#i need them or i’ll perish

[terryxsi]

Im a slut for genderbent Batjokes, let me see them fist fight like real lesbians.

[hayatoseyepatch]

Okay I promise this is my last post about the new art. BUT LOOK AT MY POOKIES. I love them so MUCH your honor.

[indie-summer]

ask me and i’ll tell you how it feels to have all the paragraphs of a chapter planned but somehow none of them written

[i-never-forgot]

Dusknoir would be the most miserable man in love on the planet.

Not because he’s in love, mind you—just that he has the ability to express healthy emotions like that of a stump. He’s miserable because he has all of those warm fuzzy feelings pent up inside—already alien enough on their own without adding the awkwardness that results since he’s only accustomed to negative ones—but he doesn’t know how to let them out without, say, punching a tree. He’s the type to bottle it all up until it bursts, and then it’s anxiety-riddled, loud, word-vomit rambling that’s as sincere and vulnerable as it is terrified.

Much to Lu, Grovyle, and Celebi’s chagrin, of course. They’re constantly trying to subterfuge his dogged, vigilant efforts to conceal any and all indications of his feelings from Eliana. He wants to kill all of them (from exasperated affection, this time, at least).

Inspired by my post and the warm feedback I received, even if it had me laughing out loud at my own ignorance. (The quote’s sourced from here).

Bonus for my moots bc I was laughing out loud—thank y’all for being patient with me😅:

[imagines--galore]

||Theatrics||

Summary: During a little impromptu training session, you happen to sprain your ankle. Luckily Zuko is around to help you back to Katara so she can help. Unfortunately for Zuko, you have a tendency to be slightly dramatic about your injuries.

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T. Romance. Fluff. Slight mention of injury but that about it.

A/N: You guys voted, so here it is! Also gif is definitely Zuko’s reactions to reader’s.....theatrics :3

"I’m dying!”

“You’re not dying Y/n.”

“Then why is the world growing dark!?”

“You probably have your eyes closed.”

"I do not need your sass while I am dying Zuko!”

“Well maybe you should shut up before I drop your dying butt.”

Smack.

“Ow!”

“Rude Zuko!”

“Thats it! You can crawl back for all I care.”

“No! Wait! Zuko! Wait!! I’ll be quiet.”

“One more word out of you, and I won’t carry you back.”

Katara looked up from where she had been mending Sokka’s shirt, again. There was no one in sight yet Zuko and Y/n’s voices were loud enough to echo along the path leading up to the main courtyard of the Ember Island Summer House. She stood, dropping her sewing to side as she quickly made her way towards the door and peered outside.

It took a minute or so, but then she saw the approaching figure of Zuko with.......you on his back. An amused smile played across the young waterbender’s lips as she watched the Fire Nation prince approach with you slung over his back, your arms wrapped around his shoulders to keep yourself in place.

“Katara! Oh! Now I won’t perish! Or perhaps I will? The pain is too much.” You moaned, throwing your head back for dramatic effect, the force of which nearly made Zuko stumble in his steps. Katara giggled as Zuko huffed in annoyance.

“She twisted her ankle.” He explained as he carried you into the courtyard with Katara trailing behind.

“And who’s fault is that? If you hadn’t startled me during my practice then I wouldn’t have twisted it.” You snapped back. Clearly the pain was making you more then a little cranky.

Zuko rolled his eyes, turning around and dropping you, rather unceremoniously onto the wooden platform that led to the rooms. You gave a little yelp, glaring at the Prince who smirked back as you rubbed your tailbone a little. Katara, ever the kind soul, carefully removed your shoe. You let out a soft hiss as the leather was slipped off.

Removing the cork from her water pouch, Katara made quick work of assessing the damage. “Well you definitely twisted it. I’ll try to heal it as much as I can, but it’ll be a little while before you’re able to walk on it properly. Probably a day or two.” You turned to glare at Zuko who rolled his eyes. “I’ve blasted you off the side of a flying bison Y/n. I don’t see you holding a grudge about that against me.” He said, referring to the days when he had spent chasing Aang and the rest of them.

“Yeah, well I got my revenge when I knocked you out with a blow to the back of your head.” As Katara started her healing process you held up a threatening finger in his direction. “You better watch out Princey, I will have my revenge.”

Zuko smirked. “What will you do? Hobble after me waving a crutch?” You growled under your breath, looking like you would leap at him at any moment. And if your ankle wasn’t throbbing so much you would have.

“Now now children. Lets not fight.” Katara said in a mocking tone as she tried to contain her laughter. You let out a small sound of relief as some of the throbbing was alleviated as Katara worked her healing abilities. “You’re a spirit-send Katara.” You said, gratitude shining in your eyes as you grinned at the girl.

Zuko frowned. “What am I? An ostrich-horse? I carried you back and you don’t call me a spirit-send.” You turned your attention back towards him, an annoyed frown creasing your forehead. “And who’s fault was it that you had to carry me back?”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“I am a performer, I’m supposed to be dramatic.”

“Over dramatic you mean.”

“Need I remind you, the acting company I worked for won awards for being one of the best in the Earth Kingdom.”

“Probably when you weren’t working for them.”

“As if your dramatic self is any better? Out of all of us, who’s the one moaning about his so-called honor all the time?”

“That was in the past.”

“The past was only a couple months ago, Princey.”

“Shut it Drama Queen.”

“Ah! At least I’m a rank above you, you fire-breathing-”

“Er.....guys?”

You and Zuko broke eye-contact to glare at the poor unsuspecting Avatar who had just arrived from the market with Sokka, Suki and Toph from an errand run.

“What?” The two of you snapped in unison, prompting Aang to let out a nervous laugh and slowly back off, holding his hands up in a surrendering manner.

Taking the lull in the argument, Katara quickly finished bandaging up your ankle and patted it in a reassuring manner. “There, you’ll be all better tomorrow.” You gave a small smile in thanks to the girl before gripping the sides of the wooden platform and slowly starting to stand. You tried putting some weight on your bad ankle, only to wince at the pain that radiated from there. It was much better then what it had been a few moments ago, but it still hurt.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall be retiring to my room.” With a haughty look in Zuko’s direction, you turned towards where you room was.

"Isn’t our room upstairs Y/n?”Toph helpfully reminded you, causing you to pause from hobbling forward. Your face fell, shoulders slumping, causing Sokka to let out a bark of laughter, only to shut up when Suki gave his shoulder a light punch.

“Hey Aang? Can Appa drop me into my room through the window?” You asked, turning to the younger boy with a pleading look. Before Aang could reply, Zuko let out a loud groan, throwing his head back to stare at the sky as he growled.

"For the love of Spirits!”

With that he stomped forward, and before you even got the chance to say anything, he had lifted you off the ground, one arm secured around your waist, the other under your knees to keep you from falling. Meanwhile, you had let out a shriek of surprise, your arms coming to wrap around his shoulders.

“If we want to defeat the Father Lord, you’d better start laying off from the FireFlakes.” He grumbled as he began to carry you towards the stairs.

“Its Fire Lord, and are you insinuating that I am fat?!”

“I said that! And I’m not insinuating, I’m stating a fact.”

Thwack!

“Ow! Will you stop hitting me?!”

“Then stop being so rude. I thought Prince’s were all about manners and chivalry when it comes to ladies.”

“Lady? You? Please! Toph is much more of a lady then you are.”

Thwack!

“You hit me one more time and I’ll drop you on these stairs.”

“Do it! I’d rather crawl up then be carried by you anyway!”

“Ungrateful brat!”

“Pouty prince!”

“Drama queen!”

“Honor bound jerk!”

Your voices started to muffle to the rest of the group as the two of you walked further into the house. The younger members of the group stood where they were, a little dumbfounded at what had just occurred.

“I bet you anything these two are gonna be even worse with their flirting when they get married.”

Sokka gaped at Toph, who stood there smirking.

“That was flirting?!” He exclaimed, prompting his girlfriend to roll her eyes at her boyfriend, smiling at how oblivious Sokka could be. Aang blinked his wide grey eyes. “You know, now that I think about it, whenever we fought Zuko in the past, Y/n always had something to say to him.”

“And he always said something back.” Katara added, the laughter obvious in her tone as she continued to listen to the muffled arguing through the wooden floor above.

[mysumeow]

. . . ꒰ TO LURE IN

ᓚᘏᗢ WARNINGS: Reader is described with AFAB genitalia and breasts, referred to with you/your. YANDERE CHARACTER. Kidnapping, mild descriptions of injuries and blood. As for sexual content: piv unprotected sex, reader on top, restraints (ropes used on reader), thighjob. Kinich takes a dominant role. Not proofread 🙈. Art by 0_0himawa

ᓚᘏᗢ SUMMARY: You suspect Kinich's not taking care of himself well. Used to looking out for him since childhood, you decide to find out by yourself the truth.

ᓚᘏᗢ WORD COUNT: 3.6k

Ajaw’s fame preceded him.

Rude, spiteful, and tactless, to be precise. The “Almighty Dragon” lived for pushing his companion’s buttons as far as possible, making fun of him, and expressing his desire for him to perish soon.

That’s the reason why you didn’t believe Ajaw when he “informed” you Kinich put himself in harm’s way on purpose so you would heal his wounds.

Your reaction was to obviously scoff at him and disregard his stupid statement.

“I still remember that time you tried to trick people into jumping off a cliff without a rope. I wouldn’t believe a word that comes from someone like you.”

“Fine! Allow yourself to be manipulated by this moron, be my guest!” Ajaw mouthed off in his typical Ajaw style. “Your puny human brain won’t let you see the obvious signs!”

Kinich was unfazed by the self-proclaimed dragon lord, used to his antics. “Shut up, or I’ll put you in time out. Do you want that?”

While they were bickering, you assessed his physique.

Overall, he was fine. However, he came back with gashes on his left arm. They were dripping with blood, and yet he was more focused on trying to quiet Ajaw down.

“Though target this time?” You gently held his wounded arm to get a clear view of how deep it was. Contrary to last time you cured a begrudging Kinich, this one was longer.

“It’s barely anything to get worried about. I was going to cure it myself before coming here, but I got caught up with something before I could,” he said, moving his arm away from your touch, not deeming the help necessary. “This happens all the time.”

“Knowing you, you’ll just go on with your day. Come here, let me help you.”

You expected Kinich to resist again, but he didn’t. He followed you into your home and waited for you to come back with whichever supply you needed to heal him. Kinich observed you in silence, his half-lidded eyes surveyed your every movement as if you were his next hunt while you rinsed the wounds and whatnot to disinfect them.

It was hard to concentrate with him staring at you.

“You’re lucky those aren’t deep enough to need stitches.” You eased the tension and backed away with a step. “I don’t know how you got those cuts, but be more careful.”

“It was caused by an oversight of mine. Not a common occurrence for me,” he looked down at the gauze wrapped around his arms. “I thought the trap I set for the yumkasaur was stable, and when I got close to it, it lunged its claws at me.” 

Ajaw, who was silent up until now, quipped back with, “Yeah, not a common occurrence for a seasoned hunter to make such a rookie mistake!”

In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Kinich sent him to Ajaw Jail.

“I’m sorry if he gave you a headache with all that shouting.”

“I’m used to it. When he talks, I kind of zone out, haha.”

Kinich chuckled. “That’s how I deal with his ramblings most of the time, too.”

As much as you enjoyed Kinich’s company, the sun was setting and you both had work to do the next morning. The pleasant encounter had to be cut short.

The following couple of weeks, Kinich stopped visiting you for injury-related motives. Given you’ve been close since childhood, it wasn’t uncommon for you two to visit each other every so often. 

You were starting to wonder about his sudden lack of visits, until he appeared in front of your doorstep suddenly. He wasn’t alone, though. 

“Smack some reason into him, please.” Mualani begged, making it sound like the missing piece to understand Kinich’s psyche was you. “I had to drag him all the way here before he died from blood loss. He didn’t want to come.” 

“You’re exaggerating,” was everything he had to say in his favor. “I just didn’t want to cause an inconvenience.”

The poor fabric of his upper clothes was torn apart with a clean cut across his chest. Lacerations caused by saurians were different. This one? It was kindred to the result of a dagger or another man-made weapon. You recalled Ajaw’s insistence on Kinich’s growing carelessness.

“Hey, are you okay?” Mualani interjected, concerned by your abrupt silence.

“Ah, yes, I’m fine.” You shook your head out of your thoughts and walked closer to Kinich to have a good look at him.

���Okay, then. It’s just, for a moment, you seemed antsy…” Your friend’s troubled expression relaxed, and, at your assurance, she went back to her bubbly mood. “We’ve been witnesses to worse wounds than that. Especially you, since you’re a doctor.”

“No doubt about it,” you nodded and went back to Kinich. “I’ll have to stitch this. This one has been one of the worst I’ve seen you come back with. What it a miscalculation?”

“It wasn’t a miscalculation. I was commissioned by someone, and when I got to the place they requested, I was ambushed.”

“You were outnumbered in combat, and yet all they got to inflict on you was this? That’s impressive, I’ve got to say,” Mualani nodded along with Kinich’s story.

You led Kinich to his usual seat, and you got to work.

“Kinich’s a seasoned warrior,” you couldn’t help but praise. “However! If you must retreat, then retreat! It’s not worth your effort trying to put some bitter folks in their place.”

“Mmh.”

“You better listen to the doctor’s advice, Kinich! I won’t forgive you if you keep putting the doctor under stress,” Mualani sighed and crossed her arms, contemplative, before she looked at you. “You’ve always been taking care of Kinich, since you both were children. I value your patience.”

Once your handiwork was ready, you gave your patient a word of caution.

“You should rest for the following three weeks, or else your wound could open again.”

For some reason, Kinich was taken aback by your instructions. He blinked twice, analyzing what you just said.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Put them on hold. Three weeks,” you insisted and placed your hands on his forearms, Kinich’s eyes locked on yours.

“Alright.” With a resigned tone, he agreed and got ready to leave.

Mualani stayed for a little longer.

“You said you had to drag him here? Why?” You couldn’t help but wonder. Now that he was gone, it was your time to question.

“You know how he is. He isn’t fond of receiving help from anyone, and he was convinced he could deal with it himself.”

“Mualani… I’m worried about him. Ajaw mentioned something about Kinich being inattentive on purpose during his hunts. I found it hard to believe because: why would he have a reason to do that? And second, I don’t trust Ajaw.”

She stayed in contemplative silence for a second. “You’re right, that’s unlike him. Hm… I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”

“Thank you,” you felt a bit more at ease. “It’s getting late. You should head home and rest.”

