#i tried to convey that she appreciates the flowers but she just

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#35: The Buildup (1.04)

gif cred: @perryabbott

This moment. This moment. This moment. Where to even begin? Let's just start by saying - hottest scene ever. 🔥❤️‍🔥🔥 When Richonne get back to that apartment there’s a whole stretch where they don’t do any talking...but yet they still have some very riveting communication 👌🏽...

They seriously tried to send me up into the afterlife with this whole moment, but it’s okay, I forgive them and thank them profusely. 😋

Y'all, I adore the way this pivotal, palpable, and incredible depiction of intimacy plays out. And the mind of Danai to turn both this buildup moment here and the love-making scene into something so deep and layered. Genius. 👏🏽👑

Rick and Michonne returning to this level of intimacy with each other for the first time in almost eight years was already going to make it pertinent to the plot and a purposeful development in the story - but for Danai to be of the mindset that she didn’t just want to stop at pertinent but instead communicate something profound and emotionally complex with Richonne's lovemaking moment. She deserves every flower for the thoughtfulness put into this. 💐

And TOWL in general was Andy and Danai getting to display their talent and chemistry to the max but from this moment on they broke the damn dial with the way they turned the volume all the way up on their talent and chemistry. 🙌🏽 🔉

source: @ririchonne

Genuinely, not even being hyperbolic, what was captured in the following passionate events feels out of this world and so of course when reveling over it I have to be...

This whole buildup moment in the apartment before Richonne heads to the bed is the hottest part for me. 🔥 The amount of tension and desire that they convey is crazy good. Richonne's hunger for each other is just visceral and it's like you can almost tangibly feel the way they're burning up for each other. ❤️‍🔥

So Rick and Michonne make it back to the apartment and we know adrenaline rushes really help set the mood for Richonne so the sexual tension in the air is thick immediately.

They’re both just breathing hard and then the temp controller chimes in to welcome them home again which I love. 😊 And this time they really are about to come home to each other in a sense.

gif cred: @nat111love

Like Michonne came really close to leaving but now that events have led them right back to each other in this apartment I feel like the thermostat is trying to get Richonne's attention like ‘hello, y’all are home to each other.’

Michonne is standing a bit ahead of Rick and looking around...and Rick ain’t looking anywhere but at her. Like homeboy is fixated. I feel like even if a dang meteor could be seen plummeting from that big window Rick wouldn’t peel his eyes off Michonne in this moment. 😋

I think after coming close to losing her several times in the last hour he’s a bit more aware of how much he needs to appreciate that she’s here with him. 

Michonne lifts up her sleeve a little because I think she can fully sense this hungry man behind her and what's on his mind (and her mind too.👌🏽)

gif cred: @nat111love

And the temp controller says, “Temperature control malfunction” and that’s probably because the temperature is already record levels of hot with Richonne's sexual tension permeating the air like this lol. 🥵

Rick slowly approaches her and Michonne slowly turns to him as they get up close and personal. The way Richonne can communicate without words, I feel like a whole lot gets said in their eye contact and kisses during this wordless sequence. 

gif cred: @nat111love

Also, I like how this scene parallels when Rick and Michonne were first in front of each other with the PRB earlier in this episode.

During that PRB moment, Rick was looking at Michonne like 'I know what we want to do but we can’t. ' And then now here when they've returned to the apartment he’s looking at her like 'I know what we want to do and we must.' They're starving and they can’t resist anymore.

Honestly, whenever Rick is within kissing distance from Michonne he looks like her presence consumes his mind and those inner magnets make it near impossible to not just lean in every time.

Also, I always get reflective of Richonne's overall journey and I just love how Rick and Michonne really went from this to this.

A love story for the ages. 🤩

So Rick looks down, mouth all open, and just again transfixed as he slowly reaches out his hand to touch her. One thing I love about this buildup moment is the slowness of everything. 😊 Like every movement takes its time.

And it makes sense that Rick is moving at a slower pace here because he’s trying to see if it’s okay to initiate all this after everything they just went through. But while the movement is slow, his heart looks like it's racing rapidly as he becomes pretty much intoxicated by her.

gif cred: @nat111love

...And Michonne can’t resist, y’all. 🤭 Like she knows she’s technically supposed to still be mad at Rick after the awful things he’s said but it quickly becomes clear that she misses him even more than she’s mad at him. 🥲

gif cred: @nat111love

And she misses all of him, including the parts she has yet to reunite with…but that’s soon about to change.

gif cred: @nat111love

Rick slowly puts his hand on her arm and she doesn’t pull away. And then Rick looks in her eyes like he hasn’t had a good glass of water in 1000 years and Michonne is the only woman that can quench him. Like the yearning in his look was really something.

gif cred: @nat111love

And then, y’all I thought it was laundry day the way our girl Michonne proceeds to fold. 😋 And of course, she folds. That's her baby and the love of her life and she hasn’t been able to be with him like this in years so...

Before Rick leans in for the first kiss, he’s already in the process of winning her over cuz she leans in a little first basically letting him know she does want this. It was giving magnets when she did that. 🧲👌🏽 

And her super subtle lean-in is all Rick needs to finally fully lean in and kiss her and I love Richonne’s slow single kisses. 😊 So far in TOWL they’ve been understandably ravenously making out and so this moment stands out for how much they let each kiss breathe a little. It’s so good.

gif cred: @nat111love

But also y’all, when I first watched this, knowing this is def building up to their first TOWL sex scene, I was sounding a lot like Nat. Cuz I was looking at Michonne like, “Sis...

I just wanted to be sure Michonne was going to be making love with her Rick and not the Sergeant Major who's been saying hurtful things and still hasn't asked anything about RJ.

Plus, I had a feeling Rick still had a little audacity left in his system and wasn’t yet going to agree to go home with her. (And that ended up being correct 🙃)…But look, it’s been a long time and so Michonne was like we’ll address all that later. 😅

gif cred: @kimwexlersponytail

So Rick kisses her once and then leans to the other side as Michonne puts her hand on his face, letting Rick know she doesn't want him to stop. They kiss a second time with a little more lingering on that kiss as things slowly but surely ramp up.

When they pull away Michonne looks at him like she maybe has 1% left in her that remembers she’s still supposed to be mad. The other 99% of her just longs for him.

gif cred: @msanonships

And then that 1% disappears into thin air during this next kiss and it’s my favorite part. 😊

Cuz Rick proves that it may have been some years but he still knows his wife and knows what gets her going because, while they don’t fully show it, you can tell that he definitely seems to have reached down to her derrière and that’ll do it for her, honey. 😋

gif cred: @fishalthor

Cuz when he does that and pulls her in closer to him, he has Michonne inhaling hard and fully leaning into that third hungry kiss. At that moment I was like...annnnd he got her. He got her and she ain’t mad no more. It worked like he knew it would. 😊

It’s also probably his first time even really being able to touch her like that since again those layers of clothing in previous eps were sort of a barrier.

There seems to be a consistent thing set up that her grabbing his hair gets him activated and as her husband, he definitely knows that grabbing her backside gets her activated...and him too lol. I think Michonne’s presence in general just gets Rick activated. Every part of her is a feast to him. 👌🏽

gif cred: @msanonships

And that last kiss just felt like they were about as ready to be intimate as they've ever been. After all that pulling each other closer in the previous kisses of this miniseries, this was the moment of them wanting to be as physically connected as possible and now they finally had the space to be.

Interestingly, they film a lot of this kissing moment where you mostly see Michonne’s response to Rick. I think that’s because she’s the one having to make the decision right now on whether she’ll let him in after everything he's said and done. And um I think her decision is clear.

gif cred: @msanonships

It's great how Rick is the one person who can make Michonne let go and get fully lost in the moment no matter what else is going on. And you know she has that same effect on Rick too. 👌🏽

I love how locked in they both get with that third kiss and how they turn things up a notch with it.

