Elain about the new priestess she’d recruited to train with the Valkyries. Her teal eyes were bright with excitement and the sleeves of her robe glided through the air as she moved her hands animatedly. The rest of the room was filled with equally happy chatter. Rhys, Mor and Feyre were huddled together, making plans for an upcoming trip to Rita’s. Cassian and Azriel joked with Nesta while Amren smirked mischievously.   

It certainly didn’t look like bad news, based on the laughs and smiles of the people around her. Still, what was political assassination to a room full of the warriors who fought Hybern? This mission seemed simple in comparison, she supposed. Still, it weighed heavily on Elain. How many people would she kill before it changed her? Even though she was protecting her sister, the death of the King of Hybern haunted her. Sometimes she still dreamt of his blood on her hands. Her hands grew clammy, and she rubbed them on her dress nervously. She didn’t know if she could sit and listen to their pleasant chatter much longer. She longed for her chair on the porch in summer, for the sounds of the ocean and solitude.   

Lucien prompted Feyre, looking to her authoritatively, “You said you had news?”   

Feyre perked up, sitting up straight and placing her tattooed hands in her lap. She looked radiant despite the inevitable tiredness that came with motherhood. She’d dressed up for their arrival in a midnight blue dress and left her hair down in soft waves. Regal, Elain thought. “Eris sent word to Azriel.”   

Elain immediately turned her face in Azriel’s direction. The grave look on his face did nothing to assuage her nerves. “Beron plans to send a formal invitation for you to visit in the coming days.”  

Elain cleared her throat. “Well, that’s what we wanted. Eris held up his end of the bargain.” Her voiced faltered despite her best efforts.   

Lucien’s voice came out rough, clearly affected as well. “Did he say anything else?”  

Elain took deep breaths, covertly inhaling Lucien’s scent to calm herself.  

“Nothing pertinent” Rhys replied as he stretched his legs out in front of him.  

“Just that your mother looks forward to seeing you.” Azriel had cut in, to her surprise, his voice low and soft.  Lucien looked surprised as well, his mouth falling open slightly and his brows pinching together with worry. Elain squeezed his thigh where her hand rested in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture. It was not just the bond that urged her to comfort him, or find solace in his calming presence. It was just, Lucien . Lucien her friend who brought her coffee and laughed at her jokes. And now, they were mates – a unit with their fates and futures intertwined. They would face this, together.   

Taglist:

@climbthemountain2020. @clockwork-ashes

[utmv-fandom-birthdays]

ALL BIRTHDAYS/ ANNIVERSARIES SCHEDULED (UPDATED WITH EACH NEW ADDITION)

feel free to send me an ask with your sans and their birthday (Or just @ me or DM me) for a birthday wish OR anniversary of the creation of an au/ multiverse >:)

(especially if their birthday is in January, May, July, or September)

JANUARY

7th- Dancetale anniversary

16th- Horrortale anniversary

26th- Lusts birthday

February

2nd- Goth

9th- candy

10th-Sci

10th-Dust

14th- Greaser

27th- Slash

29th-Core!Frisk

MARCH

5th- Gradient

5th- Dreamtale anniversary

12th- Protector!Dream

13th- Fatal Error

15th- Blueprint

23rd- Molten!Dream Twins

23rd- Undertale Demo Anniversary

23rd- Underverse anniversary

APRIL

1st- Classic

1st- Underworld

1st- Xshift sans

3rd- Epic

3rd-Template

3rd- Temmie Chang

4th- Error

15th- ink

15th- Outer

17th- Swap/ Blue

17th- Pale and Template anniversary

20th- Fresh

MAY

10th- Killer

13th- Birdtale sans

26th- Pale

JUNE

1st- lavender

4th- ccino

12th- Flare

13th- Raven

20th- Figmentverse anniversary

23rd- Epic (again)

JULY

26th-Palette

AUGUST

4th- Horror

6th- Geno

7th- Shattered Dream

17th- Gaster Sans

27th- Vanta Black

SEPTEMBER

11- Reaper

15th- Undertale anniversary

OCTOBER

1st- PJ

1st- Thistle

10th- Cross

10th- Jael Peñaloza

11th- Toby Fox

12th- Acrylic

17th- Underfell anniversary

21st- Underswap anniversary

31st- Deltarune anniversary

NOVEMBER

9th- Blueberror

10th- Anxiety Sans

11th- X Gaster

DECEMBER

4th (maybe) Reaper

12th- Ganz

12th- Aster

20th- Error404

21st- Dream

21st- Nightmare

24th- Christmas party au anniversary

[caffinecommander]

Prefixes and Perpetuity: Unpaired Words

Unpaired words are probably the funniest tangent of etymology I've ever gotten into. I've been trying to unpair and even re-pair various words and have been working on this list of ones that I think could be used in regular conversation:

Superstitious - stitious (to believe in the natural rather than the "supernatural"

Recognize - cognize (to learn something in preparation for recognition)

Preperation - paration (to get something ready, but when it is needed and not before nor after) AND postperation (to get something ready after it is needed)

Exploding - ploding (to be in the process of having exploded)

Reflection - flection (when direct visual contact is made)

Divorce - vorce (to remain married) AND revorce (to re-marry the same person following a divorce, and then divorce them again)

Reminder - minder (the initial telling of information)

Discord - cord (to be in a state of peace)

Under/overwhelmed - whelmed (to be in a state of neutral. yes I know this one is common)

Nonchalant - chalant (because I'm getting the common ones out of the way: not unassuming)

Realizing - alizing (to simply understand something upon first hearing it)

Project - ject (simply a task that will not benefit or harm any cause.) AND conject (a task that will only cause harm)

Infiltrate - filtrate (to sneakily proceed without going in or out of anything) AND outfiltrate (to sneakily proceed to egress)

Concept - Procept (honestly these ones are a bit hard, because generally the word doesn't have a negative connotation because the prefix isn't actually a prefix. But still, I suppose this could mean a negative idea. Wanted to acknowledge this type but I am not going to do any more of these lol)

Information - outformation (knowledge that is not related to the subject) AND formation (general knowledge)

Disaster - aster (a neutral situation)

Protagonist - contagonist (a negative character. Different from an antagonist, as it is not in direct opposition, but just generally bad) AND tagonist (a character without moral affiliation of any sort)

Insomnia - outsomnia (the ability to sleep)

Probably - conbably (to likely not be)

Disturbed - turbed (to be neutral in reaction)

Confused - profused (to not understand but it is good) AND fused (to not understand but have no negative impact) AND antifused (to refuse to not understand)

Dishevelled - shevelled (to be decently put together)

Superfluous - fluous (a suitable amount)

Distraught - Traught (a feeling of calm)

Distance - tance (negative space?)

And a goofy one that does not make sense:

Cannon ball: Cantonball (a ball that... cannot.)

Any suggestions for additions are totally appreciated. Will probably update.

[roserefrain]

happy f/ovember! i am using this post as temporary pinned post for the month of november, you can find my regular pinned post here!

in addition to my f/os taking over the blog, my s/is will be doing the same! under the cut is some quick descriptions (and links to full about pages) of the four characters who you can send asks to, if you'd like!

florian + aster ! (art by suitservice!)

florian is the knight of the rose garden. he tries to be very serious and stoic, focusing only on his duties... but, he's easily flustered by a certain other angel who uses the rose garden as a secret spot to write their poetry.

aster is a secret poet and artist, since being those things is against heaven's rules. they're easygoing, creative, and very sweet. they originally were just using the rose garden as a place to write in secret, but when they met the new knight, they were determined to become his friend.

(note: feel free to send asks to specific relationship stages for them if you'd like! since their pining stage and secret romance stage are pretty different)

linnet + kestrel ! (picrew link)

linnet is an adventurer who came back from the dead, also known as a songbird. he's a healer who tries his best to come across as sweet and harmless. he's recently started adventuring and rooming with fellow songbird, kestrel. after all.... their powers work well together! no other reason!

kestrel is also an adventurer who came back from the dead! he's a blood mage who tries his best to come across as a cynic and a jerk. he's rooming with linnet because... it's easier to split rent than find a place alone. what? that's all, stop looking at him like that.

(note: i will likely mainly be answering asks for these two from the perspective of them not being in a romantic relationship yet!)

[annymation]

May I ask what is your favorite scene that you’ve written?

In addition, least favorite?

That's a complicated one, I like so many, but I think one I keep coming back to is when Asha and Aster first meet, and Aster gets attacked by Valentino, and when that doesn't work they encourage the baby goat to try again.

I love this scene because I managed to fully encapsulate what Aster is all about, he encourages people to follow their dreams and keep trying, even if it's hard, and that's something he learned by watching Asha.

And then when that gesture is what makes Asha trust him and she shyly walks closer and gives him a little wave UUUGHHH I was possessed the day I wrote that scene because I don't know how I came up with something so sweet!

And for least favorite... Hmmm I'd say I don't have a scene I actively hate, but I can say the one thing that made me the most uncomfy to write was the scene Magnifico and Amaya are about to grant Asha's cursed wish to turn her into their obedient princess. Yeah Saph I know in your rewrite Asha is their daughter, and thats really cool, but for me that's like the absolute nightmare scenario, and just imagining how scared Asha was feeling in that moment made me lose sleep.

lmao