“You should rest too. See you.” She smiled and waved a hand at you.

To rest, it was something you wanted to do. Nonetheless, your worry regarding Kinich wouldn’t allow it. You paced back and forth, trying to figure out whether you were overthinking or whether your unease had an actual foundation.

You supposed Kinich’s line of work was prone to lesions, even if talking about someone experienced. There were factors that one simply can’t have under control always. He wasn’t one to come back this bruised and damaged this often. 

Maybe something was bothering him? Was something keeping him up at night? That could explain his lack of attention during the day.

The more you pondered about it, the more uncertainty grew with it. You were antsy and thus decided to go see him. You had a hunch something wrong was about to happen, and you couldn’t ignore the feeling. 

He had to be home. If he really heeded your instructions, then he should be there.

The lights in his house were off. He was probably in bed already.

You felt silly. You were fretting over nothing.

As you were about to head back to your house, footsteps caught your attention.

The urge to question him about what he was doing outside instead of resting was strong, however…

You decided it was a better idea to limit yourself to observation.

Despite Kinich’s forwardness, he could be reticent about opening up about certain things. Since you’ve known him for a good portion of your life, you suspected that if you were to outright ask him about what was going on with him recently, he would try to convince you nothing was amiss.

And thus, this was how you found yourself following him in the dead of night. Concealed in complete darkness, and said darkness became more apparent once you were out of the comfort of human inhabited areas. The thought of turning back was tempting, but your resolve for answers was sturdier.

You followed him into the forest and made sure to keep up with him as much as possible. Thankfully, Kinich’s stride was tranquil the whole time. He arrived at a clearing and sat his bags down. You stayed behind the foliage and noticed he brought with him a camping tent.

You didn’t know the details of how exactly he plans his hunts, but you surmised that perhaps this camping arrangement had something to do with it.

So, he wasn’t planning on resting.

“You—”

Before you could finish your reprimand, you stepped on something that awoke a contraption. In the blink of an eye, a rope quickly secured around your ankle, leaving you upside down.

At the sound, Kinich was swift on his feet and found you.

“…”

“…”

“What are you doing?”

“Does it look like I’m having fun here? Help me already!” You were flustered.

He took a Swiss knife out of his pocket to cut the rope. He caught you in time and didn’t suffer harm.

“Now, will you answer my question?” He placed you back on the ground gently.

You exhaled, making your stress clear. “You’ve been acting strange as of late. Plus, I wanted to make sure you would take a break and allow your wounds to heal. That’s why…”

“You stalked me?” He finished for you.

“I was worried, okay?” You huffed, feeling the rise in heat on your face again. By definition, he was right. That didn’t mean it was any less embarrassing for you.

“Pfft—”

Kinich, whose face was in his usual serious expression, switched to a smile. He covered his mouth as he chuckled; for some reason, he’d found amusement in your confession.

“It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just—” His soft laughter died down a bit, allowing him to speak. “I knew you were following me.”

You gaped at him.

“I wanted to see how you would try to explain yourself. Again, I’m sorry. Both for poking fun at you and for making you worry.”

“If you think a simple apology’s enough for my forgiveness, you’re wrong. I’m going back home.”

He grabbed your wrist before you could take another step away. “You won’t make it. You’ll get lost. Stay with me.”

Kinich’s watchful eyes glinted with intent under the moonlight.

“There’s enough space for the two of us in there.” He began setting the tent up with ease. He was used to sleeping outdoors and knew how to set it up with little hindrance.

“Hey, where’s Ajaw? I haven’t seen him today.”

“In timeout.”

Whereupon it was ready for use, he waited for you to get in before he zipped the entrance behind him.

For reduced space like this, the tent inside looked comfortable.

“Huh, this is more spacious than what I expected. Do you often…?”

Your voice lowered in surprise when you saw him slide his jumpsuit off, leaving him in the black clothes he wore under it. Was he really going to undress with you in here?

“You were saying?”

“Uhm. I was going to ask if you often camp outside to complete hunting commissions...”

“Whenever I deem it necessary. For example, if I think the target will give me more trouble than other ones,” he undid his headband and folded it next to his discarded jumpsuit. Kinich without his headband, was a rare sight, one that you didn’t mind being a witness to.

“Oh. So, this target you’re going after, is it more challenging?”

His eyes fixed on you for a second, inspecting you. “It is. Also, are you going to sleep like that?”

You haven’t even shrugged your coat off.

Well, of course you wouldn’t. But... you thought maybe it would be a better idea to wait for him to turn the lamp off, at least.

While you were contemplating, Kinich undid the harness and took his upper clothes off in a swift motion.

“Ah! Careful when you rise your arms!” You went to check that the suture didn’t open. “Aren’t you in pain? You did move quite brutishly there,”  

“It does hurt,” albeit his words, he didn’t show discomfort the instance your fingers trailed close to the suture.

“I didn’t know you wore a second pair of pants under that jumpsuit. You’re going to give yourself a heatstroke,” you chastised him in an attempt to ignore your racing heart. “What if you get in real trouble and I’m not in the village if you need me?”

It wasn’t unusual for him to be silent, but this one went on for a second longer. That was the impression you got. It prompted you to meet his unyielding gaze, words abandoned at the back of your throat.

 Kinich leaned in, a soft kiss that feathered on your lips. You found purchase by placing your hands on his shoulders as the intensity heightened. You couldn’t ignore the softness of his lips, or the way his hands traveled down the small of your back, or how he stopped breathing while he devoured your mouth—mind set on stealing your breath away. The absolute appetite enraptured you as he chased your lips and tongue.

A momentary halt was necessary for him to rid you of your clothes. You watched him pull your coat off, to then redirect his attention to the buttons of your shirt. When the time to remove your lower garments arrived, you tried to give him a hand; however, Kinich interrupted your attempt by summoning one of his ropes to tie your wrists over your head. The same green ropes you would see him use when he wanted to grapple quickly to a high place, the ones he mastered after the attainment of his Vision.

You shot him an inquisitive glance.

“Seeing you like this turns me on a lot.”

“Kinich!” you were baffled. You didn’t expect him to be this forward about his desires.

“Sorry. Too blunt? Then…” in thought, he put a finger on his chin. “The sight of your bare body at my mercy is a delectable view that...turns me on.”

Typical Kinich. He doesn’t know how to be tactful.

He hooked his thumbs under your underwear and discarded it. Now that there were no barriers between your body and his, his hand continued to its destination: between your legs.

First, he collected your juices on his thumb before he toyed with your clit, rubbing it in circles as he noted each little jolt and twitch he provoked on you. You whined his name, wishing you could reach out to him and tease his body like he was doing to yours.

“You should untie me. It should be me taking care of you,” you said, remembering his stitches.

“Later.”

“Later? Oh—”

Kinich had grabbed your thighs and parted them with unprecedented strength. Open and ready for him, Kinich slipped his dick in between your thighs and pushed them close again. At his own leisure, he jutted his hips forward, getting off with them. A rapid buildup of precum formed on the tip, droplets of it slid down his member after some minutes.

The back-and-forth movements stimulated your clit, causing your pussy to clench around nothing. Sighs and soft moans escaped from his mouth and he threw his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbed. 

The pace he set became faster and the grip on your skin tighter.

“Hey. Gently. The stitches…!” you babbled, hanging on to that sliver of clarity amidst the pleasure.

Your warning did little to deter him from chasing the high he was after. The tent filled with the sounds of his lower body smacking into yours with a hasty need; you weren’t used to seeing Kinich fall victim to his impulses. If he maintained that angle and pace, you would come anytime soon.

Which happened. You arched your back off the bed, and your legs came to wrap around him, keeping his body flush to yours. With a sharp inhale, Kinich’s movement ceased, eyebrows deeply furrowed as he did his best to not follow you after your orgasm. He wanted to be inside of you, after all.

You register the rustling of sheets while he adjusts your positions.

He grabbed your hips to place you on top of him, his back against the bed.

Through half-lidded eyes, he peers at you with unbridled hunger. The way he leered at your body, at the hickeys and bite marks left behind... Against odds, your libido reignited.

The head of his cock nudged into your entrance; a hitched moan escaped you. You were sensitive after your first orgasm, after all. Your flesh might be tender, but the desire didn’t die down yet. You were thankful that Kinich waited for you, hands patiently in place on your hips.

You relaxed your muscles and sank further down on his dick. Your pussy stretched around it, slick and ready for his size. His fingers dug deeper into you when you did, and despite Kinich’s effort to preserve his controlled expressions, the heaved breath he exhaled betrayed him.

Kinich’s cock filled you pleasantly, stroking at every pleasant spot inside of you. His grasp on your hips moved to your tits to pinch your nipples with his thumbs and forefinger.

“Please…Kinich. Untie me,” you panted. “I want to touch you, too.”

“You can already touch me, even with those binding you.” To show you what he meant, he led your hands towards his sweaty abdomen, your palms flat against it. You could feel his muscles tense and flex like that, rise and fall to meet your hips.

You wanted more than that. Why was he being cruel?

You pleaded again.

This time, Kinich was considerate and untied you.

“Ah—fuck—” he gasped when you rode him faster.

He kept his fingers stroking on your clit. When that sought climax happened, you keened and came around his cock. At last, that urge was satisfied. Kinich’s arms wrapped around you to bring your torso towards him while he came, thrusting with conviction and shooting his cum inside. 

Kinich didn’t let go, his toned arms kept you in a hug. He didn’t pull out yet either; the thought didn’t cross his mind. The proximity of your bodies—addicting to him, he wasn’t ready to release you.

Your exhaustion caused you to fall asleep almost immediately.

The next morning, you stirred awake.

Your joints ached. Well, other parts of your body ached, to be honest. That wasn’t what bothered you in this moment, but the sensation of...

Where were you?

At the realization that you were no longer in the comfort of the tent or in the position you slept in last night, you panicked.

You recognized this place. It was Kinich’s house. Your inspection traveled to the ropes that restricted your wrists and ankles.

“Good morning, Kinich,” you heard the voice of someone outside. “I stopped by here yesterday, but you weren’t here. Were you hunting?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, I see. I should’ve imagined,” the man said with amusement in his voice. “Anyway, I came here to tell you that the chief...”

Your first instinct was to call for help, but the cloth gag prevented you from that. You stopped listening to the conversation those two were having in pro of freeing yourself.

The noise of a door opening and closing made you freeze. Kinich entered the room. His eyes found yours, and you had to gather the entirety of your willpower to not lash out at him when he crouched down to remove the gag.

This was your childhood friend. Surely you could try to dialogue with him? Or was it mere wishful thinking?

“What’s going on, Kinich? Is this…some kind of twisted joke?”

“Have I ever done something like that?” That damned flat tone of his—like he wasn’t taking you seriously. “From today, you’ll stay here. With me.”

“You can’t be for real,” you stammered in disbelief at his revelation. “You’re not planning on holding me here forever, right?” 

“That depends on you. If you behave, I’m willing to negotiate with you.”

You’d been in shock this whole time, but the severity of the situation you were in finally dawned upon you. A painful tightness which sprouted from your chest extended to the rest of your body. Not once had you imagined Kinich betraying you this way. To be capable of such treachery, toy with your feelings and whisk you away from the outside world.

“I can’t believe you’re less trustworthy than Ajaw. Was he telling me the truth all this time? That you were placing yourself in danger so I... would nurse you back to health?”

“Ah, that,” Kinich crossed his arms, his fingers tapped on the side of his arm. His answer took longer than what you felt comfortable with. You grew wary of what he would confess next. “It’s not exactly what you think it is. I just wanted to lure you into my trap.” 

[remxedmoon]

“the merciless cobra. its caustic venom can traverse any distance… as long as it stays out of danger.

…please, pay no mind to those ghastly stains. it must’ve been splashed with paint while my back was turned.”

reptile

1 power - 1 health - 3 blood

2 power - 3 health - 2 blood

sniper - you may choose which opposing space a card bearing this sigil strikes.

touch of death - when a card bearing this sigil damages another creature, that creature perishes.

hidden trait - gemmified

when a sigil is transferred to this card, it becomes gemmified. gemmified cards gain +1 power, +2 health, and -1 cost.

COBRADILE!! this was probably the most fun card to make out of all of them. also probably the prettiest card imo!!! writeup below!!

sniper and touch of death! pretty deadly combo. literally. you can just kill any card you please from any spot on the board. i was DEAD SET on giving her the sniper sigil. it just felt right.

GEMMIFICATION YIPEEE! this is a mechanic from act 3! but mox cards appear in act 2 as well. in base game inscryption, you need to have specific gem vessels on the field in order to activate the buffs (ruby for power, emerald for health, and sapphire for cost) but! mox cards and gem vessels aren’t really. in kaycee’s mod. and it would be super clunky to add them for a single card! so all you have to do is sacrifice a card’s sigils onto her. is this a little broken? maybe. but this is inscryption, literally everything is broken lol

^expanding on this, it still kinda fits lorewise? ka buans do compress their ashes into diamonds after all. let’s say that they compressed the creature into a diamond or something and that’s what’s powering her, idk

ok i’ll stop talking about the mox thing after this. both sif and odile were given mechanics from the other scrybes! siffrin requires bone tokens (grimmora) and odile has mox (magnificus). no sorry there’s nothing for p03. they don’t have computers in the isat world i think. i’m pretty sure.

initially i wanted to make her a stork or an ibis, but. all avian cards have the airborne sigil. which makes their attacks hit the opponent directly instead of their creatures. and that defeats the entire purpose of sniper. so she gets to be a spitting cobra! i think it’s more fun this way anyways. more fun shapes.

also this kinda spoils bonnie’s card a little but!! i put thought into the tribes too!!! the vaugardians (mirabelle, isabeau, and bonnie) are all from the hooved tribe! odile is a reptile and sif is tribeless because they’re outsiders. teehee.

ok patch time. she gets double strike, which makes her attack twice (as the name implies). i chose this in reference to memory of first strike (it just reminds me of it? idk) and also because it synergizes with sniper! you get to oneshot TWO cards in one turn! good god! odile really is merciless

that’s everything important about this card! i know this is long as hell but! that’s what happens when you introduce an entire new mechanic. i guess. anyways alt card art!!!

[somanyratsinthewalls]

Hello I very much enjoy your writing! Idk if this is where I can put in my request for the game but here it is:

Silver (kid) and (mentions of indigo killer) with prompt: “You're not taking me to bed. Not now, not ever”

I imagine kid’s flirting would come off as bullying. Leading to a rivalry where reader thinks he’s a hot asshole and wants to one-up him. And kid just CANNOT express his feelings and keeps it going to be close to them. Leading to this sexual tension between them that needs to be broken before they both perish from their bottled up feelings.