Those three kisses were communication. And, on top of them both communicating 'I need you and want you bad' in each kiss, the way I interpret the wordless conversation is that the first kiss was like Rick expressing, “I’m glad you’re okay and that you’re back” after the whole Michonne walking out and then later getting trapped by that chandelier stuff.

gif cred: @nat111love

Then that second kiss felt like Rick expressing, "I'm sorry" and Michonne receives that unspoken apology even tho when she looks at him there's a part of her that feels like there's still a lot for them to address and resolve.

gif cred: @lousolversons

And then y'all, to me Rick's little reach down with the third kiss was him saying, “Can I make it up to you?” And honey, Michonne's response said she'll definitely let him.

gif cred: @lousolversons

So then they really want to turn it up a notch when Rick proceeds to pick Michonne up. And clearly he’s done this before because Michonne is ready for it, and I love the way they just seamlessly transition into this. 😍

One thing I never questioned is if Rick would feel anxious about loving on Michonne with one hand. I knew that man would be like as long as I’m breathing that’s all I need to find a way.

gif cred: @nat111love

So Rick picks her up with ease and he’s basically just like 'alright you’re coming with me' and Michonne is like yes I am lol. And I also adore how even once he picks her up they immediately go right back to passionately kissing. The way these two fervidly desire each other is always 👩🏽‍🍳💋.

And I, of course, have to reflect on the overall journey once more because I just love that we went from Rick picking Michonne up on Day One of meeting each other as strangers, to now Rick picking Michonne up as husband and wife ready and eager to express their love in a way they haven't been able to in a long time.

gif cred: thewalkingdeadgifs/@msanonships

Seeing Rick and Michonne just get to operate fully in their husband and wife energy here was great to see. 👏🏽 They crave each other deeply and this scene captured that perfectly. ❤️‍🔥

The way their electrifying kisses slowly ramped up, it was clear that now that Rick and Michonne finally had the chance to reconnect in a way that they hadn't been able to with each other, nor allowed themselves to with anyone else, for several years, there was no way they were gonna just stop at these kisses here.

gif cred: @lousolversons

So y’all, this scene alone was already so hot it could break a temperature controller...but then the steamy sensual vibes continue. And as Richonne is finally intimate for the first time in years, the deep, passionate, and emotional moment is, in every way, a roller coaster ride. 🎢 😌👌🏽

[littlebittyhollowbugs]

I will never love any interpretation of Ghost, Hollow and Hornet more than I love the interpretation of them being ultimately good, fighting for peace for everyone around them, caring deeply for Hallownest (or what remains of Hallownest at least) and caring deeply for each other and peace for their family at last.

I love kind Ghost.

Ghost who goes out of the way to gift flowers to lonely bugs.

Ghost who will rescue Zote whenever given the opportunity, without thanks or any form of reward.

Ghost who rescues grubs because they are trapped and crying to be freed.

Ghost who despite having limited ability of expression, will find some way to convey appreciation for others. (Sitting beside them. Listening to them talk or sing. Bowing out of respect.)

Ghost who is excited when in the company of good friends.

Ghost who spares the life of the nailsmith.

Ghost who mourns the loss of those fallen.

Ghost who eventually remembers their past, remembers being abandoned by their sibling, and still chooses to fight, to do everything that it takes, to free the hollow knight. To put an end to their suffering. To take Hollow's place, or to die.

There is no reward for this. There is nothing to gain. Ultimately Ghost is willing to suffer forever or to die in order to give others peace.

Ghost makes many many mistakes, and can make selfish or reckless decisions, but ultimately, Ghost is forgiving and loving.

I love Hollow who genuinely wants the people of Hallownest to be at peace. (Ironically just wanting that alone made it impossible for Hollow to grant them that peace.

But still, Hollow wants that.)

Hollow who loves Hallownest. Who loves their father and who loves his kingdom.

Hollow who is relentless in protecting it. Who would suffer for over a hundred years protecting whatever there is that can possibly be saved.

Hollow who has had the radiance influencing it all that time. The radiance who hates the king, who hates his people. Who tried to convince it to hate them to.

Hollow who loves them regardless.

Who feels empathy for everyone. Who understands their suffering more than anyone and wants nothing more than for them to have peace.

Hollow who, after finally being freed, chooses to live a kind life. To be understanding and gentle.

Who has every right to be bitter and angry and closed off, but who, after finally receiving the opportunity to live, to actually live, chooses to find everything good left in the world that they fought so hard for.

Hollow who learns to love openly and to no longer be afraid.

Hollow who is eventually excited to be able to express love in small ways.

Hollow is stalwart and just. But kind.

Hornet who, despite everything that she went through, despite losing so much, nearly everything, continues to stand and to fight for life because it still matters to her.

Hornet who fights to honor those that she lost, especially her mother.

Hornet who is hesitant to be hopeful, but is hopeful anyway.

Hornet who is hesitant to form any friendships out of fear that she will lose them, But who longs for friendship, for family..

Hornet who is proud of her siblings, who loves them despite not wanting to, who feels guilt knowing that the fate of the kingdom must rely on them.

Hornet who will rush in to assist her siblings in their final battle, knowing that she may very well die.

Hornet who, after given the opportunity to be with her siblings again, wants nothing more than to help them heal. For them all to heal.

Hornet who loves and is loved in return.

Ghost and Hollow who love, and are loved in return.

A little broken family that understands each other, understands that nothing that happened to any of them was fair, and who forgive each other, who love each other because after all this time..

They finally can.

Not one of them is without their (sometimes severe) flaws. Not one of them isn't damaged after everything that has happened.

And still they choose love.

This quote by Mary Shelley captures my interpretations of the siblings perfectly.~

"Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it”

[cherrieflavouredheadcanons]

Relationship headcanons for Clorinde? 🥺 I need more Clorinde in my life 😭🫶

Due to her not having much screen time yet, this may end up being OOC after later genshin updates but oh well. I hope you enjoy these!

CW: none GN Reader

Clorinde relationship headcanons

Sadly due to her position as both champion duelist and Furina’s bodyguard she is often away from home and you. Of course you understand that she has very important work, so you aren’t angry with her. You knew what you were getting into when you started dating her, yet she always feels a pang of guilt when she has been away from you for a while.

It’s hardest for her to leave for her job in the mornings. You and Clorinde are cuddled together in bed, holding each other close. She loves the feeling of having you in her arms, but she has to get up early so she can fulfil her duties. Due to just how early she has to wake up she lets you sleep, unless you distinctly tell her that she should wake you up so you can get ready for the day together.

You sometimes go to places where you know Clorinde will be due to her job as Furina’s bodyguard just so you can see her. Of course you don’t disturb her work, you just try to catch her eye and wave at her so she can see you. She always appreciates it, it may not be a big gesture for many others, but to her it showed that you wanted to see her, even if she couldn’t interact with you. 

Someone who does not know her that well may not see it, but you do see the small smile that forms on her lips during these moments. It’s one of the reasons you do it. 

Now you best believe that once she finally has off days, she makes sure to spend them with you as much as you want. She still wakes up rather early, but she lets you sleep longer as she tries to make breakfast. Sadly…she isn't that good of a cook. Clorinde can make amazing coffee and tea if you drink that but when it comes to food and not beverages…she is terrible. But she tries her best, both in cooking and not setting the house on fire. 

You of course always appreciate her efforts, though you can’t help but tease her a bit. It's not malicious in any way, it's just so you can see the light blush on her face that she won’t admit is actually there, even if she can feel the warmth on her face.

Clorinde is not someone who is verbally affectionate, she feels words fail in describing the emotions she feels for you. So she lets her actions show what she truly feels. Be it holding your hand as you walk through the streets of Fontaine, buying you flowers after she hasn’t been able to spend time with you for a while, or just simply lying on the couch, with you resting your head on her chest as her arms wrap around you. She feels these moments convey her feelings better than any words ever could.

Though holding hands in public is as far as she will go with PDA, she has an image to uphold after all. When you two are alone though, Clorinde loves to pull you into kisses. Her kisses always faintly taste of coffee, but not of a bitter kind, rather a sweet kind where you’d hardly even guess it was coffee. She is practically addicted to the feeling of your lips against hers, so if you will allow it she will pull you into kisses whenever she can.