Again I love your writing! Keep it up!

Not Ever (18+)

THANK YOU FOR THIS REQUEST! (one of my favorites that I got hehe)

Pairing: Eustass Kid x Female Reader

WC: 2700

Prompt: “You’re not taking me to bed. Not now, not ever.” 

TW: unprotected sex, angst, enemies to lovers, arrogant asshole kid, but also softie kid... oral, f receiving, nipple play, kissing, pet names, cream pies, emotions to an extent, theyre so cute idk? it's porn!

— — 

Your captain drove you mad.

He was crass. Gross. Rude. Loud. Vulgar. Argumentative. Hard-headed. Huge. Muscular. Handso-

No. 

He was a dick. 

In every possible opportunity, Kid was a dick. 

You ended up hitching a ride on the Kid Pirates ship for a few weeks and somehow found yourself never leaving after they realized you had advanced medical knowledge, being a nurse on your former island. You enjoyed the company of the crew and the dangerous life on the high seas excited you to no end. The only thorn in your side was the pain-in-the-ass captain. He busted everyone’s balls in the crew, but you knew he picked on you more than the others… 

— — 

“Oi! Y/n!” The harsh voice of Eustass Kid rung out on the deck, cutting through the crashing waves and pouring rain. “Pick up the fuckin’ slack! If we end up at the bottom of the sea in this storm I’ll raise you from the dead just so I can kill ye again!” 

A loud crack of thunder sounded and flash of lightning lit up the ship. 

“Wire hasn’t pulled a single rope and you’re yelling at me, ya shit bag?” You shout back, heaving coil after coil of sail rope over your shoulder, desperately trying to pull the sail down in the storm to keep the Victoria Punk from capsizing. “We wouldn’t be stuck in this if you hadn’t pissed off everyone in the Grand Line and had to take the scenic route!” 

“Less yappin’ more haulin’!” He barks back. 

— — 

“Get off me, ye fuckin' harpy, I’m fine!” Kid slurs out, clutching the bleeding, open wound on his chest. 

“Hey dick-nose! You told me I was here to be your fuckin’ medic, so let me be a fuckin’ medic!” You shout as you haul Kid’s massive body onto the medical table. 

“Urrgg-“ Kid groans. 

You quickly grab a surgical needle and thread along with antiseptic and antibiotic ointment. You thread the needle nimbly and start to close up the gash. 

“OW!” Your captain yells and lurches forward. “You ain’t have any anesthetic?” 

“Big bad worst generation pirate captain needs an anesthetic for some stitches?” You ask with a cocked head. 

“I’m still human, you bitch!” He snarls. 

“Here, pour this-“ You hand him a bottle of vodka from under the surgical table. 

Kid rips the bottle from your hand and chugs it til it’s near empty. He winces and sighs. 

“Alright I’m ready.” He says, wiping the liquor from the sides of his mouth. 

“Oh that’s not-“ You begin. “You know what, fuck it.” You say as you begin to stitch up his chest wound. 

Kid winces each time the needle pierces his skin to pull it together. A silence comes over the room. 

“You need to be more careful.” You say softly, carefully focused on sewing up the gash. 

“You don’t know shit about what I need.” Kid says with his eyes squeezed shut. “I’m the captain. I make the rules.”

“Yeah, well… maybe your rules suck sometimes…” You say as you continue to sew up the injury across Kid’s chest. 

Kid lets out a deep exhale. Silence falls again. After a few more minutes, you finish the last stitch and pull your hands away. 

“Hey-“ Kid says as he sits up and suddenly grabs your wrist, so small in his large hand. 

“Yeah?” Your head turns to meet his gaze. You hold each other’s eyes for a moment… there was something different in the way he was looking at you right now… 

“… nothing.” Kid says and drops your wrist. He slings his legs over the side of the medical table and hops down. He storms out of the room without so much as a ‘thank you.’

— — 

You belly up to the wooden bar in the galley of the ship with a sigh. Killer was washing dishes at the sink when he heard you plop on a stool and turns around. 

“Long day, huh?” He asks, drying a beer stein with a dish towel. 

“When is it not?” You huff. “Can I get a beer?” You ask tiredly. 

Killer nods and takes the clean beer glass over to the keg against the wall and fills it to the rim with amber bubbles. He slides it from across the bar into your waiting palm. You grip the glass and start to bring it to your dry lips. Before the glass could touch your mouth, the door the galley swung open and slammed against the wall. 

“Hey piss-pots, I need a drink.” Captain Kid’s massive, fiery haired frame came barreling through the doorway. You roll your eyes, irritated that your moment of peace was interrupted. 

Kid stomps up to you at the bar, huge black jackboots clanging against the wooden floor. He rips the beer from your grasp. 

“Hey-!” You shout in protest, but it was too late. Kid brought your beer to his lips and begins to chug. He drank with such voracity that the beer seeped from the sides of the rim and trickled down his chin and neck. You watched as the beverage spilled down his thick neck, Adams apple bobbing with each gulp. Your eyes were drawn as the droplets traveled down to his exposed chest… so toned and wide… ew what?

He finishes the beer, slams the glass back down on the counter and lets out a massive belch. 

You grimace. 

“Fucking pig.” You sneer. 

You hear Killer sigh heavily and he grabs the glass to refill it for you. 

“What? I’m thirsty.” Kid grins cheekily at you. 

“You’re disgusting is what you are.” You add. Killer gives you back a full glass of beer. “And I’m supposed to drink this after his filthy mouth touched it?”

“You’d hate to hear the shit I do to your toothbrush after you go to bed, then.” Kid laughs. “Killer, get me another drink.” 

Killer grabs two more glasses before filling one for himself and another for his captain. After handing the stein to Kid, the captain takes a few heavy gulps and drains the cup halfway before setting it back down on the counter. You scoff and pick up your own glass and move to hop off your barstool. 

“Where ye headed little one?” Kid asks and takes another drink. 

“Away from you.” You respond coldly. 

“You’ll stay and drink with me. Captain’s orders.” He commands. 

You pause. 

You settle yourself back onto the stool and take a drink. 

“You’re an ass.” 

“I’m your captain, that’s what matters.” He says without looking at you. 

You roll your eyes again. 

“How is it you’ve gotten this far in the Grand Line acting like such an incompetent prick?” You ask before you take another gulp from your beer. 

“Y/n…” Killer says with warning. 

“How is it that you’ve lived this long without me throwing your ungrateful, bratty ass overboard?” Kid shoots back at you. 

You were too busy chugging your beer to respond. 

“Most likely because you can’t stop thinking about her bratty ass itself.” Killer says casually as he lifts his mask to drink his beer. 

“Oi? What’re you implyin’ then?” Kid asks with a growl across the bar top. 

“I’m not implying shit. We’re all tired of the tension between you two and wish you’d just take her to bed already.” Killer informs his captain and best friend. 

“HAH!” You laugh out lout, spraying droplets of beer from your lips across the table. “Like I’d let that happen.” You turn to your captain as you drain your drink. “You’re not taking me to bed. Not now, not ever.” You chuckle as you push your glass towards Killer indicating for him to pour you a fresh one. 

“Yeah? Like I’d ever bed this fuckin’ nightmare.” Kid slurps down more alcohol as he puts his thumb out to gesture towards you. “All she does is bitch at me all day.” 

“Bitch at you? You mean care about your well-being?” You scoff. “Gods forbid anyone care about wether you live or die!” You take several heavy drinks from your glass. 

“It’s not your business wether-“ Kid starts. 

You rise from your stool and set your beer down. 

“I’m going to bed, I’ve had enough idiocy for one evening.” You leave the galley to head to your room. 

— — 

“Good riddance, I’d say.” Kid remarks with another gulp of liquor. 

A few silent seconds go by after the clink of the stein hits the wooden bar top. 

“Go get her.” Killer sighs. “If you don’t do it now, you’ll push her even further away.” 

“I don’t know what the hell you’re-“

“Oh shut up. Go find her.” Killer states and grabs the glass from his captain’s grip. 

— — 

You make your way across the dark, silent deck towards the crew’s quarters before you heard the galley door swing open behind you. 

You stop in your tracks and turn. 

It was Kid. 

“What now? Come to ridicule me some more?” You call out with your hands on your hips, tired of your captain's antics. 

Kid silently storms up to you. 

His metal arm suddenly grips your waist and pulls you flush to him. You look up into his eyes, they were fiery and determined.

“Captain.. I-“ You stammer out, suddenly breathless for some reason. 

Kid brings his flesh hand to the back of your head and pulls your face into his and smashes your lips together. 

“Mmmph!” You whimper out with wide eyes as you realize what’s happening. 

What was happening?

Your arrogant, idiot, asshole captain was kissing you in plain sight on the ship’s deck. Before you knew it you were being swept off your feet and over Kid’s shoulder. 

“Kid!  What the fuck!” You holler out while draped over Kid’s back. 

“Hush up for once!” He calls out and smacks your ass lightly on his shoulder. You yelp. 

You were being hauled through the ship’s belly and into the captain’s quarters. You had never been here before. You were flung suddenly against the door of Kid’s room as he shut it behind him. His heavy metal arm held up your body as he attacked your neck with his mouth, nipping and sucking harshly against your soft flesh. Instinctively you bring your hands up to his long, red hair and weave your fingers through it. 

Kid suckles on your pulse point and you gasp. 

“Captain!” 

“Enough of that.” Kid growls. “You know what to call me.” He licks down the center of your sternum. 

Kid grips your blouse and bra at once and rips them to pieces with ease, leaving your body exposed to him. 

“Kid!” You shout in protest, it was one of your favorite bras. 

“That’s more like it…” He coos as he sucks one of your nipples into his red lips. 

You body is pushed further against the wooden door as he ravishes your breasts, suckling on one and kneading the other in his palm. Your head rolls back as you sigh, letting the pleasure overtake you. 

Kid rips your body from the door and tosses you onto his red velvet comforter. He pulls your panties down forcefully and shoves his own coat off his shoulders. Before you could register the change, your captain’s head was between your legs lapping at your slit hungrily. 

You gasp. 

His tongue breaches your hole and you arch your back. 

“Gods! Fuck! Kid!” You cry out. 

You writhe against Kid’s face and he brings his lips to suckle your clit, making your thighs tense further. 

“Mmmph… so much sweeter than I imagined…” Kid says with a long lick up your slit, the tip of his tongue dancing across your clit teasingly. He pushes a thick finger into your entrance and crooks it up into your sweet spot as he laves his tongue over your sensitive nub. 

“Shit… I-“ You slam your eyes shut and throw your head back. 

“Yeah yeah, I know baby, let it go, come on…” Kid goads you in between suckles and kisses on your clit. He eventually shuts up and focuses on bringing you to your peak. 

Your core spasms and you release all over your captain’s face. You moan and writhe under the hot touch of Kid’s flesh and the cold grip of his metal arm around your hips. You return to reality after your powerful climax and see Kid’s smug face hovering over yours, having removed the rest of his clothing. His massive cock bobbed heavily against your slit, weeping in wait. 

“Ow..” You wince, feeling the hard metal of his prothetic wrist dig into your flesh. 

“Aye… you alright?” He asks, a foreign expression of concern decorating his painted face. 

“Take that damn thing off… Be with me…” You gasp out, referring to his metal arm. 

“I…” He looks to his arm then to your face again. “Okay..” Kid removes his metal arm and slides it next to the bed. “I… I wouldn’t do that… if it wasn’t… you…” He hesitates as he hovers over you again, leaning on his good arm. 

“I know…” You say and you reach your arm down to grip his member to line it up with your soaked entrance. “Please…” You plead as you press his mushroom tip into your hole, stretching it slightly. 

Kid presses his forehead to yours and pushes himself into you. 

The two of you both gasp and moan as he bottoms out inside of your wet, stretched cunt. Your mouth stays wide open as you adjust to the intrusion, Kid grunts and pants as he grinds his hips into yours. You’re full beyond all comprehension as you claw at your captain’s shoulders. 

Kid starts to thrust shallowly and you moan embarrassingly loud, he was bigger than anyone you’ve ever taken. 

“Shit- fuck- Oomph!” Kid collapses on top of you. 

He had lost balance on his arm and fallen forward. 

“I- Sorry- I-“ Your captain fumbles over his words all while still inside of you. 

You rip him back by his hair and kiss him with fervor. While your tongue slid into his mouth your flipped him onto his back. After adjusting to the new position, you rode him softly and passionately while kissing him and massaging his chest. Kid pulls his head back into the pillows away from your lips. 

“Gods, you’re so fuckin’ perfect aren’t ye?” He regains his confidence and grips your hip with his flesh hand. “My everything…” Kid sighs out dreamily as he watches you bounce up and down on his cock. “So beautiful…” He admires you and moves his hand from your waist to bring your face back down to his and kisses you. 

You feel your peak approaching again and pull back. You gasp and grind your hips down harder. 

“You’re going to cum again? I can feel it…” Kid plants his feet and starts to thrust upwards into you. You’re tipped over and you cry out. 

“Kid!” You scream with your head thrown back. 

“Me too, baby, me too… shit-“ Kid grips the back of your neck and pulls you down on him impossibly hard. You feel the pulse of his hard cock and rope after rope of sticky spend fill your insides as you pant and moan, not caring who else could hear you on the ship. 

“oh…” You whisper, exhausted after your climax. You fall forward, your breasts falling directly into Kid’s face. He catches you with a hand around your back and pulls you in to lay at his side. 

A few moments of heavy breathing go by before you break the silence.  

“We should probably talk abo-“ You begin. 

“You stay here now.” Your captain interrupts you. You pick your head off Kid’s chest in interest. 

“Oh?” You ask. 

“You’re mine. My pirate queen. I’ll have Killer move your stuff in tomorrow.” Kid says as he gently pulls your head back down into his pecs. 

“I can very well move my own-“ You start before Kid interrupts you again. 

“You’ll be busy tomorrow… very busy…” Kid looks down at you with a wicked grin. 

— — 

[chez-cinnamon]

i wanna make a gamemaster design for my oc and i was wondering how u go abt make your designs for the gang!! i need to be accurate or i will perish!!! 🥺🙏

Oooh!! Im gonna be honest, most of the time I go by vibes, while also trying to keep the essence of the original design 😭

But if you want some tips, these are the best I can give:

- A more concrete circus role (Like Jax w a beast tamer role, Zooble w a strongperson role, etc)

- Generally they have a somewhat RPG/slight DND inspiration to them, each of them having different roles and classes depending on their strengths, either assigned from the blast or given naturally (ex. Ragatha is the healer of the group w a magician/sorcerer theme, Jax has cleric inspiration, etc)

- Each character has at least one strong stat and one low stat, with Pomni being an exception as a Jack of all trades w more even abilities (Gangle has a high dexterity stat and low strength stat, Zooble has high strength stat but low constitution stat, etc.)