She would never admit it, but she loves it when you wear her clothes, be it if they are too big or small or fit you perfectly. Something about seeing you in her clothes gives her this warm fuzzy feeling in her chest. If she could she would let you wear her clothes out in public, but alas her job and image would not allow that.

Please play with her hair and give her massages. Clorinde is a stressed woman, so feeling you card your fingers through her hair, or massaging her shoulders gently will have her melt into you. It is as if all the stress that has been on her shoulders falls off and she is able to fully relax in this moment with you. You are sure that if she were a cat she would be purring in these moments.

All in all, while Clorinde may not be the most openly affectionate lover, she is a gentle one that makes sure that you know how she feels about you. You are her home, her safe haven, and she will make sure that you are protected from any danger you may face. The thought of you ever being hurt scares her, so she makes sure it is not going to happen anytime soon. (Future possible Clorinde angst headcanon? Who knows)

[mytyldotwav]

FREEEEEEEESIAAAAAAA

Freesia is a song from Guilty Gear XRD. But it could have been released in Strive and still hit just as fucking hard. That's because it's applicable to multiple aspects of the story.

Sol Badguy is one of the most powerful characters in the GG universe. At least, he's in the top 10 (probably??). Despite that, he's a grown man who is a grief-stricken mess and has questionable direction to his life.

In my opinion, this song is best interpreted as coming from Frederick. Not Sol, the Badass god-like gear that has saved the world on several occasions. Frederick Bulsara, the man that lost everything important to him.

The start of Freesia is someone reaching out to Frederick. Because really? Frederick does a lot of brooding and self-isolation. He wouldn't reach out to someone otherwise. His head isn't in the clouds, it's in space, drifting aimlessly amongst the stars.

But everything is fine, Frederick says. There's enough air for at least 2 people where he's at, and he's alone. So everything is ok. Frederick, or more accurately, Sol, has everything he needs. He's achieved great feats normal humans only could dream of achieving. He's reached greater heights than anyone ever has, and yet? Something is still missing.

There's enough air for 2 people up there. Boundless information. Wisdom beyond that of any normal human. But there's enough air for 2 people. And he knows why, but he can't bring himself to say it.

"The whole world is kind to me"

Yes, Sol has reason to be happy. Everyone has rewarded him for saving the world. Everyone appreciates what he has done in some way, and every day brings fresh start. The world has been ushered into a new era of peace; but there's someone missing. But Frederick can't bring himself to tell anyone what it is.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry..."

It'd be ungrateful for him to imply something was missing, or that something could be wrong. Sol apologizes, but laments his cowardice.

This next portion feels more like Frederick reaching out, or at least telling someone in passing about how miserable he is:

"The world may crumble down with just one piece missing"

Now, he is (to the best of his ability) trying to be genuine and honest about how life's trials have affected him. Frederick is saying that if he can't get that one thing back, if he can't reach his goals, why continue? Without this thing he's been pursuing for DECADES, actually being obtainable, his life has no purpose. He's just a shell of a man looking for comfort in the past.

This is where the dam breaks. This is where Frederick and Sol's lives converge into one. Frederick Bulsara is Sol Badguy and vice versa. He can't pretend that his reasons for fighting and living don't come from a place of loss and pain. He's not just bounty hunting for money, not just traveling the world because he can. His emotional strength isn't there because he's fixed all of his problems. His experiences have made him physically stronger, but mentally? He's exhausted and desperate for rest. Everything he has done up to this point has been for Aria Hale. But if she's gone, everything falls apart. There is no point.

That's why the song is named Freesia. A Freesia is a flower from South Africa that is commonly seen at weddings. They typically convey deep trust, friendship, thoughtfulness and sometimes purity.

And then the line hits. You know the one.

This moment in the song is an outburst of love, both platonic and romantic. This is the moment where Sol can't hide that he's still Frederick. He's still human. And damn it, he still loves that woman-- as Aria or Jack-O.

"Here I am" is a resignation. He tried ignoring the emotions building up inside of him for so long, neglected his humanity, acted as nothing but a weapon for so long, and he is tired. The mask falls off. He is finally allowing himself to be vulnerable and honest with the world.

Sol isn't proud of it.

He shouldn't have isolated himself for so long.

He shouldn't have lied about his emotions.

He shouldn't have pushed so many kind people away.

If he had done those things, maybe there would be less blood on his hands. Maybe he would have lived a more normal life.

But he knows that's not true. Aria meant too much to him. Sol would still miss her as desperately, even if he continued down a different path.

Yes, he had reasons to feel the things he felt. But at the same time, there were also so many people willing to help him start again. and he sees it now, as clear as day. Aria had been his world for so long. But he was missing so many beautiful things because of it. Frederick had spent so much time trying to save Aria that he became single minded in his endeavor. It led him to become isolated. It kept him from living his own life and that's what Aria wanted for him so badly. She didn't want to weigh on his mind, she wanted the happy memories of them to help Frederick continue living.

So the apologies tumble out again for the last time.

Frederick was surrounded by, and floating through galaxies. Worlds of people surrounded him and yet everything was touch and go. A passing greeting. A quick handshake. Knowing glances. He had recognition, respect, power, and yet, when the fight was over? Sol would leave it all behind again and move back to Aria. But that isn't what she would have wanted.

Reading through the lyrics, I initially thought Frederick was saying that he couldn't protect or save Aria, and that was what the final line meant. But I believe that's not the whole message. Frederick wasn't able to prove himself to Aria: Sol didn't keep living on like she wanted him to. He forgot her final wishes in his grief, and for the first time, he sees that. Now, finally, Frederick is ready to fulfill them.

• ○ ● Thanks for reading! ● ○ ●

[haru-natsuka]

The fate (Anastacius x Female Reader x Claude)

Chapter 4 : An angel

Pain was not something he was not familiar with whether it is in physical or emotional form. He was hated by the empress and his own father. His bestowed name was proof of it. His body was hurting so much and whatever he tried to do, it just never went away. This is it, maybe his body had finally given up to fight and yet he received help to let him survive. He could barely open his eyes but he recognised that radiant light shine in front of him. Claude, for the first time, witnessed an angel...

Female reader will be named as Celestrial

I know it is Athy but let's pretend for this to be Claude😌

After three days Celestial passed out, only then did she regain consciousness. Ethan, her personal bodyguard did convey to her that the crown prince kept on visiting her every day as whenever he had free time, he would stay by her side the entire time. Might be out of responsibility as she did help Claude before. He even wanted to call for the royal physician but Ethan never let him, which was a great decision as no one should know the power she held. It might be used as her weakness one day.

Celestial woke up and the only person accompanying her was her bodyguard and the crown prince still yet not paid her a visit due to his tight schedule for the day. It was not like she wanted to meet him anyway as she desired to do the opposite. She wanted to avoid the endless question about her power or what she did for Claude. No, she never wanted to share the information at all. She did save the second prince out of humanity and sympathy so the other side should only be grateful right?

With a new set of floral dress that just reached up to her knees, the princess went to the garden filled with a field of white flowers which happens to be part of the view of her room. She laid down on the ground where the height of the flower was enough to cover her tiny body. Somehow, the scent from the white flowers were followed by the scent of serenity. Having time for yourself sometimes was just a good feeling to have. Celestial closed her eyes to appreciate the cozy warmth of the sun more which unconsciously drove her to the dreamland.

Although the princess fell asleep, she still had a high sense of her surroundings. Being born royal just turns you to be alert of your surroundings in case danger would approach even if Ethan would always be around her. It is just better to be as careful and cautious as possible. Therefore, when she heard a rustling sound near her, her pair of violet eyes immediately opened, only to find someone was staring back at her.

The intruder bore the same crystal blue eyes of the royals as Prince Anastacius. Celestial almost thought it was the second prince if it was not for the braid hair. The doe eyes of the person in front of her keep staring back at her like she was scanning her entire being. Was there another illegitimate child of the emperor? An abandoned princess perhaps?