-They have to have at least one butterfly shaped bow on their design (call it the design element that unifies the cast in a way) - it can be anything and anywhere!!

I’ll come back to this post when I have more design conventions for my AU, but for now these are the basics!! <3

[starry-hughes]

wrapping presents (jack hughes)

day 12 of star’s ficmas

jack hughes x reader

Jack was pretty insistent on the fact that he didn’t need an assistant. But everyone else thought he did. He was immature, constantly forgetting about meetings, if someone else wasn’t grocery shopping for him, he would be eating leftover meals from the nutrition team every day. He didn’t know what temperature to preheat the oven to for chicken.

Luke didn’t mind your presence. He knew you helped Jack more than anything, plus you kept the pantry stocked with his favorite fruit snacks. Jack appreciated you more than anything. You picked up his drycleaning, made sure he was where he needed to be, and sometimes, you would wait up for him after hard games to help him put icy hot on his shoulder.

You were his life saver.

Jack had wanted to thank you for all your hardwork. You had been his assistant since his rookie year. You stuck by him through injuries and his small hissy fits he would throw when the team was in a bad area of the season. He had thanked you previously, big extravaganza gifts, bonuses for the holiday and offering to buy you plane tickets to go wherever you desired. At the beginning, he didn’t want to admit that he needed someone like you, but now he didn’t know what to do without you. This year, though, he couldn’t think of something to get you, until he saw the present in a bookstore. He wasn’t typically found in bookstores but the gift caught his eye in the window.

You entered his apartment with bags of Christmas gifts and wrapping paper. Jack was sitting on the couch with Luke. “Got all the gifts you needed,” you smiled at the man who was technically your boss. Jack sighed happily, “Oh what would I do without you.”

You grinned, carrying the gifts to his room to wrap. “You’d probably perish.”

Luke waited until the door of Jack’s bedroom closed, signaling that you were in his bedroom, wrapping gifts. You knew Jack’s bedroom well, hell you’d slept in his bed before. It wasn’t on purpose of course, but when the team had all gotten sick and you two were quarantined together, you had really gotten to know him by talking for hours in his bedroom, which resulted in you falling asleep on his bed. “Did you get (Y/N) a gift?”

“Yeah dude of course. I always get her one.”

Jack jumped up from the couch, carrying over a box. It wasn’t wrapped, just a plain white box he was planning to stick a bow on and call it a day. It was a custom, leather bound journal with flowers pressed on the cover. “It made me think of her.”

“So when are you going to tell her you’re in love with her?” Jack hit his brother, a signal for Luke to shut up.

You neatly wrapped all the gifts before packing them in a suitcase for Jack to take to Michigan for the holiday break. You loved your job and did it with a smile on your face. Sure, Jack sometimes drove you crazy but you really liked him. Maybe even loved. You chalked up your feelings to the fact that you spent a majority of your time with him. A proximity crush. You’d never fall for him if you didn’t spend so much time with him.

“Picking up dinner boys, be back soon,” you said as you got your coat on. “Oh actually, just dinner for you and Jacky, I’m going over to Dawson’s,” Luke said. Jack’s eyebrows furrowed together, “I didn’t think you were going there.” The brothers shared a look. Luke was telling him with his eyes that it was time to make a move. “Well I am, you and (Y/N) enjoy dinner together,” Luke gritted.

“Jack, I’ll be back with dinner I guess,” you said confused before leaving. “What the hell dude?” Jack whipped his head toward Luke. “Just tell her you love her! Tonight! Stop beating around the bush!”

You got home with food and Jack wasn’t in the living room. “Jack?” you called out. You heard a muttered “damn it” from his bedroom and you walked to his room. He had tape stuck to his fingers and horrible cut wrapping paper and a plain white box on the floor of his bedroom. “What are you doing? I thought I wrapped all the gifts?”

“This one is special,” Jack huffed out. He was raising the white flag, surrendering to the wrapping paper. You left the paper bag of food on his dresser and joined him on the floor of his bedroom. “You should measure the wrapping paper and make sure it covers the whole box, like this, before cutting,” you explained softly. He pulled himself closer to you, he could hear your heartbeat picking up.

“Then, you should tape one side down to the box, then the other side, and finally the edges you tuck in to make triangles and then fold,” you narrated as he handed you pieces of tape. “Must be a special present if you wanted to wrap it yourself,” you looked at him. His lips were inches away.

“Yeah, something like that,” he mumbled. You could have sworn he was moving in to kiss you before you snapped out of your trance. “Do you want to add a bow to the box?” you cleared your throat and looked back at the neatly wrapped present. “Oh,” Jack was snapped back to reality, “I guess?”

You added the bow before handing it to Jack. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Jack’s eyes almost pop out of his head. “How do you know it’s for a girl?”

“Because Jack, I’ve only ever seen you put this much effort into presents or items if it’s for a girl you really like.”

Jack could have laughed, it was so ironic. You were right and you had no idea how right you were.

[signanothername]

I do agree with it being a genuine issue that people can't fathom relationships that aren't romantic or sexual but as equally devoted to each as those ones.

It's an issue in fandom and also in real life.

I'm very very close with my best friend and I have the same level of devotion towards them as one would a romantic partner. I'd buy a house with them or raise a kid, stuff like that. But we aren't romantically/sexually involved with each other and don't ever want to be.

Also because we are physically affectionate with each other people are always asking if we are having sex or if we are dating or when are we going to date.

It's aggravating because somehow our commitment for each other is viewed as lesser because we aren't doing all that.

I do think it's how we are socialized as we are growing up that makes this an issue.

(Excuse me while I stand on my soap box about platonic physical affection) People like to forget that we are a species that not only craves physical affection but we also Need it to some degree to be healthy, like human babies will straight up perish if they aren't held enough. We don't exactly grow out of that.

(This is, of course, excluding people who don't want to be touched and such. Works the same way as a healthy food, tho it's good for you not everyone is gonna like that food or eat it.)

OH ABSOLUTELY

Unfortunately, the social norm is that romance/sex is superior by default (which is absolute bullshit), all sorts of love are of the same importance, whether romantic or platonic

I think it also comes with the lack of understanding that we have different social needs, for example, I personally can’t even understand the concept of crushes at all, (like wait, people getting romantic feelings for someone they don’t know is real?????? Love at first sight isn’t a bullshit movie thing and people actually fall in love at first sight?????)

My understanding doesn’t matter as much as my behavior does, just because I don’t understand how someone can fall in love with another person who they don’t know doesn’t mean I’ll go and tell someone with a crush that their love is invalid just because I don’t understand it personally

People on the other hand, are very comfortable telling people who aren’t romantically involved to “get on with it” or to ask invasive questions such as “when are you going to date” cause they lack the understanding that people can be just as devoted platonically as people who are devoted romantically

The difference was never the devotion, it’s just the type of love you share, and how you share it

As for physical affection, you’re absolutely right, we are social species by default but with different social needs, some people need physical affection to function, others don’t, some only need it at certain times in certain circumstances and so on

These differences between us is what makes us human, but alas, the majority think that their norm must be the norm for everyone else

Anyway, it’s so sweet to know you have your best friend, hope you guys live long happy lives, take care of yourselves, your love is just as valid and true <333333

[misguidedasgardian]

Hour of the Wolf (7)

VII. Pestilence

MASTERLIST

Summary: Unbeatable, dangerous enemies make their way through the Red Keep

Pairing: Cregan Stark x Targaryen!Reader

Warnings: Cursing, war, death, mentions of killings, genocide and war, threats, arranged marriage, SPOILERS for ASOIAF, and Fire & Blood, also, might spoil House of the Dragon, SPOILERS IN WARNINGS, sickness, epidemic, people dying, angst

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 5 k

Notes: Alright, so there had been a few times skips through the chapters, since they got married it’s been like 2 months, and in here trough outs like another two. Sorry for any mistakes I wrote this in notes and barely choked it

“Anything else?”, you asked your council, “maybe something that you had been keeping from me?”, you were still punishing them with your tough words, even though it's been two weeks since the Iron Fleet situation

Tyland decided to chuckle, as to relieve the tension

“No your grace”

“There is something that had been brought to my attention, your grace”, muttered the Grand Maester, “concerning reports from the White Harbour”, Cregan raised his eyes, “just got the raven this morning… A strange disease has been spreading… people are getting shivers, fever, and then… perishing”

“How bad is it?”, you asked, then you looked at your husband

“The disease appeared first on the three sisters”, he said, “many are dead, half the population…”

“How come we haven’t heard of this before?”, you asked

“I do not know your grace, it appears the Vale wanted to keep it guarded, as they blame it on people from Ibbe, slaughtering the bunch, they did not want to raise alarms”

“For the gods”, you cursed, truly concerned, “I want you to keep communications open with theirs maesters, send them everything we might have on how to deal with this diseases, on the library, I will bet there is information”, you commanded, “also keep the line open with The Citadel, they must have even much information”

“Yes your grace”, said the maester, knowing that you did not said that lightly

“We will help as we can, but we cannot send help physically”, you observed

“Agreed, we need to discourage the spreading of the disease”, muttered Lord Celtigar, “In my travels, I witnesses many diseases, I shall help the maester on the gathering of information”

“That will be much appreciated”, you said, nodding your head at your maester of laws

“We must be careful of the ships and envoys that come from the Vale and from White Harbour, but at the same time, we must aid one of the most important trading points in the North”, determined Cregan

“I agree, with winter fast approaching, we cannot impair the North of their most important harbor”, you said, looking at the naked table in front of you, “how I wish we had the painted table in front of us”, you whispered

“I’ll arrange a well drawn map to be able to us here in the small council chamber”, muttered the Maester

“Thank you”, you said, relieved

“Lord Celtigar, I wish to know about Harrenhal”, you said, looking at your master of Laws

“I’m not gonna lie, events happened in that cursed place from which I have no explanation”, he muttered, “a man died in front of me, because the so-called Queen Witch of Harrenhal command it”, you frowned, thinking he was joking, but he was dead serious

“Some say it was a well time bolt that made that man’s head explode your grace, but, I did not see any arrows”

“What of her?”, you asked

“She presented me with a boy, with blonde hair, she claimed it is Aemond Targaryen’s son, and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne”

You chuckled darkly, the audacity of your uncle, of openly calling your brothers and you bastards, developing a hate that led him to kill your baby brother, only to bed none other than a Strong bastard, and siring a bastard himself, if he had lived, you would have killed him again.

Specially after what he did to you

“We surrounded the castle, took it by storm, killing all the traitors, but, when we storm what would be the royal apartments… she was gone, her and the child, we do not know were she is, or how she could have escaped”, he said, looking at your face for any indications of what you were thinking

“Be honest, should I be concerned?”, you asked then

“I do not think so, your grace, nobody would believe her, and even if they did… I don’t think so, you are well settled in your throne, and… even so… other than the Hightowers, nobody has real reason to raise against you”, you barely nodded, “nobody has the strength, the kingdoms are still healing, and will be so for at least the next five years”

“Raise alarms, in case she is spotted”, you said only, you wanted to eliminate all traces of your uncles, treachery, and war, “what else?”

“The Blackwoods request audience”, muttered Cregan, “Lord Blackwood’s eldest daughter Alyssane is seeking for a husband, let it be reminded the Blackwoods were great supporters of your mother during the war, thanks to them we defeated the Baratheon Army, eliminating Lord Borros, and… The Riverlands turned black because of them”

“And they are welcomed in my court, I shall receive them with open arms, and a banquet in their honor”, you commanded

“I’ll make the arrangements”, muttered Lord Redwyne

“The Iron Fleet, or what remains, the flagship has been spotted sailing here, to King’s landing”

“Have they made their intentions clear?”, you asked

“They wave white flags, request an audience”, you only scoffed, “they claim that, they want to gaze upon the Dragon Queen”

“Of course”, you muttered, “let’s welcome them then, we are home, they are but a few, we shouldn’t be concerned”

Nobody opposed the idea, so they barely nodded

“Of course prepare escorts, I would not let them be for a second while they are here, eyes on them at all times”

Gazing upon the face of the Red Kraken himself gave you a sensation of… disappointment

You were disappointed of him, from the tales, stories of men that had faced him in open sea and also in lands, were the tales of a man that didn’t belong to the land of the living, rather, he had come from the darkest parts of the ocean ready to reclaim land back to the depths

A ruthless men, bloodthirsty, with no remorse or fear of death

“Your grace”, he greeted, bowing theatrically 

“Lord Dalton”, you greeted seriously

“The songs do not do justice to your beauty”

“Is that so?”, you did not like his tone, not the mock in his voice and features of his face 

“You are more than they say”, he continued

“And what else do they say about me, Lord?”, you asked mockingly, Cregan, by your side, glanced at you, clearly asking you to not engage

“They say men rule in your stead”, he said, you only smiled

“As I have proven, that is not entering true”, you smirked, he chuckled darkly

“That is true”

“So you raided one of my seven kingdoms… to prove me, test me”, you said, now more serious

“I wanted to see who sat the Iron Throne”, he said, “a dragon, or wolves and lions”

You grew bored of this character quickly looking for help in your small council and other lords gathered there

“now it’s clear to me, so I’ve come to offer… other services”, your eyes went back to him

“Services?”, you asked, you did not like the smirk of his face, “such as?”

“Well I’d offer my hand in marriage but… I see I’m too late for that…”, Cregan took a step forwards, anger taking a hold on him, “but I don’t mind being the second”

“You are overstepping”, your husband grunted.

He was not going to allow some guy just coming here and shamelessly think he could just… have you

“All Kings and Queens have lovers”, he said dismissively, “you don’t have to be the exception”

“right…”, you mumbled looking for the eyes of your Queensguard, to ask him to remove him, “I thought you seek audience to reintegrate yourself and your people to the rest of the realms, for the common fool, but you had just come here to make a mockery out of diplomacy”

“your grace you misunderstood, it is costumers for us ironborns to have salt wives… and rock wives”, he said, entertained, by you, you were getting angry, “together, we could have children not only with fire in their veins, but in their head as well”, people laughed, but Cregan was not amused, “worthy of the throne”

“That is enough”, you demanded, “I only need but one husband”, you said, and the court chuckled, “if you are here to mend bonds with the realm you might stay, Lord Dalton, otherwise and although I thank yo Igor your offering, I kindly reject it”, people laughed again and that did not pleased the Kraken, soon, he left and if he had his armada on its entirety, you would be weary, but he didn’t, so you weren’t.