"Angel..." The child whispers quietly as her hands reach out for Celestial's face. Her fingertips caress the cheek part lightly as she admires the said angel who appeared to be around the same age as her. As if she was finally out of her trance, she pulled back her hand in flustered.

"I'm sorry for being so rude. Forgive me"

"It's fine though. I don't mind, princess" Celestial sat up so the girl had no need to look down at her and yet as their gaps became closer, the little girl tried to back away from her. It looked like she wanted to run away from Celestial but at the same time she wanted to stay. This little girl had low self esteem and there was only a way to approach someone like this.

"Your braids look so pretty. Does the maid do it for you?" Complimenting someone's appearance was the best way to boost the confidence of others. Celestial compliment was never a lie as indeed she admired the little girl's cute looks. She always loved anything that was cute looking in her eyes and this girl was one of them.

"No, it's my bro-" The little girl averted her eyes to the side as she fiddled with her fingers while trying to communicate with Celestial. Her words were cut short when another intruder came into the place. The person who the Selene's princess tried to avoid from.

"Claude, you are running too fast and it's good to see you again, Princess Celestrial." The crown princess lightly jogged to join the two.

"Same goes for me, Prince Anastacius." Celestial greeted the prince back out of politeness as in truth, she just wanted to hide herself or her effort to avoid the prince today would be in vain. She could only hope he would not mention it at all. The little girl from before hid herself behind Anastacius as she peeked her head a bit to look at Celestial.

"Now, Claude. Dont be shy to greet the princess. She is kind, I assure you." Anastacius tried to persuade his little brother to introduce himself by changing the position of him and his brother so his brother would be in front of him.

"This is your brother? I mistaken him for your sister for a while there, Prince Anastacius"

"Is it because of his hair? I played with my mana before and tried to style it but somehow it turned into braids and princess, in this kingdom there is only both of us. Claude, I will change your hair back to normal." Anastacius explained the situation.

"No, I don't want to. I would like to keep it." Claude distanced himself with his brother a bit so his older brother could not change his new hair style.

"Don't you hate it? You even run away because you are mad at me."

"Not anymore..." Bashfully he uttered the words while sneekly glances back at the princess.

"Let it undone by itself then. Now, Claude, introduce yourself to the princess."

"Greetings, Princess Celestrial. I'm the second prince of Obelian...." There was a long pause as the little brother was contemplating his decision to tell her his name. He was very embarrassed of his own name as it did not share the meaning as great as Anastacius, instead his name meant something to be looked down to, crippled.

"...Claude de alger Obelia. Nice to meet you. You can just call me second prince" He chose to still let the princess know. Sooner or later should find out eventually his big brother even addressed him that before. However, he still did not want himself to be called by his name. Bad names like his should not be remembered after all, especially someone as radiant as her.

"I'm sorry if this sounds impolite but may I call you by your name, Your Highness? You have such a great name as in my country, your name has the meaning of strong willed." Celestial was not dumb to notice Claude reluctant in mentioning his name so she just encouraged him that his name was wonderful by stating the truth. 

"Look Claude. I told you, your name has a great meaning!" Anastacius tried to motivate his brother more.

"Uhhh...sure, the princess can call me Claude." The redness on his cheeks brightened more as he was shy and it might become worse as time goes by.

"Thank you, Prince Claude" Celestial just wanted to pinch that cute chubby cheek of the second prince. She was glad she could be a help during the difficult time for the prince. A feeling of protectiveness filled her heart the more she looked at the boy.

@fluffy-koalala

Chapter 3 << Previous, Next >> Chapter 5

[eddiemunsonw]

Paint me red.

PART 2

part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4

Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Summary: You're one of Vickie's best friends. Her girlfriend, Robin, is in need of a distraction for her best friend, Steve Harrington, who you vaguely remember from school. Which is where you come in.

CW / Disclaimer: A bunch of cute stuff, just a nice feel good fic about our dear boy Steve.

Author’s note: It was time to write about Steve Harrington, so here it is. Four parts, can find them both on here and on my ao3: eddiemunsons. Enjoy!

Words: (of current chapter) 3261 / (complete fic) 13059

Vickie stood on your doorstep a bit after dinner on Saturday, complimenting you on your outfit immediately. You honestly didn’t think the plain white tee and jeans combo was anything to write home about, but appreciated her kind words. Vickie herself had gone for a blue and purple patterned flower dress along with a baby pink turtleneck. She looked absolutely adorable and straight out of a fairytale.

“I like your boots, by the way. They look a bit like mine don’t you think?” Vickie mentioned as she drove off. While you tried to remember if she was right, you just nodded. Knowing Vickie, it was true.

“Yeah, I think they do. So… are you any good at mini golf?”

“A little. Used to do it a lot as a kid so I know my way around it but some obstacles are very tricky.” She glanced at you from the corner of her eye. “What about you, ready for today?”

“Uh… yeah? It’s just mini golf, right?”

“Mhm, mhm, yes,” Vickie quipped. “That and saying hi to Steve.”

“You make it sound like it’s such a big deal,” you remarked, giving her a raised brow. Vickie shrugged and took a moment to reply as she had to avoid a man on a bike who seemed to have no sense of direction.

“Asshole. Uhm, no it’s not a big deal, I guess. I just feel kind of weird for even asking it, you know? Just wanted to check in with you if you didn’t feel uncomfortable or anything. It’s kind of an odd request to make.”

“Don’t worry about it and anyway, wasn’t it Robin’s idea?”

Vickie nodded. She sighed to herself, her shoulders sagging from relief. It was obvious that she had been overthinking everything, which was something she tended to do a lot. You knew she just needed some extra reassurance sometimes.

“I’ll just say hi, shrug out some hole in ones and earn myself a lasting memory on his retina or something,” you smirked, even though it couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from the saying hi part.

“Robin would kiss you if you did that. Platonically,” Vickie said, holding up a quick finger and you snorted.

“Right.”

The place was bustling with people. You were quick to notice Robin behind the counter near the mini golf course and you both made your way there. When you reached the counter, you realized you had subconsciously been looking for Steve who seemed to be nowhere in sight. Vickie greeted her with a hug as soon as the customers in front of you had gone.

“Hi,” Robin said to you, a reserved smile on her face.

“Hi!” you greeted her back, your eyes briefly falling on her fidgeting hands. While Robin and Vickie fall into easy conversation, you look around the place. You hadn’t been there before, though you’d always been curious what it would be like. The whole place seemed to be in a sort of purple-bluish hue. The barriers separating the course from the path were decorated in bright neon pink, yellow and green. The paths were a mix of blue and purple as well, muted but kind of sparkly. The seating was more of a lavender shade, at least in this light. Suddenly, your eyes fell on a similar shade of lavender T-shirt that disappeared into a pair of black jeans followed by white sneakers. Glancing upwards again, you spotted his name tag, which got closer and closer until he was close enough for you to be able to read his name off of it. You turned your head again to listen to Robin who was talking about a weird customer from that afternoon. While smiling politely to convey that you were listening, your glance drifted to the nearest couple playing mini golf. It wasn’t until you felt a little nudge against your upper arm that you lifted your head to look up at him, as the angle made it obvious it was Steve doing it. He looked down at you and gave you the subtlest wave with his hand.

“Hey, I’m—”

“Steve,” you finished for him, giving him an easy smile. “I’m—”

“Y/N,” Steve interrupted you with a soft smile. “Nice to see you again. It’s been a while.” For a moment, you could only stare up at him with a blank expression. The last thing you expected was for him to remember you. The most words you had ever exchanged was when he asked for a pen one day. How in the world did he remember you? You weren’t exactly known for your popularity, hair or the amount of women you had given a good time in your high school years.

“Uhm, yeah, sure has,” you said awkwardly, feeling your mouth subdue into a thin lipped smile. Steve combed his fingers through his hair once and nodded.

“Yeah. I should uh— get back to the— over there.” He was gone even quicker than he had arrived. You watched him walk back towards the course and quickly turned to the girls.

“Well that was…”

“Painful,” Robin finished Vickie’s words, a dead panned expression on her face. You scrunched up your nose and sighed.

“What else did you expect?” you asked. Robin shrugged, though a tiny smile was tugging at her lips as she glanced over at Steve. You followed her gaze curiously, only to find Steve staring at you and quickly averting his eyes as he stumbled over an obstacle in the course.

“Nothing. Although, on the other hand, exactly that,” Robin said as she gestured towards Steve dismissively. “He’s got a weak spot for sex on legs.”

“I am anything but sex on legs,” you retorted with a frown.

“You have boobies. That’s all he needs,” Robin sighed. “Don’t tell him I said that.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” you shrugged. Vickie giggled and nudged Robin’s arm and pointed at the wall behind her.

“Could you give us your finest putters? I want to impress someone.”

Robin smiled and shook her head.

“You picked the wrong girl if you think you can impress me with sports, Vic,” she remarked dryly although her expression was quite fond when she handed her a putter and a ball before handing you a putter as well.

“Who says it was about sports?” Vickie teased, leaving her with a wink. “Just have to make sure I look my best.”

“Oh— r-right,” Robin stammered, a flush creeping on her cheeks at the winking. “Have fun!” Vickie blew her a kiss and then hooked her arm through yours to guide you to the first hole. The first five were manageable. You got them in two or three tries at the most. The sixth was already trickier, but it started to feel impossible around number ten, where you basically had to make the ball fly into a net for it to land in the hole. Even after all ten tries, neither you or Vickie had managed to get it in, so you just went to the next. A few obstacles later Robin came over to see how you were doing (and to flirt with her girlfriend), which was the perfect opportunity for you to take a quick bathroom break.

“Where’s the bathroom?” you asked them, already looking around.

“Oh, it’s a bit of a maze here, but Steve’s going as well so if you just follow him, you’ll find it,” Robin said as she pointed her finger towards a retreating lavender shirt. You nodded, handed your putter to Vickie and quickly paced your steps to catch up. The DGMG was bigger than you expected it to be from the outside. You passed an arcade, a bowling hall and a paintball arena by the time Steve finally opened a door to the— What? 

Light nearly blinded you after walking in the dark hallway and you watched the door close before you reached it, as you had kept some distance between the two of you to not seem weird. However, when you followed him, you realized the blinding light hadn’t just been a couple of intense tl lights but in fact, the sun going down in the distance. Steve was fiddling to wiggle something out of his inner pocket and didn’t hear the door open and close again. Feeling a little stupid, you couldn’t help but state the obvious.

“This is not the bathroom.”

“Jesus Christ!”

Startled, Steve turned around to face you, the cigarette he had just stuck between his lips threatening to fall. His quick reflexes prevented that. Once your eyes had adjusted to the bright light coming from the low sun, you realized you were in the private parking lot for the employees, from the looks of it. Steve rested against a low wall that followed the length of the building behind you apart from a gap where employees could walk through to get to their cars.

“Sorry— Robin said I’d find the bathroom if I followed you because… you were going to the bathroom?” you said awkwardly. Steve pressed his lips together, looking caught.

“Which… you weren’t. Okay. Uh, I’ll just walk back to where I came from,” you added awkwardly when he didn’t say a word. 

“Do you want one?” he asked, holding his pack out to you. You shook your head with a polite smile. The last time you tried smoking had been at a party a couple years ago and you weren’t about to start a whole coughing fit in front of him.

“I’m good, thank you.”

Steve nodded and lit his own cigarette, making sure he didn’t blow the smoke in your face as he exhaled. You crossed your arms as you let your eyes adjust to the light while you watched him.

“Rob doesn’t know I still smoke. I told her I’d quit. So I uh… didn’t tell her when I didn’t. Can we…?” he pleaded, not even finishing the sentence.

“It’s our little secret,” you offered and he smiled gratefully.

“She thinks it’s disgusting, which it is, to be fair… But that clearly didn’t stop me,” he adds with a shrug.

“I’m not a huge fan of it either,” you admitted. “I don’t care either way though, people should do whatever. Sometimes it looks hot.” The statement was followed by a shrug of your shoulders and when Steve’s eyebrows raised up to his hairline long before his smirk appeared, you realized what you said.

“I mean—”

“Only sometimes?” Steve interrupted you with a curious smirk. You watched as he wrapped his lips around his cigarette again, inhaling, holding, exhaling, all while looking at you and awaiting your answer.

“Well, yeah. It looks weirdly attractive sometimes,” you admit reluctantly, “don’t know how they do it.”

“Hmm. So…? How do I do?” he asked, his head slightly tilted to the left.

“Are you asking me if you’re an attractive smoker?” you asked, raising your brow. You wondered briefly how words tumbled out of your mouth so easily in front of him. You felt relaxed around him, somehow.

“That’s… exactly what I’m asking, yes.” A dry chuckle escaped him and he shook his head, as if he couldn’t really believe himself. “Forget about it, I was joking.”

“Hmm.” You smiled at him and uncrossed your arms while you moved a few steps to the left so that you could stop squinting against the sun. It was mostly behind the trees by now but some persistent sun beams managed to shine through.

“How’s mini golf going?”

“I suck. No idea about the score though. Ever since ten it went downhill. Though that one was harder than the three after that for sure.”

“Ten is a mean one. I could show you how it’s done sometime, if you like. Once you get it, you’ll never miss again.”

“Last time I heard you’re not allowed to pick up the ball and put it in the hole,” you remarked jokingly, causing him to grin at you.

“I am hurt you think I’d cheat,” he feigned. “No, there's a way. An actual, honest to god, putter smashing the ball kinda way.”

“Alright then. I think you should show me sometime. Before that, though. Could you maybe show me to the bathroom? Whenever you’re done with paving the road towards your lungs, that is.”

Steve smirked and gave you a nod. “Yeah, gotta pass by there anyway to freshen up. Add some deodorant to mask all this.”

“You’re really going out of your way, huh? Don’t you think she’ll smell it regardless?” you asked, one eyebrow raised. Steve shrugged and took a last drag of his cigarette before dropping it and crushing it under his shoe.

“She’s never mentioned it. Let’s go back in.” He pushed himself off the wall and held the door open for you with a gentlemanly gesture before following you inside. You had no clue how you got from outside to the bathroom as it was, in fact, a maze, but Steve promised he’d wait and lead you back. You were just relieved you only needed to pee. His face lit up when you emerged again and he definitely smelled like some strong deodorant to the point that it caught in your throat a little. Smelled nice, but deadly.

“I think the only reason why she might not have smelt it is because she doesn’t dare to approach you any closer than this in fear of suffocation,” you remarked as you took a slow, deep breath. Steve knit his brows together in a frown only for a moment before he grinned. You wondered why words tumbled out of your mouth so easily with him. Normally you wouldn’t dare say anything that could be taken the wrong way with a relatively ‘new’ person. You still considered him new since you had never really talked.

“That… is possible,” he laughed. “If it works, it works, I guess. Can you smell anything, though? Might as well find out once and for all.” He stared at you expectantly and you inhaled through your nose, really making a show of it. A giggle escaped his lips but it died in his throat quickly when you stepped closer and inhaled again, your chest nearly bumping into his. You took a small step back so you could look up at him.

“Exhale?” you murmured, wondering where the sudden confidence came from. Steve’s lips parted in surprise but he did as you said and exhaled, eyes fixated on yours.

“Hmm… gum is advised,” you opted casually and you revealed a pack of gum from your pocket. “Can definitely smell some smoke.”

Hesitantly, Steve held open his hand and popped the gum into his mouth after you dropped one into his hand.

“Thanks. For the gum, and your surprising honesty,” he mumbled, a soft smile on his lips. His smile was reciprocated by one of your own as you stepped back and took a piece of gum as well.

“My pleasure. Honesty goes a long way.” 

Before you could get back to Robin and Vickie, Steve was interrupted by a customer and he smiled at you apologetically as he walked away. The girls were already in sight and you could admire his pretty backside while he walked away so in that sense it didn’t matter, but you still wished you could have talked for a little longer. 

He was nice, apparently.