The mood swiftly changed when another introduction was made

“The Lady Alyssane of house Blackwood” presented a guard, you’d think she would have come with the rest of her family, but she presented herself alone in front of you

She was one of the most beautiful women you had ever seen, also, her reputation precedes her. She fought in the war, she led armies, she killed hundreds with bow and arrow.

She was someone to admire

She was the head of her house until her little brother came of age

“Your grace, it’s an honor, thank you for receiving me”, of course she ceased the first word

“Lady Alyssane you are most welcome, I hope you find what you are looking for, you are welcome to stay at court as much as you need to”, she only smiled, bowing perfectly, she also looked at your husband and hand, but… you didn’t like I one bit.

Having the Ironborns at court was one thing, having the Blackwoods was another, it changed the dynamic in the entire court

The former were constantly and daily have dinner with you, and lady Alyssane would sit beside Cregan, and they would chat all night…

You didn’t like it, not at all

But it would be childish of you to chide Cregan for something he didn’t have power over, right?

“But I find that hunting with a spear… is it too slow” the woman giggled, and you could see the conversation had sparked something in Cregan, he was entertained, he was speaking of something he enjoys, a rare thing to find with him

Is not like you did not trusted Cregan, but it was still painful to watch, so you retired early, as many of the other women at court, and left Cregan, the men, and the lady Alyssane, drinking and laughing like old mates.

You were not worried or concerned, only tired by the events of the day.

Cregan though, as soon as you left, was left himself with a sense of emptiness, he found the situation uncomfortable, and soon, followed you

Cregan was on his way to your now shared chambers when he encountered little Jahaera walking in the same direction, a small red blanket in her arm, rubbing her tired face with the other 

“Little one, where are you going?”, as soon as she saw him she whined, hugging onto the hand of the nanny that was taking her

“I’m very sorry my lord, she woke up, and wanted to see the Queen”

“Leave us, I’ll take her”, he said, and she, with reluctance, let go of her tiny hand and walked away

He kneeled on the floor just in front of her, with a soft expression on his face

“Why can’t you sleep, little dragonling?”

“I don’t want anyone else to go away”, she whined, her teary eyes make him sad, “If I sleep, she’ll go away”, she explained

“What do you mean?”, he asked softly

“At night… my brother went away… then I went to sleep, and my mommy went away, and then my papa, he went away, when he went to sleep…”, she whined, bitter tears falling from her beautiful eyes

Cregan’s heart broke

“I don’t want my aunty mommy to go away too”, she said

“She won’t, I promise you”, he said

“How do you know?”, she asked, rubbing her eyes

“Because I will protect her with my life, us Starks, we always keep our word, did you know?”, he asked softly

“You will take care of my new mama?”

“I promise you little one”, he said, “and you know, I’m married to your mama, so..”, she only smiled, and hugged him. He hugged her back, stading up and carrying her to the chambers. “one more night you can sleep with your new mommy alright?”, he asked

Jahaera barely nodded again his neck.

She was already sleeping by the time he entered the chambers to find you looking at him with the softest eyes, and the most beautiful smile he had seen.

That little girl and your brother where your family, and he had married you so, they became his family, he needed to step up, and help you with those children

He was determined, he thought the very next day, as he finished his short prayers in the Godswood, he wanted to go back to the Keep, to speak to Ser Arryk about prince Aegon’s training, or the start of.

That boy was too very sad… he needed to look forwards, you needed to fill his mind with something more… history, philosophy, training, to keep him mind fed and occupied with something else.

He walked trough the beautiful garden, thinking about inviting you to eat something outside, that would make you happy

“I must say I’m dissapointed”, Cregan raised his gaze to meet the beautiful Alyssane Blackwood

“The Capital is not to your liking?”, he asked

“Well, no if the betrothal I was hoping to get is… already married”, now that surprised him, looking at her

“My Lady”

“You are a price I was hoping to catch”, she continued, smirking

“Well, you are too late”, he said, trying to make it lighter, with a smile on his face, but she was not releasing her predatory stance 

“A pity”, she muttered, looking mindesly at the flowers of the garden, “we could have been great you know”

“Probably”, he muttered

“Are you really happy here in the capital?”, she asked, “wouldn’t you have prefered a wife? A lady of Winterfell?”

“I would prefer no one but the one I gave my word to”, he said, now all serious, he was not going to be polite anymore, “and you are out of line, my lady”

“Just playing with what could have been”, she said, not altered at all by his serious words

“I thought the idea was to look for a match”, they both turned to see you approaching them, “not get into one”, you said bitterly

“Your grace”, she said, now alarmed, as she saw you approaching

“I think you overstayed your welcome, Lady Blackwood, since you found no prospects on this week, you best try somewhere else”, you said simply, standing by Cregan’s side.

She barely nodded, and bowed lightly

“Thank you for your hospitality your grace, but you are right I must take my leave, and hunt in other woods”, she muttered and then she left quite quickly.

You watched her lean and tall figure leave, she was beautiful, her eyes as green as forests, and her hair long, black and lustrous

“It is a pity, if she had been here sooner… maybe she would have managed to hunt you”, you whispered, and then walked on the other direction.

Cregan called your name, but you didn’t turn back, you just kept walking

Cregan haden’t entertained her, but her words still lingered in your ears. You had make him marry you, perhaps he would have preferred a real wife, a lady, a partner for him to take North and be a mother to his child and give him more, that supports him in leading his people, not all the way around

But it was too late now. 

What was done was done, is not like you threatened with your dragon for him to marry you, but still, the inavility of managing a match for yourself is what chained him to a life he didn’t even want.

You had commissioned a pathway from the gardens to exit the castle by a stone hallway, that led to the cliffs sorrounding King’s Landing, were your dragon rested, you wanted to see her, maybe even take a little flight. 

This stone hallway was tall, windy, and open, much like the one leading to the castle in Dragonstone, Cregan followed you closely

“I didn’t entertain her…”, he explained

“I’m aware”, you answered, but not stopping your movements 

“Please”

“Cregan”, you stopped turning to look back at him, “I’m aware you didn’t entertain her, but she is right, I can’t help but think in the “what if”, you explained, “what if I didn’t make you marry me? you could have been back in Winterfell, with your child and your people”

“Yes maybe”, he growled, “but I married you”

“Because of a pact you made when my borthers were still alive”, you said simply, turning to keep walking, but he grabbed you

“Not only because of that”, he growled, looking into your eyes, “I wanted to marry you”, he said

“Why?”

“Why!?”

“Why? because of power?”, you asked

“Not only that”, he said, looking intently into your eyes

“Because I’m broken?”, you asked then, “because I’m a danger to the country?”

“No…”, he said, you both into eachtoher’s eyes, he moved slowly, like you were some wild animal, and he palced his hand on the side of your face. “Because to me you are the most beautiful woman in the seven Kingdoms, because I desired you, you are what I have been promised”, you didn’t know what to say, “I will have half a life with you, and half a life away, but… at least I have something of you”, he said

You kept quiet, the world seemed to stop for a second, and all around you, only the two of you existed.

“I have never been much of a poet”, he said, chuckling darkly, “and I only must say, nobody would have make me marry you if I didn’t want you”, he said this time more darkly, you leaned in kissing him, he kissed you back, trapping your lips on his greedily

“I wanted you too”, you said, “because you and I… were ment to be together”, you said certainly 

“Fire and Ice”, he said, “nobody make us marry, we chose it, because we knew, together we could have everything”, he said with a husky voice, “power, love, a family”

“Together”, you confirmed, sealing your words with another longing kiss, “We need to settle in our roles as husband and wife”, you whispered with an entertained voice

“I’ll settle you in our bed as of right now”, he growled, “But I will settle for having you here…”

“No!”, you giggled as he grabbed you pulling you towards the grass on the other side of the passage.

He layed you down in the open, where anybody could see

“The nerve of that woman”, he growled over you, “of ever thinking I could have chosen her, instead of you”

“the audacity”, you chuckled 

“Perhaps we should have her watch as I ravage you”, he said opening the top of your riding gear, his mouth on the skin of your neck and collarbones

“Cregan Stark!”, you shrieked, “I didn’t know this side of you”, you moaned, as you spread your legs to fit his form between them. 

“We have the power, and our love… let’s make our family”, he whispered against your neck, “dark haired children worthy of the throne…” he mocked the words of Dalton

Cregan and you shared looks over the table, little smirks, you two were like two giggly lovers from the stories

“Concerns about the desease are increasing, despise out best efforts, it’s coming trough the port…”, muttered the Grand Maester, bringing the attention back to the situation at hand, “there is no control…”, he was interrupted when Tyland coughed, trying to hide it in a hankerchief, now you noticed that… he looked sickly

“Are you well, Tyland?”, you asked with concern, as the man looked possibly ghostly, pale, heavy sweat on his forehead

“Forgive me your grace”, he coughed, “I do not feel well”

Cregan stood from the table like a spring, and grabbed you, pushing you gently backwards towards the window

“Get away, hold your breath”, he commanded, all the men stood from the table, taking steps back from Tyland

“I’m well”, he tried to argue, but Arryk grabbed your other side, using his cape to cover your face, making you blind, but both men led you out of the room.

“Is this necessary?”, you asked, concerned

“Very”, growled Cregan, “the Winter fever has reached the Red Keep, take the necessary measures, nobody meets anyone, people should stay in their apartments”

“Yes M’Lord”, muttered Arryk

They finally released you in your rooms

“Wait!”, you called as they left you alone and were about to close the door, “what about Aegon and Jahaera?”

“We need to keep you separated”, he said firmly, “in case…”, your eyes filled with tears

“Yes I understand”, you murmured 

“We will keep them together”, he assured you, “nobody will see them…”

“Wait!”, you called as he was about to close the door, “stay here with me”

“Someone needs to organize this”, he said seriously

“Not you!”, you called

“I have to”, he said seriously, and he closed the doors, trapping you inside 

You were loosing your mind….

You had books, they brought you food and Cregan would come at the door and give you updates twice a day…

You had done all you could, you had commanded medicine to be send, as well as the knowledge to help the cities fight this, but they wouldn’t let you out, you hadn’t seen anyone in weeks. At least half the Kingdoms had fallen into madness and sickness

“Tyland… didn’t make it” Cregan whispered against the door, “10 servants didn’t either”, you shed bitter tears at the other side of the door

“Gods… Tyland”, you whined

“Alicent has fallen to the sickness as well”, he murmured, but you heard him alright

“What about Aegon and Jahaera?”

“They ask about you constantly, yet… they are in good spirits, with their Nannies who had also scaped this”

“Good”, you whispered, “please send word to Casterly Rock”

“Already did, those lucky bastards weren’t hit by the desease, neither has the Reach nor Dorne, it seemed it is stuck in the Crownlands, the Vale and the North"

"at least some of us are spared"

"its been a moon since Tyland was sick, we will get trough this", he said, "the worst is…", he got quiet, and you whined when you heard a cough

"Cregan?", you asked

"I'm fine, some dust sneaked his way to my throat", he said lightly

“Are you sure?”, you asked, grabbing the knob of the door

“Yes” he said, “A message has arrived from the Citadel from the maesters, I should tend to it” he said

“Please come back”, you begged

“Always”, he said, and left you

The next day… he didn’t came back

“His grace has taken abed your grace”, said Ser Arryk, “the maester is tending to him”. You opened the door, to his surprise

“Your grace”

“If the maester falls sick we are all dead, I’ll tend to him”

“No!” He said trying to grab you, but only one look and he desisted

You ran down the hallways and entered his rooms…

Cregan laid in his bed, pale, you could see the sweat on his forehead, and the shivers running up and down his arms and his whole body. You were by his side in a minute, grabbing his hand

“Cregan”, you called, but to no answer, his eyelids fluttered, he seemed like he was going to open his eyes, but he didn’t, instead he just mumbled something, sounded more like a grunt.

The Grand Maester didn’t lie to you…

Most… almost all of those who catched the fever perished…

You needed to prepare for the worst… and yet, your eyes filled with tears and a desperation consumed you, as you started crying silently

“Please don’t leave me”, you cried, “please”, you begged, grabbing onto his hand tightly, “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you”, you admitted, he squeezed your hand a little

“Rickon”, he whispered, in his feverish dreams, “my son”, you frowned, concerned, at the worry on his features even in his sleep

He was calling for his son, the son you had kept him from, the only son he had.

You placed your hand on your lower belly, then you placed his hand there

“You need to get better”, you begged, “your son needs you, the North needs you… our baby needs you… I need you”, you prayed, his naked chest was pearled with sweat he was burning up. You stood up removed your clothes and laid by his side grabbing into him, making sure your body stuck to his as much as you could, so you’ll lower his body temperature with yours, after giving him the medicine indicated by the doctor.

It all depends on him, and the gods.

Taglist.

@lyannesworld @tremendouswolfsaladranch @unlesshouse @mimsie95 @ostricx @amelia262006 @marihoneywk @ahristata @happinessinthebeing @dd122004dd

@lyannesworld @aestmilky @lightdragonrayne @delaynew @mxtokko @stargaryenx @lightdragonrayne @delaynew @mxtokko @good-night-starlight @yentroucnagol @beebeechaos @brakingboundaries @duds31

[konigofmyheart]

kiss and tell 🎀

könig x reader fluffy drabble <3

warnings: none, unless embarrassment counts

it’s a tiny bit sad in the middle but then we get silly again :)

horangi makes an appearance too!

word count: ~1,400

turns out your husband, könig, isn’t that good at keeping you a secret…

you used to be a night owl, until you met könig. he kinda got you used to his soldier sleep schedule (up at 5 am, in bed by 10pm, when he wasn’t out in the field and forced to go days without sleeping). you were cursing your well adjusted sleep habits now, though, tugging your blanket around your shoulders as you see könig off at the door. it’s near 12 am, your neighborhood is quiet and still, but könig is as alert as ever.

you’d been out having a drawn out, romantic dinner when he’d been called on, but it was an urgent matter, so you two immediately went home so he could shower and pack. he always gets all focused and serious in times like these. he’s going on about the usual safety reminders-

“lock the door at all times, liebes” “don’t go out too late. invite your friends here instead.” “turn your scented candles off before you leave… on second thought, maybe just don’t use them at all? you’re a little forgetful sometimes”

-and you just smile sleepily at him, watching him adjust his bulletproof vest. of course to fully get into könig mindset, he’d gear up before leaving. your neighbors always turned in early, so he wasn’t worried about them seeing some scary soldier exiting your house, leaving them to wonder if that guy was friends with your tall as a tree, yet gentle husband. you’d already changed out of your favorite (and könig’s too) red dress, but you still hadn’t removed your makeup, opting to fuss over könig’s packing instead.

just as he taught you about bettering your sleep cycle, you taught him of accepting commodities and being cared for. now his pack has his usual stuff, plus on the go hygiene products, non perishable snacks (he has a weakness for these dark chocolate granola bars), and little mementos that are his guiding light through these trying missions. <3

now, huddled together at the doorway, you can’t help but tug him down by his vest for a kiss, pressing your lips over his through his mask. he makes a little noise of surprise, having been cut off mid safety rant, but he instead lifts his mask to kiss you “i’ll always come back to you, even if i have to crawl” (never “bye”) properly. the space between you warms as you kiss each other with all the love you have, damn near creating your own dimension where just the two of you exist. you know it only makes it harder for him to leave though, so you act as the rock, gently pulling back before wiping your lipgloss from his lips. “you’re gonna be late, love”, you whisper, discretely blinking away a tear when he glances at the clock on the entry table. “right as ever, königin”, he smiles as he straightens his mask picking up his duffel and helmet in one hand.

“redo of our date night?”, he asks, turning the door knob with his free hand and stepping over the threshold. you cross your arms over your chest, tugging your makeshift robe closed as the night chill from the open door sweeps in. “next weekend”, you declare confidently, full faith in your husband, secure in the knowledge that he’ll always make it back to you. the rest of his departure goes by in a blur, from the kiss he blows you before climbing in his car, to you locking the door after waving til his car turned the corner. a successful send off, you sigh as you head to shower and do your skincare before passing out for the night.

unfortunately, there was one little detail you both forgot…

könig strides into the base, heading straight to his office to grab some files needed for the mission briefing. he’d meant to get those documents signed and sent up the next rung of the kortac ladder, but no one had anticipated the turn of events that kickstarted this urgent mission. other soldiers were coming and going through the halls, some glancing (no one dared stare) at him in awe… or fear. either worked, in his opinion. könig couldn’t help but let it stroke his ego. he remembered how it felt to be a fresh faced rookie, only hoping to someday become one of the higher ups. he chuckled quietly to himself, even slowing his purposeful pace a little to give the newbies a nice colonel könig sighting.

when you got it, you got it, no?

he sauntered to his office, noting horangi was waiting outside his door. he also noted the way his friend’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as he took in his appearance. könig returned horangi’s strange look with a confused look himself. he’d checked he got everything right before leaving your house. his vest, the gear strapped to his vest, his mask, he even made sure to put his helmet on before entering the base… so why was horangi staring at him like he’d sprouted wings?

“you old dog!”, horangi gave könig an easy push on his shoulder. “you got a girl and you didn’t tell me?”

what???

könig had done all he could to keep you safe and untarnished by his work… obviously you knew what he did, but he’d never delve into details, and he sure as hell didn’t tell anyone at work about you. what purpose would they have knowing? he didn’t need them trying to cajole you into coming to stay here just to have könig be available on base full time! his engel didn’t have to step a single foot in this place. how on earth did horangi find out?

kortac did have their own…creative…ways to find out information, and it would be much easier looking into one of your own compared to an enemy. könig was racking his brain for any instance where he might have noticed surveillance being run on him, or any of his non agency issued electronics acting odd from possible hacking. the mailman had been acting a little shifty… (no, he hadn’t) and his personal phone had been displaying that odd pop up every time he opened his photos app! (again, false alarm. it was a “storage full notice”. he’d filled up his storage with pictures of you and your adventures together.)

horangi, meanwhile, crossed his arms, thinking könig was trying to think up a convincing lie against the obvious evidence.

aha! what if horangi was just making a wild guess, trying to catch könig off guard? könig wasn’t a fool. he’d been in the business long enough to not fall for such a elementary level interrogation technique. he just had to keep his cool. horangi definitely had nothing on him. könig allowed himself a casual, light scoff before setting his duffel on the floor and facing his office door, wanting horangi’s weak interrogation over with already. “where is this coming from? now’s not the time for jokes”, he huffed dismissively.

“you can’t be serious. you must have a girl…unless you’re going for a ‘confuse the enemy’ method now?”

okay, now könig was annoyed, which is saying a lot, because horangi was the one colleague he most liked. “cut to the chase, kim” könig fished his keys out from his duffel, flicking through them to find the one to his office

“könig, there’s a glittery lip print on your mask… right where your mouth would be”

shit

the only sound in the hall was könig’s keys clinking as he dropped them in shock.

how could he forget you’d kissed him through his mask, while you were still wearing your cursed (it was actually quite lovely, it tastes like strawberries to könig, he’s just mortified right now) shimmering lipgloss?

that’s why all the soldiers he passed in the hall looked at him funny. it wasn’t awe, it was confusion! basically all of kortac witnessed him making a fool of himself! of course könig is losing his mind, horangi’s cackling laugh serving as the background music, but rest assured, könig’s reputation is safe. those five (5, fünf, cinco) soldiers he passed didn’t get a long enough look as to notice the glittering spot on his mask. only horangi was brave enough-and dare i say lucky enough- to actually look at the revered and feared colonel. könig’s thanking all the forces of the universe when he remembers he always packs backup masks.

for what’s it’s worth, your husband sure learned his lesson. that’s how the only restriction regarding your kisses came to be

new rule: no kissing over the mask

. . . . . . . . . . . .

sorry, i just love making könig be silly 🫶🏼

[criticallyacclaimedstranger]

Bread (Pero x wifey!reader)

Read on AO3

Sequel to Seed and Sprout. (Series now very cleverly titled Pero x wifey!reader)

Fandom: The Great Wall

Tags/warnings: Pero eats it from the back, PinV sex, Pero goes a little hard, some cum play, breeding kink blink and you'll miss it.

Words: 1,806

Summary: You mean to bake bread while the baby is napping, but your husband Pero has other plans.

A/N: Thanks to @pazizz for the idea, and sorry to keep you hanging for so long!

The rain is pitter-pattering against the windows, and you gaze out at the gray world outside. Autumn has arrived, and with it a slowing down of things, chores, life. You welcome it, after a hot summer that, in addition to your normal chores, included taking care of a baby. Not that little Tomás was too difficult: you strapped him to your body and carried him while doing your chores, it was as simple as that. He slept uneasily during the nights, but Pero gladly walked around with night after night, rocking him in his arms, patiently despite the crying. An upside to this was that the baby slept well during the days, and now you have a bread dough that has been rising since last night, and at least two hours to bake.

Sleeves rolled up, you spread flour on the table and begin to knead the dough. The baking oven spreads its heat in the kitchen, and soon your hairline is damp and your cheeks rosy and shiny. Still, you hum to yourself as you work the dough, rejoicing in the feeling of your strong arms, the smell of the dough, the warmth of your home. You loosen the laces that adjust your neckline, allowing it to widen enough to drop down one shoulder. You are still breastfeeding, and Tomás ate well before his nap, so your breasts feel wonderfully light.

The door opens and Pero steps in, bringing with him a gush of autumn. Stepping out of his boots and hanging up his coat, he is then left standing at the door for a moment, watching you. Looking up, you smile at him.

”Everything okay?”

”Yes.”

You go back to the dough, and Pero walks to the bedroom door.

”Is the baby asleep?”

”Just went down.”

”Good.”

Pero comes up behind you, hands low on your hips as he kisses your sweaty neck.

”Seeing you like this makes me stiff,” he murmurs, trailing his lips down your neck. You don’t stop kneading for one second.

”Like what?”

”Sweaty, disheveled, tits out.”

A shiver runs down your spine at your husband’s low voice, and when he presses himself against your ass – oh, he is stiff indeed! – your hands come to a stop, and a tiny whimper escapes you.

”Pero, I don’t have time, I need to do this before he wakes up...” you protest feebly, fingers thick in the dough as you turn your head to allow Pero better access to your neck.

”I’ll watch him if he wakes up before you’re finished,” he vows as he slowly moves his hands to your front, cupping your tits and pushing them up.

”The oven is hot now, I can’t keep it this warm for long...” you try, eyes closing when Pero’s hands roam further, one up to your neck, fingers softly closing over your wild pulse, the other down between your legs, cupping you over the fabric of your skirts.

”The oven will be fine, I however will perish if I don’t get to taste my wife...”

Your dripping cunt makes the decision for you, and you turn your head more, finding his lips, and give your consent in a desperate kiss. Pero pushes you against his hand, against the table, hard cock rubbing your buttocks through layers of clothing. You mean to turn around, but he keeps you in place.

”You said you were in a hurry,” he grins into the kiss, and releases your neck to quickly gather up your skirts. A strong, broad hand between your shoulder blades guides you to bend over the table, and he kneels behind you.

”Open up for me, wife,” he breathes ruggedly, hot breath burning your uncovered sex. You obey, parting your legs more, and hold your breath in anticipation, release it in a low moan when Pero finally kisses your cunt.

How could you ever say no to your husband? During your recuperation time from childbirth, Pero had respectfully waited, given you all the time you needed to be ready for intimacy again. He never rushed or pressured you, but you could tell after a couple of months that he was aching for you. And truth be told, so were you.

You know Pero better than anyone, know the man behind the scarred glare the rest of the world saw. You know so very intimately how that glare can soften, how lovingly the callused hands can caress.

And still, seeing Pero with his son opened up a whole new understanding of him. He is so gentle with the baby, so careful and patient. And his devotion to you has grown more than you thought possible since you gave him your son. He loved you, adored you, respected you before, now he worships you.

How could you say no to such a man? A man who sees you bake bread, and immediately grows hard in his breeches? Who is now on his knees behind you, devouring your cunt?

You don’t. Instead, you push back, stoking his hunger and your pleasure when he sucks at your bud, as gluttonous as the baby suckling your breast. He kneads your buttocks like you kneaded the dough earlier, fingers pushing and pinching into your soft flesh. You scratch at the table like you’re trying to hold onto the surface, flour powders your sweaty chest and the front of your clothes but you don’t care when your toes start to curl inside your socks as Pero’s lips and tongue take tighten the spring deep inside you. You mewl, your thighs shake, and Pero growls into your cunt, latches on and sucks hard. You slap your hand over your mouth to cover the loud moan that your climax pulls from you, and your nostrils are filled with finely ground flour that makes you snort and giggle, all the while Pero lavishes your dripping cunt with kisses.

”My love, my beautiful wife,” he murmurs between the kisses. ”So beautiful, so wet for me.”

You wipe your nose with the back of your hand and mumble something in reply. Pero kisses your buttocks, both of them, before standing up with a grunt. He pulls you up and holds you flush against him, back to chest, and seeks your lips for a kiss. He, however, stops when he sees your face, then smiles widely.

”You have a little flour on you, wife.”

With one big thumb, he gently brushes at your lips and cheeks before kissing you. He tastes of moss and sea; the flavours of your sex, your release, and you push back against him, eager for more.

”What is a little flour spilled compared to knowing my husband’s big cock?” you quip, earning a low chuckle before he presses his lips to yours once more. You reach behind you, find his belt and tug at it to let him know that you need him, and you sigh into the hungry kisses when Pero unbuckles his belt and opens the front of his breeches. His cock springs free, immediately seeking its way between your upper inner thighs, like it can smell you. You reach down, finding him and leading him right. Pero groans when the thick head slides in, his grip on you tightens momentarily, and you whine when he pushes on, further in, until you’re trapped between his hips and the table, your cunt full of his thick, hard cock. The kisses have ebbed out, you’re just breathing heavily against each other’s lips now, and Pero swallows audibly before pressing his forehead to your shoulder. You lick your lips and move back, hissing at the fullness.

”Husband, I need you,” you beg breathlessly, ”take me now, hurry.”

Roused by your plea, Pero takes a firm hold of your hips, and starts to rut into you. It’s in moments like these that you feel his strength, sense his violent past as a warrior. He grips you hard, teetering on the edge of too hard but never crossing the line, and ravages you in a way that doesn’t seem to belong in this quiet life, this sheltered village by the sea, where nothing ever happens and people are farmers and fishermen.

But being fucked like this does belong in your life, and you relish it, love the way he claims you, love the adventure of his force, and the way it frees you, makes you feel like something wild and untamed. You’re not ashamed when you ask him to go harder, and you lean over the table, hands clamped over your mouth when he does. Your hips will be bruised later from hitting the edge of the table over and over again, your front is covered in flour, Pero is growling somewhere behind and above you, and you claw at the table when it’s almost too much, but your still want more.

When he reaches his climax, he pushes all the way in, shoving the table forward an inch, and he lays down on you with a loud groan. You feel his cock pulsate inside you, your insides stained with rich, thick cum, and you turn your head to chase his lips for a kiss. His facial hair grates at your cheek and chin as you try to kiss but it’s mostly just panting into each other’s mouth. Still, you need it, need his breath, his weight on you, his hand that you only just now realize is around your neck, thumb slowly stroking your jugular. You swallow, and he feels it.

”Was I too rough?” he asks hoarsely, hands all soft and gently searching your skin for sore spots. You shake your head, smiling blissfully.

”No, husband, never. It was divine.”

He chuckles tiredly against your ear, one hand leaving your body to push himself up to stand. Your hum, the angle changing how he feels inside of you, and you realize that he’s still hard. He pulls out, however, and caresses your buttock.

”Being inside you is divine,” he tells you gruffly, and you hum, slowly rising up. Pero’s seed starts to ooze out of your cunt, and he places a hand on your lower back, stopping you. You feel the tip of his cock against your folds, catching the cum that seems so cold when outside your body, and then he slides back in, pushing his cum back inside you with a whimper. You catch your lower lip between your teeth in a throaty exhale.

”Pero...”

”I know, my love, I just don’t want to waste it.”

He pulls you up and brings you against himself in a soft embrace, dry lips on your neck. Shivering from the overstimulation, he still doesn’t stop his slow movement inside you.

”Don’t want in anywhere but inside your juicy cunt...”

You moan again, wanton and shameless, like a bitch in heat.

”Then fuck it deeper, husband.”

[hanafubukki]

It is said the princess of dragons perished in this castle while protecting those who mattered most to her

Wouldn’t it be just as poetic? Just as ironic? For you to do the same?’

Faes and humans are not so different after all.