“There you are! I thought the bathrooms had changed into a black hole or something, sucking you away from us,” Vickie pouted, though you didn’t miss her quick glance towards Steve’s retreating figure. “What took you so long?” 

Robin eyed you curiously as well and you just shrugged.

“Oh, we just got distracted talking. He waited for me so I could find my way back,” you explained. Robin narrowed her eyes at you suspiciously and Vickie quickly chimed in.

“What did you guys talk about?” she asked in her usual, chipper voice.

“Oh, uhh… everything and nothing, I guess?” you replied while you clawed at your brain trying to remember what you actually did talk about apart from smoking.

“Golf!” you suddenly exclaimed loudly, happy to remember it. “We talked about mini golf. About the one with the net.”

“Steve’s good at that one,” Robin nodded and then glanced over to the counter. “I have to get back, work,” she mumbled before she spared a sweet smile for Vickie which she then granted you as well. “Have fun.”

Together with Vickie you finished the other obstacles and in the end, Vickie won with three points. In all fairness, both of you sucked at it and it wasn’t exactly a score to be proud of for either of you. You’d had fun though, and that was what mattered. Both Robin and Steve were at the counter, cleaning off the balls and putter handles.

“... away for a while,” you heard Robin say as you approached. Robin glanced at you for a moment before focusing on the putter in her hand again. Steve hadn’t heard you approach as he was very stubbornly rubbing the ball in his hand.

“Yeah, I picked up trash on the way to throw it outside and that’s when we ran into each other, so we just chatted.”

“Oh, you met outside?” Robin asked, a smile playing on her lips as she looked up at you again. You had a feeling she was trying to catch you both on something so you quickly cleared your throat and put both you and Vickie’s putter onto the counter, along with the ball.

“Hi, here to return these.”

Steve looked up immediately, lips parted in surprise. Vickie suppressed a giggle as Robin gave her a look. His expression relaxed into a smile and he took the putters from the counter.

“Thanks. Hope you had fun?” Steve asked, glancing at both you and Vickie. The redhead nodded brightly and nudged you with her elbow.

“Maybe we can convince her to join us for paintball sometime? We’ve talked about needing a fourth person before, so…”

“And your kids are way too aggressive,” Robin said with a quick glance to Steve.

“Your kids?” you asked curiously.

“Long story,” Steve shrugged. “Just a bunch of kids a couple years younger than us that I unironically seem to babysit without the actual babysitting part. Although—”

“That does not make sense to anyone Steve,” Robin sighed. “Point is, they’re too passionate about winning. Last time we did that I had bruises everywhere.”

“Are you up for it?” Vickie asked you as she used her pleading puppy eyes. “It’ll be so much fun! Me and Rob against you and Steve—”

“Hold on, we already decided on teams now?” Steve asked quickly, glancing from you, to Robin and lastly to Vickie. You put your hands on your waist.

“What, you don’t want me on your team?” you teased. Steve rolled his eyes, huffing out a quick laugh as he shook his head.

“That’s not it, I was just surprised, alright. Anyw—”

“Alright, that’s settled then!” Vickie interjected, too excited to hold back. “How about next weekend?”

“We both have shifts all weekend. Thursday evening could work, though?” Robin proposed, looking at Steve for confirmation. He shrugged.

“You know my schedule better than I do, so I guess I’m available, sure,” he smirked.

“Thursday evening it is,” you nodded, smiling softly as your eyes met with his.

After you said your goodbyes, Vickie and you left the DGMG and she only managed to not mention it until the second you were back in her car.

“So! You and Steve…”

Next part

[sixosix]

IM HERE. IVE ARRIVED. I HAVE THOUGHTS. when i said i might not come back here cuz i was busy? yeah, FUCK THAT. only divine intervention can keep me away from ur account. THE NEW THAWED PART?? WHAT THE FUCK. i wake up this morning expecting a chapter like, late afternoon but i forgot TIMEZONES EXIST . so u can imagine my absolute shock when i check my notifications bar and hit tumblr writer user sixosix posted new thawed part?? dude. the scream i scrumpt when lyney recognized the reader OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDD. i knew it was over when the flower landed by her feet but him saying her name had me DSINFIDSJFJDS?!?!!??! DURING THE SHOW TOO. HE DIDNT WAIT UNTIL IT WAS OVERIJ DSJUFUDJSFIJDSAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! even rereading that part now as i write has me going crazy like i cant even put my excitement into words its SO?!?!?w??VFDXJDVNDSFNC god. okay. the scene where he grabs THE READER BY THE WAIST. 'CAUGHT YOU' ????? YEAH AND I CAUGHT FEELINGS YOURE NOT SPECIAL LYNEY?? THE GRIP ON THE WAIST. AUUUUUUUGH. ARUEGJHHH. ARHGHHRJGFDKD... IM ON MY DEATH BED!! TAKE ME TO THE BEACH SO I MAY GAZE UPON THE SEA ONCE MORE!!!! the mr lyney. miss lynette. falls to my knees. dies. dies. dies. BUT GOD THE FACT THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD TOO? no wonder lyney chased after her !!!! if my girlfriend (one-sided (?)) turned up alive out of no where i would do the same fr. a real man would drop to one knee and propose right there (grow some balls lyney) LYNETTE!!!!! SO CUTE!!!!!!!!! IM GONNA BITE HER SOKFDOSAKDASIJD THE SLOW APPROACH LIKE A TIMID CAT AND THEN THE SMIEL AUHGHDJFSKJFD?!w?FDDJNFODSJKFND!!!!! i cant imagine how she felt finding her bff again im so AUUURHGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! i know she knocked some sense into lyney afterwards LMAOO also reader pretending to be working under tart... ohh i know thats gonna backfire on her later in the story. ALSO CHILDE MENTION YIPPEE YIPPEE YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! do i have my doubts about lyney and lynette believing readers lie? absolutely. you dont grow up with someone and not know when theyre lying.. especially lyney. have u ever watched barbie in the dreamhouse?? theres this episode where ken tries to get a job but he doesnt bc each time barbie has an emergency, so he just becomes a (barbie)house-husband.. thats the vibe im getting from lyney and reader the 'i'm happy to see you' from lyney, and reader (kinda?) dismissing it with the 'goodbye miss lynette and mr lyney' ????? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH ??????? sending u the number and email to my therapist rn ure paying for my next session. also i love aether, paimons and readers friendship, especially their little banter at the end. ALSO. SIGH. reader calling rosalie maman. when i tell u i screamed i MEAN IT. THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO ME. I LOVE THEM SO BAD IM GONNA SOB!!!! ............im gonna say, im a bit paranoid though.. youre not gonna hurt rosalie right. righ.t Right. blinking at u. blinking at u. blink blink blink . BLINK. BLIIINK !!!!!!!!!! ok sorry for clogging up ur asks with this . i have no idea how to end this its so long LMAOO. there are so many other parts i loved (brief melusine scene, audience reactions, etc) but i just didnt know how to convey my feelings into words ifgjdifjdji. i love thawed and ur writing SOSOSOSO much and im so excited for future updates!!!!!!!!!!! THATS ALL I GOT TO SAY!!!!!!! ramble mode OFF!!!!!!!! BYEBYE AND TAKE CARE MUAAAAAAAAAH

HIII LIS!!!!! ohh seeing your asks rlly brighten my day. LMFAOOO your comment actually had me laughing out loud “I JUZT WOKR UP WHAT RHE DICK” HAHSA

YES. DURING THE SHOW!!! i want to emphasize that lyney did not care about the audience or the weeks of practice for this very moment if he sees the reader !!!! HELPPP nooooo dont lie on your death bed yet we still have a few more chapters to go through 💔💔

ONE SIDED GF 😭😭😭 IJBOL he definitely wouldve proposed if it wasnt for aether im telling u. YESSS LYNETTE APPRECIATION i love her so much i try to add her as much as i can bc her interactions w lyney are so fun. Theyre literally siblings 😭❤️❤️

CHILDE MENTION !! this is definitely gonna bite her in the ass later but hey thats for another chapter

YES I E WATCHED BARBIE DREAMHOUSE IMQHAHSHEH thats so funny that you said that im saving that as a screwnshot LMFAOOO

Yes i want to up the angst and pain. reader my self destructive thawed!reader … ❤️ but i also need the therapy please do send my number

Rosalie. rosalie, rosalie, rosalie. our maman. reader’s maman especially. Anyway.