Both would do anything for those they love.

And this was your stance.

You would do anything for those you love.

For your husband and your son.

Why must they suffer for your foolish bloodline?

Why must they bear this heavy burden?

Your husband has done enough.

For you and your family.

So you cast a blessing.

A magic unknown to all, even your love.

The world has enough heroes and it will continue to have more.

But your family was yours.

The kingdom, nay, the world cannot ask your family for more.

They have done enough.

He has done enough.

So you cast your magic, it will be the end of you.

But it will save them.

May they wake in a world of peace.

As the magic you stored for so long engulfed you, you thought of the princess once again.

Was this what she had felt? A mother protecting her own.

How unfortunate that both races couldn’t get along due to the greed of a family member.

But maybe, just as how the princess wished for her son and loved ones to be safe and happy, so too would your family.

You smiled while looking at the sleeping visage of your husband and your son one last time.

Good Night, My Loves.

May you wake to a brighter world filled with love.

…I need to stop killing off the Knight of Dawn’s wife. 😅🥲

But you can’t blame me for this only! @the-knaves-world is at fault too, she knows exactly which quotes she recommended that influenced this story 🥺💔

I’ll make a happy Knight of Dawn x reader story soon🫡💞

[wannabepoeticischiya]

throughout the heavens and eternities

What will you have me be? What would you have me do? Who will you want me to become? Tell me, and I’ll do it. I’ll do it… if it gets you to stay. If I can have you even for a moment longer, I’ll do it. You only need to tell me, and I’ll make it so.

ao3: throughout the heavens and eternities pairing: dan feng x f! reader genre: angst, romance wc: 6.2k status: one shot

He forgets sometimes, when he looks at her.

When she laughs so freely that it chases away every ember of spite and resentment, blankets him in warmth for the winters to come. When she looks his way with all the affection the universe could offer, like there was nothing greater than him in her eyes. That the world just melts away when she smiles at him, when she takes his hand in hers and her presence envelops him in every possible way.

He forgets it all.

That just like the rest of these mortals… she, too, will pass.

Dan Feng was never one to take into consideration of the fleeting lives of humans. Fickle that they were. Weak in the nicest way, stupidly stubborn in the worst. Considerate and brave, selfish and cowardly. Quick to move on, so he sees. Fearful to those in power in times of peace. Defiant if they’re hurt or if the people they care for are threatened.

They love greatly. Unconditionally. There existed no greater love than that of the love of a mortal. They loved inordinately unlike those blessed with immortality who loved in multitudes.

Perhaps it all came down to their affairs with their painfully limited time. They make the most of what they got, never idling for too long. They settle with things that make them happy, they keep it, take care of it so they’ll last.

Mortals love who their heart desires. Even if that love isn’t returned, they remain because there’s this little flickering hope that maybe one day it will. They look for people who make them happy, keep them… and take care of them so they will last.

And Dan Feng was the luckiest unluckiest Vidyadhara to be at the receiving end of a mortal’s affection.

In the wake of moonlight, he found himself looking at her—seeing the years pass her by in the blink of an eye. Her sight wasn’t as perceptive as it was all those years ago, sometimes she’d even mistake the tall house plant in the corner of the room for him. It didn’t make him love her any less. Her hair that once shone so lustrously under the artificial heavens of the Luofu had dimmed to a faint glow. Still, he would catch her figure even amidst ten thousand people. Her skin that was once as smooth as the starskiffs that sail the skies was now blemished and wrinkled, marred by time’s unkind treatment.

Yet he loved her more and more each passing day.

In his eyes… she remained the most beautiful creature in the infinite cosmos.

Dan Feng has lived for a thousand years, and he knows that he would live for another thousand more. It was his fate, his destiny, and he has come to accept that a long, long time ago.

He’d spend his years walking through the seconds like the water of a flowing river, akin to how the stars move across the sky, like the hexafleet travels to the ends of the universe: effortlessly, seamlessly, never succumbing to the funny tricks of time… but she wouldn’t.

Every day that he falls deeper and deeper in his adoration for her, marching in parallel was the sickening reminder that she won’t live to see his love to the end—that unlike him, she was so painfully mortal.

Because he forgets. Amidst all this momentary happiness, he forgets… that she, too, will die… just like how mortals do.

For so long, it felt strange to him. How do humans take it? To live with all these memories knowing… they wouldn’t last.

To exist only to perish.

You will leave me. You will pass, as all mortals do. You came into my life with nothing but your love to offer… yet when you leave, you’ll be taking everything with you. Scattering the lands with reminders of your existence that it remains, even after your death, for all the eternities to come. That I’ll live under the heavens without you. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west and I’ll look to you, only to find you nowhere. Through every passing lifetimes, I’ll look for you—and look and look and look. In every corner, every world, every planet formation… I’ll look.

Still, I know—that I wouldn’t be able to find you… because the place you’d gone to was unreachable.

And no power in this long life of mine could change that.

What will you have me be? What would you have me do? Who will you want me to become? Tell me, and I’ll do it. I’ll do it… if it gets you to stay. If I can have you even for a moment longer, I’ll do it. You only need to tell me, and I’ll make it so.

Dan Feng found it hilarious. He could have annihilated fleets of soldiers, wiped away civilizations, spent eternity conquering it all. Tie a lasso around the moon, bottle every star in the cosmos, hang the constellations in the sky in her image. All for her. I’d give you the sun, if you asked me. I’d give it all up, if you asked me. I’d give you all of the time if I could.

And should the Aeons decide to divide the universe… I’d gladly give you mine.

Yet he remained powerless when faced with time.

He could have had all the things in the plane of existence, and he would still watch her die.

“What’s wrong, my love?”

Her voice shattered the silence of the night, illuminating the sorrow in his heart. Dan Feng could never truly hide his disposition from her, even if her eyes were failing her. It always seemed that her soul knows him far better than he knows himself. And it hurts more to know that one day, he’ll wake up alone on this bed, desperately denying that she just went out to get some water or start the day early, yet he knows otherwise…

“You’re crying…” She’d whisper, gently wiping away the tears that rolled over the bridge of his nose. He was never one to cry, the only time he did was when he married her.

“I don’t want you to go.” He admitted painfully, blanketing the hand that cradled his cheek in warmth with his own. “Please, don’t leave. Don’t go where I can’t follow.”

Of course, she knew, that her lover was asking for the impossible. She knew it all too well. There existed no moment in her life where the reminder of her transience didn’t come back to haunt her.

It was foolish to even begin to think it would be possible to live amongst a kingdom draped in eternity, whose citizens would live to see the end of time—acting as though she, herself, was capable of such a feat.

It was foolish yet deep in her heart, she always wanted it to be true. Perchance hoping that spending a lifetime beside him wasn’t such a far-fetched dream, after all. That she wouldn’t have to be forced to leave him, to depart when he wasn’t ready to let her go.  

But no amount of pretending could stop her from seeing the signs of her true nature.

No amount of laughter could cover the lines of age marring her face. No smile could wipe away the tricks of time, cover for all that she’d lost for every sun she sees. No declaration of love could turn back the seconds, take her back to a moment where she radiated brighter than the skies.

It didn’t matter if she was wife to their High Elder, if she served him well, loved him enough to last his entire lifetime—he would remain. Dan Feng will continue to live far longer after she has passed from the face of the planet. And even when he’s the last living entity to remember her name, she would never return. That he’d come to see many suns she could only dream of. See places she’d only seen in painted scrolls. Meet the many people that would come after her, maybe even share that space in his heart that she had once made a home of.

Her existence was as fleeting as the winter zephyrs. Nothing but a blink in their immortal lives. 

And that hurts.

To have met someone so perfect for you and still lose them.

He could have fought off wars, plagues, killers… yet he would still lose her. No matter what. Because as formidable as he is, Dan Feng could not stop the march of time.

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere…” She would assure, still, he knew otherwise… and Dan Feng was certain that she did, too.

“I’ll make a way. No matter the distance, I will find you.”

---

Yet the world remained unfair.

Because the laws won’t bend for two people who are in love. Time won’t stop for people who are in love. And fate doesn’t deter for those who are in love.

Dan Feng, guilty of an unpardonable sin.

“Jing Yuan! Please, I beg you.” A shrill cry cut through the chaos: desperate, tired, sad.

In light of past merit, the sentence shall be commuted to molting rebirth and eternal banishment.

When the general looked over his shoulder, there she was. The woman his dear friend sacrificed everything for. A thousand years’ worth of merit, power, and freedom, all for the immortality of a woman fated to die early.

“Please allow me to be with him.”

If he had no heart, Jing Yuan would have dragged her to the dungeons himself—chain her with her lover or better yet, have her carry the weight of the sin his dear friend paid in exchange for her life.

The Arbiter General would watch her succumb to insanity in the shackling prison, see how her mortal mind would fare against the curse they call immortality. If her love for him is as pure as she makes it out to be that she could withstand seeing everything else disappear while she remains… unchanging.

Jing Yuan wanted to, because who was she in comparison to the High Elder of the Vidyadhara? The honorable Imbibitor Lunae, Dan Feng… who had loved her more than life itself. More than freedom, more than glory… more than anything else the universe could offer. 

It was Dan Feng’s life for hers…

She is the only living monument to his sacrifice—a reminder of how he loved her so ardently that he would rather live in exile, forced to rebirth, than not have her in any life at all.

It was his life for hers.

And there was nothing in this universe that would make Dan Feng regret his choice.

She didn’t know how she could’ve stomached staying rooted to where she stood. Watching the soldiers take him away, putting him in chains like some sort of criminal.

For them, it was a heavy offense—to have wanted to live for a little longer because so it seemed, a life devoid of another was not a life worthy of living at all.

But they wouldn’t understand that. They never will. What use is the thought of loss among those destined to never succumb to it?

Dan Feng knew. It was taboo. Forbidden. Frowned upon by the Ten-Lords Commission—still, in his heart, her life was a treasure he’d suffer for just to keep.

“You don’t want a silent lover.” She remembers him saying these words the night she professed her love to him. Cradled under a thousand lanterns, a silly little mortal girl laid her heart open for him to break.

She figured that if it were to shatter to a thousand pieces because of him, then it’s fine. It would be alright. She’ll just pick up the pieces and live the rest of her days knowing her feelings reached him. It would be alright… eventually.

Even still, even as he knew that the two of them could never be—he remained hesitant to throw away the fervent affection she had so freely given to him.

“You shouldn’t.” Dan Feng was always quick to turn down all things fleeting that it always seemed like he’s got a stick shoved so far up his behind that it did all his talking for him.

But she remembers smiling at his words.

Sentiments plunged into the depths of the frozen seas yet were as gentle as the zephyrs sung in the vernal freshness of spring.

“You’re right.” She said, “I don’t want a silent lover.”

In the faintest slivers of silver light, she saw the reflection of his heart crack in those pools of sapphires. How strange, she thought back then. She was the one confessing… so why did he look so hurt when she accepted his unspoken rejection?

Dan Feng, no matter what point in his long life, could never truly find himself lying to her.

“I want you.”

And it was in that moment that he realized just how greatly mortals could love. How their love could never be measured. That they don’t cherish in ifs and buts, their affection is rooted in even ifs, and in spite ofs. If he would ask her ‘how long will you want me?’, ‘until when will you love me?’, he reckons that she won’t answer in lengths of time ‘for a thousand years, and a thousand more after that’, those words would never leave her mouth—and even if they did, they would be lies.

In the stutter of a breath, clear as the oceans of the waterscape, he saw the answers in her soft smile, etched upon her kind face, saturated in her gentle warmth. As long as you want me to.

“I want all of you. Your silence, your laughs, your smile. I want your touch, I want your soul, I want every second of your life—until you’d be sick of me, until you’re tired of me. There’s nothing under the heavens and through eternities I want more than you.”

Mortals love who their heart desires. Even if that love isn’t returned, they remain because there’s this little flickering hope that maybe one day it will. They love greatly. Unconditionally. There existed no greater love than that of the love of a mortal. They loved inordinately unlike those blessed with immortality who loved in multitudes.

“It’s true.” She whispers, albeit so faintly—tethered in every shade of hope, riddled in all the colors of acceptance for an answer yet to come. “I don’t long for a love blanketed in silence, my life is far too fleeting for such a luxury. But if stillness is where you are at peace—if it is all you have to offer, I’ll show you that I, too… am fluent in the language of silence.”

Dan Feng knew then that there will never be another creature that could rival her. No matter how long he’s lived, or he will live, there can never be another like her.

In this infinite vastness, how lucky was he… that she was right there, that she loved him of all people. In this space, in this rift in time… he had her, and she had him.

And in all the lives he’s lived, there was nothing that could compare to the happiness she’s brought to him.

Perhaps that’s why humans are fated for transience, that these glorious creatures are fated to die far earlier than the rest of the universe… so that they may never have a chance to fall from grace, that they may never suffer the horrors of eternity.

But Dan Feng tried to be greedy, once… just once.

For one mortal, for one human. Just once. Just this one time for his one love, for the one thing—one person he wanted more than anything. Only once did he ask the heavens a favor, this one time that he wanted to defy all else and choose the one person who made him whole.

Just one time… out the many times he could have taken it all, given it all up, but he didn’t.

Turns out, it only took his home one time, too… to forsake him. Have him stripped away from her and never to be seen.

Damned to rot in that godforsaken place until the ends of his days, moments in time that she dreaded to see—even when she was still hindered by the limits of her life.

Just one time, he wanted to selfish… and he is repaid in cruelty.

And the lover he gave his life for, descended into desperation at his loss… drowned in madness.

She remained in their home where he was most present, where his memories flourished, and with everything came him. Hell dressed in heaven’s clothing, because the General didn’t allow her to be anywhere else. Not on her deathbed nor the space beside her husband. A fitting punishment none would question.

A harsh slap to her face—a reminder that her life came at the price of his—that she was damned to a world without him. Forced to live a life Dan Feng had loved her in, fated to die in a universe he’d left her in.

Dan Feng’s demise reached her ears a few hundred years later.

He perished alone. In the depths of a cold dungeon. His soul lost amidst the stars.

And Jing Yuan would make it his life’s mission to shackle her into this world, never permitting her to die, forbidding her to leave.

Iterating the words over and over again, your life’s a blessing, a hard-fought, heavy-priced blessing, he would say it so much she began to believe he was doing it for his own sake. To remind himself that he could not kill her, that in doing so would anger his old friend, that it would render his sacrifice to ruin.

But she took one look at him, tired of all this suffering.

He would not let her leave, he would not let her die, and in doing so… he was not letting her live.

"Take a good look at me, General. See how the gift of life is when all else is gone."

Sunken eyes, dimmed to a fault. The woman she once was had long despaired at the loss of Dan Feng.

To be able to be with him until the end of his days was the sole purpose of her immortality. To have her live out the rest of eternities basking in his love, and him in hers.

Yet here she was, breathing in a world where all that she loves had ceased to exist.

Still, Jing Yuan would not relent.

In his head, he repeats the thoughts that if it hadn’t been for her, Dan Feng would still be alive. "He was my friend as well, don't tell me that it was only you who'd lost someone that day."

Angered and frustrated, she yelled at the white-haired man. "You have everything, General. How could you possibly fathom what it's like. For you, who's lived a thousand years before me and will live a thousand more after I've gone... what would you know? What do you know of how I feel? He was all that I have. He was everything. We were happy as we were, and you took him away. You passed the decree and watched them shackle him like a criminal, watched as they locked him up and took him away from me. You dare speak so brazenly about loss because you've never drowned in an ocean of it, lived your every waking moment with it following you around. I ask you again, look at me. See what life is like when everything has already gone."

Her words strike true.

Jing Yuan would never understand what it meant to lose someone, all the people he loved were as endless as the stars in the sky—yet it did not merit that none of them grew dim with time.

"What right did you have that it was deemed just for you to sacrifice countless of lives?"

In the wake of her grief, she broke through the shackling prison, mindlessly believing that its walls still held the lover she had lost a hundred years ago.

“Dan Feng, my love?” She’d whisper to the darkness as another body falls to the ground with loud thuds, lifeless. “I’m here… where are you?” The patters of her footfalls bounced from one bloodied prison cell to another.

“Let’s go home.”

“Dan Feng? The lanterns… I’ve seen them again. Come back to me… I beg you.”

“Please… don’t—don’t go where I can’t follow.”

‘The Mad Elder’, they call her. ‘The Weeping Widow’ was another. ‘Prison Breaker’ could have been one… if the person she set to free had not perished.

And for every reminder of her lonely soul, she took a life for it.

When she saw the empty chains, his cold cell, the remnants of his clothing—the only thing left of his existence—her screams echoed through the prison, falling desperately on her knees as she clutched the remainders of his life. Her breaths came in stutters as a waterfall of silver fell from her dimmed eyes.

Her fingers sunk into the cold concrete, clawing at it until her hands bled, as though it would help soothe the pain, to cease the never-ending darkness in her soul.

It never did.

"The lives of thieves! Don’t twist the truth.” She snarled.

“They were not yours to punish.” Jing Yuan spat back.

“And we were yours?” The woman scoffed, dragging a hand over her face as she looked to him with angered eyes brimmed with insanity. “What right did you have to take away our lives yet fight so valiantly to let sinners keep theirs?"

It wasn’t fair, she believed. "Did we not deserve to live, too, Jing Yuan? Were our lives nothing compared to the hundred thousand oath breakers that came before us?"

"They screamed for mercy!"

"And where were theirs’ when I begged for mine? For my husband's? For the two things I wanted to keep: him and his life! I asked for nothing more. No riches nor gold. Tell me, where was mercy when I asked for it?"

Jing Yuan had no words left to speak. He was tired, and she had reached the ends of her sanity.

“He’s never coming back.” He spat bitterly.

Those words tasted foul, a bitter truth that even now… he could still not bring himself to accept.

“That’s not true.” She shook her head in desperation, as though if she did it enough times, the General’s words would rescind, and she’d find her lover back home… back where he usually stays: on that bridge where she told him she loves him, the study, beside the window… anywhere, so long as she could find him.

Jing Yuan wanted to believe her words, that Dan Feng was not truly gone… that he was just out there, waiting to be found. He knew better…

The General raised his head to look at the crying woman, muttering endlessly to herself. Dan Feng. My love. The lanterns. Come back. Please. Don’t go. Don’t take him. Dan Feng. Come home. Where are you. I’m right here. I can’t find you. Come back. Don’t go.

“I’ll grant your request.”

Dan Feng is gone, he knew that. Jing Yuan knew that the moment he decreed his sentence. He knew better… but she didn’t.

“Go. Leave. Find him if you can, and when you do… don’t return. Live out the eternities far away from here.”

And after that, Jing Yuan never saw her again.

The only living monument to dear friend’s sacrifice—a reminder of how he loved her so ardently that he would rather live in exile, forced to rebirth, than not have her in any life at all. Dan Feng’s life for hers.

The woman the Arbiter General watched succumb to insanity in comforts of her home, saw how her mortal mind fared against the curse they call grief—to have been left in a world where another has gone.

Her love for him was as pure as she made it out to be that she couldn’t withstand seeing everything else disappear while she remains… unchanging.

Because what was the universe in comparison to the wife of the High Elder of the Vidyadhara? The honorable Imbibitor Lunae, Dan Feng… who had loved her more than life itself. More than freedom, more than glory… more than anything else the universe could offer. 

It was Dan Feng’s life for hers…

Because beyond her, nothing else was worth having.

She looked to the ends of the universe to find him, fragments of him scattered across the stars, pieces of him held by galaxies, even just the faintest warmth from the passing comets... anything. Because what cruelty had she made that it beckoned the heavens to punish her to live a life that promised solitude, a life stripped of happiness, live a long, lonely life devoid of him.

So, she scavenged the universe for magic that could bring him back, looked far and wide for a cure to her heartache, a cease to her sadness. A chance, a small inkling chance to feel his touch, a glimpse of his eyes, even a whisper of his voice.

There is a soul binder at the ends of the galaxy, find him and you will see your beloved again.

Fu Xuan was not one for lies yet she was not known for her truths either.

The soul binder she spoke of was the one the mad elder had sought, coincidentally stumbling—rather, piercing a sword straight through his chest.

"You fight good, lady!” He smiles, patting away the dirt that gathered on the base of his shoulders as though he had not just bled to death not a moment ago.

She looked to the man beside the once dead opponent, watching as he finished chanting a mumbled prayer before taking a huge swig of his liquor.

"How..." She breathed, stumbling closer to where the two of them struggled to their feet.

She’s seen countless of madness in this long, unfortunate life of hers. A talking trash can, ghosts of the past, the collision of galaxies, stars dying, a dragon—but not such sorcery as what he had done.

"Whoa there, lady. You're from the Alliance, aren't ya?" The man found his footing, blinking a couple of times to get the haze of death out from his eyes.

"For someone who's lived with immortals this sure seems like a party trick, yeah? No need to feign amazement. How many times has my friend here brought me back? Was it six? Seven?"

Friend? Was it not he who they call soul binder?

"Eight.”

She looked to the one who spoke, a gentle soothing tone so it seemed: the drunkard who muttered the enchantments.

How could such a foolish man hold that much power?

Perhaps he saw the accusation in her eyes, still… he was kind enough to ignore it.

“First was the Herrscher who threw you straight through an asteroid. Then you got stabbed by the local drunk. Assassinated for not paying your debts, his head was cut clean off, you see. Another was a spear right through the chest. The swordsman from Xianzhou a few decades back, the one with the white hair. Then his friend came to smooth things over, but you attacked him, that's General Jing Yuan now, I believe. And then the High Elder Vidyadhara because you looked at his wife funny and now..."

Before the man could finish his words, his friend’s joyous tune cut his thoughts short.

"That's a lot of people from where you hail, missy. You'd think I'd learn after getting my life taken from me by one of them. Seems I got a knack for baiting them lot from Xianzhou." He laughs boisterously, like the matter of his life getting swiped from under his nose was a hilarious story fit for every stranger he passes.

His friend thought otherwise. The man who brought the laughing fellow took a good look at the woman who stood before them, quite possibly assessing the magic behind it all.

She remained unchanging in her behavior, still so stiffly holding onto her weapon. But her eyes shone with a flicker of hope, dim, faint in the kindest words... yet it was there, fighting desperately against the ties holding them in the depths of her soul.

Then he realized.

Amidst all the chaos, he was bound to forget. It had happened so long ago, and he was fortunate enough to have taken hold of that memory before it slipped. Still, he questioned how he could have, when he fought every star and sacrificed his very life to try and bring back his friend.

He elbowed the joyous man in his gut, hitting the spot where a spear was once tangled in his guts.

"Ow! What the hell—"

The same friend who was sent to the borders of death…

"You're the wife of the High Elder, aren't you?"

…by the Vidyadhara High Elder.

Wife… of you, my love. How long has it been since someone has last called me that? Since you had called my name. I don’t want to admit it, and I think I’d die if I ever do—but it hurts.

My love… it hurts.

I don’t remember you anymore. Not your face, not your voice… not even your touch. Still, I know that you’re the only one I have ever wanted yet, you were taken away from me.

And all the time in the plane of existence couldn’t fill the hole you left behind.

"How did you bring him back?" The woman ignored his question, eyes remaining on the man who, not nearly ten minutes ago was sprawled on the floor swimming in his blood, and now was overflowing with joy as though he had never been struck in the first place.

Her voice came in gentle whispers, at first. Yet when the two strangers remained silent, her voice took on desperation. "Tell me this instant! How did you get him back!"

"Tell me!"

"You're the Mad Elder." There was no joy in his words, how could he bring himself to laugh when this woman was the reason he nearly kicked the bucket after cheating death six times.

"How did you bring him back!" The woman took hurried steps towards the two men, pointing the blood-stained sword in their direction, eyes laden with the frenzied desire to know what sorcery could resurrect the dead.

It was him. The man who could bring it all back. The one told among the galaxy to have magic that could defy the laws of the Aeons. Spoken so highly of by Fu Xuan. The trickster who she would pay his weight in gold if he could help her.

“Please, we mean no harm.” They yielded, fearful of her wrath and that of the man whom they’ve yet to know was the reason for her unyielding tenacity—the one who had already perished a long time ago.

Her heart ached at the reminder of his memory. The way he must have stood above these younglings many moons ago because they dared to disrespect her, to taint her honor—that he’d be damned if he let anyone shame her. He was always so uptight, that one. His entire presence demanded attention, and the mention of his name could have armies scurrying back to whence they came.

How wretched of her to sow fear into their hearts with the seeds of her lover’s legacy.

"Could you bring back a man who lost his soul?” She asks softly, lowering her weapon, hearing it graze the stoney path.

“I don't need you to bring him back eight times.”

For so long she dug up the universe in search for magic that could bring him back. Looked far and wide for a cure to her heartache, a cease to her sadness. A chance, a small inkling chance to feel his touch, a glimpse of his eyes, even a whisper of his voice.

“Just once."

Just once, and it would be enough. Once, just one time… not ten nor twenty… please, just one time.

The man looked at her in sorrow like there could exist no other creature as unfortunate as her, that he wouldn’t wish her life on his or anyone else.

Because to live in a world where another has gone, is a fate far crueler than death.

He spoke no words, yet she knew his silence meant no. And that alone answered all the questions in her head.

She felt tears pooling in her eyes. How long has it been, truly? To have been faced with the grueling reality that he was long gone. Dan Feng. Far beyond the hands of any magic. Out of reach from even the greatest of spells.

Seems that the Arbiter General was right.

Dan Feng is gone.

And he was never coming back.

No matter how many times she circled this infinite universe over and over and over again, she would never find him.

And no power in all the cosmos could ever change that.

---

So why is she met with a man who looked so much like him?

His eyes were as bright as the skies of a Xianzhou she knew so well, as sharp as the blades that she used to cut all those who threatened to hurt him. His hair that fell like an obsidian waterfall over his slender figure. Horns that stretched far above the horizons of his forehead, as though they wanted nothing but to reach the heavens above.

And for what seemed like an eternity underneath the heavens, the voices in her head grew silent, speaking in the language he knew oh so well.

But his soul was different.

Her eyes might deceive her, shown her this creature bearing the same face to soothe her spiralling grief. He might have the same features—the mirror image of a man she knew once upon a time… but now, her heart knew better.

Yet it did not stop its traitorous orchestra, a hymn of joy… a song for peace for a love once lost, now found.

After all these years, no matter how many people I meet, the suns that have passed me by... I still love you.

“I’m not him.”

His voice shattered the silence of twilight, illuminating the sorrow in her heart.

Of course, she knew that.

More than anyone else could ever fathom. She knew that. Above all else, that much… she understood.

She was always an open palm for him to read, even if his memories of her were long gone. It always seemed that his soul knows her far better than she knows herself.

And it hurts more to know that this time, she’ll wake up alone on their bed, finally coming to terms that he was never coming back, that looking for him in this man was pointless because he doesn’t exist anymore.

You left me. You passed… quite strange a thing for someone like you to do. You came into my life with nothing but your love to offer… yet when you left, you took away everything with you. Scattering the lands with reminders of your existence that it remains, even after your death, for all the eternities to come. That I’ll live under the heavens without you. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west and I’ll look to you, only to find you nowhere. Through every passing lifetime, I’ll look for you—and look and look and look. In every corner, every world, every planet formation… I’ll look.

At the end of the day, when I reach a standstill, I’ll know—that I wouldn’t be able to find you, not in him or in anywhere else in this infinite nothingness because the place you’d gone to was… unreachable.

And no power in this cursed long life of mine could change that.

But what will you have me be? What would you have me do? Who will you want me to become?

Tell me, and I’ll do it.

I’ll do it… if it gets you to come home.

If I can have you even for a moment longer, I’ll do it.

You only need to tell me, and I’ll make it so.

She found it hilarious. The galaxy could have fallen, stars fading in the wake of her grief, spent eternity collecting the dust to reform him. Tie a lasso around the suns, bottle every planet in the cosmos, hang the constellations in the sky in his image. All for him.

I’d give you the cosmos, if you asked me. I’d give it all up, if you asked me. I’d give you all of the time if I could—even just a little bit of it, if I could.

And should the Aeons decide to divide the universe… you could have mine.

“He’s gone.”

She knew that better than anyone.

But if you came to me, with a face I have not seen… a voice… I had not heard, a touch I have yet to feel.

I would still know you.

Even if lifetimes separated you from me, I would still feel you.

Somewhere out there, throughout the heavens and eternities, between the constellations and stardust, in every rebirth and reform, in death and destruction… know that once upon a time, there existed you and me.

I was writing this while making a script for a report >< and I had to type very carefully to make sure I didn't accidentally make writing progress on the wrong document 😭 buuuut, here's my year-long grief of not getting imbibitor lunae on his first run in hsr (I quit because of that 👹) This is longer than my case study 💀

if you get the references in this, I love you (that series has broken my heart to a thousand pieces)