AWW its okay!!! dont ever worry about your asks being too long !! i meant it when i said i love reading through them. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ❤️❤️❤️❤️ TAKE CARE TOO LIS MWA MWA

[thewatcher727]

The Aftermath Is Now Live!

A few more hours of restful sleep embraced Tails, and as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, coaxing him back to consciousness, he stretched with a languid yawn. Eager to greet the new day, he swung his legs out of bed and slipped into his trusty sneakers.

As he stood, the dawn of a fresh morning prompting a sense of renewal, Tails whispered to himself, a quiet affirmation echoing in the stillness of his room.

"It's a new day, Miles... A new day."

With determination lacing each step, Tails made his way downstairs, the sunlight painting golden hues across the familiar surfaces of his home. The open bedroom door beckoned, and he instinctively moved toward it, the anticipation of the day's possibilities invigorating him.

However, a sudden surge of panic seized him as he found the room empty. A fleeting fear gripped his heart, threatening to unfurl into a full-blown panic attack.

"Cosmo?"

Just as the tendrils of anxiety tightened their grip, a flash of vibrant green caught the periphery of his vision. Against the backdrop of the surrounding nature, Cosmo stood in the garden, tending to the flourishing plants. A sigh of relief escaped Tails, the tension in his shoulders dissipating as he observed her engrossed in her gentle task.

With a small smile playing on his lips, Tails descended the remaining stairs, the promise of the new day underscored by the presence of his newfound companion. The garden, a haven of serenity, seemed to echo the sentiment that life, despite its occasional tumult, could still blossom into moments of quiet beauty.

Intrigued, Tails quietly opened the backdoor and approached the garden with a measured step, mindful not to disrupt the tranquil scene. A gentle clearing of his throat preceded his greeting.

"Good morning, Cosmo."

Cosmo, engrossed in the delicate task of tending to a flower, turned towards Tails with a warm smile. "Good morning, Tails," she replied, her voice a soothing melody that seemed to harmonize with the rustle of leaves in the morning breeze.

Tails tilted his head in genuine curiosity. "What are you up to?"

Cosmo's attention returned to the flower in her hands, her fingers moving with a grace that spoke of an intimate connection with the natural world. "Your garden is truly lovely," she began, her words carrying a gentle sincerity. "Back on my home planet, flowers hold a special significance. They're not just beautiful; they represent the life force that connects us all. Each bloom tells a story, and when we tend to them, it's like nurturing the bonds that tie us together."

Her explanation unfolded like petals unfurling in the morning light, and Tails found himself drawn into the ethereal narrative of Cosmo's connection to the floral tapestry. It was a glimpse into a world beyond his own, where the language of flowers conveyed sentiments and stories that transcended mere aesthetics. The quiet beauty of the garden took on new meaning as Cosmo wove her tale, and in that shared moment, the morning seemed to carry the weight of a profound understanding between two souls bound by an unexpected friendship.

Tails' smile lingered, a reflection of genuine warmth as he absorbed Cosmo's explanation. The juxtaposition of her gentle nature with the harrowing experiences inflicted by the Nocturnus Clan stirred a profound empathy within him. It was a stark reminder that even the most resilient spirits could be tested by the cruelties of the universe.

Kneeling beside her, Tails observed the delicate bloom with newfound appreciation. His gloved hand hovered near the same flower, the contrast between the organic fragility of nature and the mechanical precision of his inventions striking a poignant chord.

"I don't get a lot of time to do gardening," Tails admitted, a touch of self-reflection in his tone. "I tried to make some devices to make sure the garden was taken care of. But," he paused, scratching his head with a boyish grin, "I don't know, I guess something about a garden requires a gentle touch."

Cosmo's gaze softened, understanding the sentiment behind his words. "On my home, my mother taught us that flowers bloom and thrive when nurtured with care and respect. It is our duty to tend to the garden of our world so that every flower can reach its fullest potential."

A subtle undercurrent of melancholy lingered in Cosmo's voice, a wistful longing for the home and family she had left behind. The weight of her unspoken sorrow tugged at Tails' heart, a shared pain that underscored the gravity of her displacement.

Every day, the reality of their predicament gnawed at Tails—the uncertainty of Green Gate's fate, the potential destruction wrought by the Nocturnus Clan. Yet, he quelled the insidious "what ifs" that threatened to overwhelm him. Instead, his focus remained steadfast on the responsibility at hand—providing solace and comfort to Cosmo in her newfound home.

Standing up, Tails extended a hand toward her with a genuine offer, a bridge from the contemplative moment to the tangible world of shared experiences. "Ready for some breakfast?"

Cosmo's smile, though hesitant, blossomed at the prospect. However, she hesitated, acutely aware of the soil staining her hands. "Oh, I don't wanna get your gloves dirty."

Tails chuckled, a lightness in his demeanor that sought to dispel any concerns. "That's okay, I got about fifty pairs."

Cosmo's uncertainty melted away, replaced by a gentle acceptance. Her unadorned hand, distinct from Tails' gloved one, met his in a tender union of fingers. As Tails helped her to her feet, the brief connection spoke volumes—a silent promise to navigate the challenges ahead together, hand in hand, forging a path through the uncertainties of the present toward a future yet to unfold.

Continue Reading:

FanFiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14341784/1/After-The-Storm

Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54817303/chapters/138943699

[wndybyrd]

@petersprize​ :: closed starter !

faery dear ,             give me wings.              i want to hear            the faeries sing.      up and away.        i cannot stay.                   when mother comes ,              i’ll be far away !

thin streaks of light peaked through holes in the ‘hanging tree’ and kissed at her face to wake. earthy scents of dirt, bark, and morning dew invaded her nose—an unusual comfort. the girl stretched and yawned, stirring ever so slightly, despite desperately wishing to crawl further into her makeshift bedding for just a few minutes longer. it was only the ring of a pan’s cock-crow from outside, signaling the official start to their day, that possessed enough power to tempt those heavy eyes open, blinking away the hazy feeling of sleep. 

but wendy’s bones were sore, the collection of bruises had begun to darken, and a litter of cuts she’d accrued ( tiny reminders of her embarrassment at battle ) had become ugly scabs. she was in no mood for cleaning or cooking, for playing or bickering. she was in no mood to play ‘mother’, a part that went without the praise or appreciation once earned. in fact, she was in no mood to do anything at all. 

instead, a ball of achey limbs, she curled into the soft nest of furs and fingered through the pages of one of her few remaining books ( though she’d read it a hundred times now ). whooping laughter slithered its way into her ears from the distance, but the noise was no bother. in fact, wendy hardly noticed at all, her thoughts too far lost in the novel’s familiar tale. it was only the jolly jingle of a tinkling bell that managed to tear dour eyes away from her pages. wendy watched with utter loathing as the little ball of golden light 'n’ iridescent dust flitted around the tree’s shadowy corners, a thick knot forming in her stomach with each passing second.

tinker bell had eluded her for some time since returning to neverland, though she would not deny her pleasure in the little creature’s absence. it was a shame, really, for as a child she’d imagined the fae to be enchanting and marvelous beings like those in her stories. but tink had never brought any wonder into wendy’s life . . . just the continuous threat of misfortune. a part of her had secretly hoped peter’s pet had tucked tail and ran to wallow on some other island far, far away. no such luck.

book in hand, she slowly rose out from under her covers and crouched forward. her feet barely padded against floor of packed mud, quieter than a mouse, as she crept closer to the little devil. then, in one swift motion, she extended her arms and snapped the spine of her book with a sharp ‘CLAP’. but, as lovely as it would’ve been to flatten the smallfolk like a pressed flower between the book’s thick pages, she missed tinker bell by inches.     “ oh my. “     , she hummed, her tone void of any apology her words tried to convey. her face cracked into a pearly smile that was ruined by a dark brewing behind her eyes.     “ i’m so sorry, tink ! why, i must have mistook that pesky buzzing for a mosquito. “

[kamyru]

I like flowers (Ryoga Buto x MC) (Shorts)

Author's note: It's inspired by a reel where the girlfriend asks her boyfriend what is the equivalent of giving flowers for a man. And he says this:

Words counting: 663

MC knew that Ryoga wasn't the sweetest at expressing his feelings through words. His abrasive tongue could hurt without him intending it. His sarcasm was funny till it wasn't. However, Ryo did his best to make MC know she was important to him. So, he compensated through his actions, caring nature, 200% commitment hugs, and flowers that he gave her with and without occasion.

Being only twenty-three, MC and Ryoga had their share of life experiences that still didn't eat all the naivety and novelty of the things around them. So, it wasn't so hard for the man to put the most genuine smile on his girlfriend's face with a bouquet he grew by himself in the backyard of their house.

However, every smile that appeared on MC's face after receiving another bouquet added problems for her soul. What could she give her boyfriend back that had an equal meaning as the flowers? What was as simple yet as important to him?

For weeks, MC stared into Ryoga's soul, trying to find the answer to her dilemma. And for weeks, it remained a mystery. Until she understood that she was staring at him while his eyes fell on the flowers.

Ryoga Buto, the manly man from the PLUST, the gym bro as Mikoto called him, the sarcastic meany, looked fondly at the frail petals he worked so hard to grow.

"What do you think about flowers?" MC whispered and was a second away from regretting talking aloud, but saw a soft expression on her boyfriend's face.

"I like flowers," was everything the man of few words said while sniffing the aromatic roses in front of him.

And after weeks of searching for sophisticated answers, MC understood that the clue was in front of her. She didn't have to think so hard to get it. Flowers weren't just for women. Men liked flowers too.

So, the day when the bouquet Ryoga gave to her dried up, it was MC's time to shine. With a dictionary of flowers and their meaning, she planned to send her boyfriend secret messages through her bouquets. He wasn't one to talk about his feelings, so she tried to translate her inner world into something he would understand.

When Ryoga came home after practice, MC waited for the other members to leave them alone. Her heart was beating fast against her ribcage. It was as if she was the first time in a foreign country whose language she studied in school. Theoretically speaking, she was supposed to communicate with everyone, practically - it was hard to open her mouth. But she had to. She had to show Ryoga that she appreciated how he tried his best to convey his feeling to her and speak his language. Taking a deep breath and hiding something behind her back, MC asked her boyfriend to close his eyes, to which he reluctantly obeyed. Her tender fingers touched Ryoga's ear for a mere second, but enough to make his heart beat faster.

"What did you do?" the man asked after opening his eyes.

MC showed him her best smile and put him in front of a mirror. Ryoga's eyes got bigger. Behind his ear was a flower of forget-me-not. He touched it slowly, not to adjust it, but to make sure it was real. Looking from his reflection to his girlfriend, he silently asked for explanations.

"You always give me flowers, and you said you liked them. So, I decided to do the same for you. Do you like it?"

The dancer didn't know what to say. Answering this was above his knowledge in speaking. So, he hugged MC as hard as possible, squishing her between his strong arms and hard chest. Then, with the softest movement, he put away a strand of hair and kissed her forehead. He wasn't going to tell MC, but he already knew that he would dry that flower and make a charm out of it, to keep it forever.

[call-sign-shark]

Bloody hell Lee, thank you for your INCREDIBLE comment. I've got tears in my eyes for real.

Coming from the queen and amateur of dark!AU you are, your words warm my heart and I can only be moved by them. I am genuinely happy that you've appreciated the description's of Arthur madness and obsession gradually growing until the point of non-return.

I must say that I am sincerely in love with your analysis of the pet name he has found for the object of his obsession because this is the most accurate description you could have written. Usually, I love sticking the image of a wolf to Arthur, so your image of him turning into some kind of beast with sharp fangs when he's watching his frail and terrified prey is exactly what I tried to convey. On the same topic, your last vision of a rabbit's limp body resting in the fang-filled jaw of a wolf is perfect. In truth, I am deeply hesitating about writing a part two (or why not a mini series idk), or leaving it like this. But if I end up doing more, would you allow me to use your allegory?

He definitely doesn't bother himself with being subtle. I think it's due to the fact that he's a Peaky Blinders and that he knows about his reputation. In his opinion, he doesn't need to be subtle: he just wants her, and he's well aware that no one is suicidal enough to face him. Also, I was writing this to Lora: his flickering behavior and his mood swings are, indeed, as confusing as scary. From the beginning, Bunny/Reader is walking on eggshells with him because she's afraid of the possibility of him snapping at her. And as you've highlighted, she is all alone, abandoned by everyone. No one's going to save her. Also, the flowers thing is really creepy right? 😩

Aaah! The picture of Arthur standing in the doorway with the bottle and the rope has also traumatized @brummiereader and I can only agree with you girls. 😢 Honestly, this is the worst thing to imagine. My worst fear is being kidnapped so I was literally shivering when writing this. It sets very claustrophobic settings and foreshadows his intentions without needing to write more. As for the declaration of his madness as a love confession, I must admit that it's a sentence from the song Saccharine by Jazmin Bean, but I felt like coming from his mouth it would be freakin' scary eh! I think it also shows how delusional he is.

As for the true horror, you're absolutely right. The fact she gives up and seeks his comfort is both a tragic and awful scene. She's completely high, lost, suffering, and far too exhausted to refuse him. The only way to find a bit of relief from the Hell she's living is, ironically, in the arms of her torturer. That kinda makes me feel sick ugh.

Sorry for the long analysis, I'm just so freaking happy to talk about this work with you. Thank you so so much, lovely Lee. 🖤

Hey Bunny || Yandere!Arthur Shelby x Reader

Summary:  At the bottom of madness and drug addiction, Arthur falls into a spiral of obsession with you after you reject him. But it's okay if you don't want him, he'll have his way with you anyway -- inspired by the song Saccharine by Jazmin Bean and Bunny from Baby Bugs.

Words: 3k.

TW: Drugs use, unreliable narrator, unrequited love, graphic depictions of violence, blood, allusions to non-consensual sex, stalking, depiction of obsessive behavior, horror, psychological manipulation — this is dark, experimental, and out of character.

Notes:

▸ Arthur's darling is nicknamed "Bunny" + Hints of physical descriptions

It all started one rainy night of Birmingham’s bleak winter. You had entered the Garrison right before Arthur closed its doors, soaked to the bones and shivering to the core. In truth, you had barely stepped out of the university’s library when you got caught in the rain. At first, you thought you could make it home without trouble but what was supposed to be a few drops soon turned into floods of rain pouring down on you. Here you stood in the empty bar, your back against the closed door, panting as if you had just run for your life. Arthur looked at you with a confused gleam in his steel blue eyes, unable to tell if you were real or the most magnificent illusion the whiskey — or the drug — had ever created. You quickly apologized for bothering him so late and then told him you needed to call your mother to ask her to pick you up.

All he had been able to do was grunt, all flustered, and then pointed the room in which the phone was with his finger. Taken aback by your otherworldly beauty, Arthur could not stop looking at you from behind the bar while you’re talking to your mom through the phone. At first, you were so relieved by the sound of your mother's voice that you just smiled. But as time passed, you started to feel slightly uneasy, until you noticed it: the heavy weight of Arthur’s eyes staring at you. From the moment you met to the one you left the Garrison, he had not shifted his eyes from you one tiniest second. The way you moved, the traits of your doll face, your frail silhouette, how your thin fingers closed around the phone’s metallic body, and how your lips opened then closed as you spoke… He was obsessed with you. Obsessed with everything you did, everything you were.

When you hung up the phone, you closed your eyes for a few seconds, and tried to soothe the unpleasant feeling that was creeping under your skin.

“Can I —"

The bartender's gravel voice made you jump. In one swift movement, you turned around and looked at him with a bit of fear shining in your beautiful hazel eyes. Arthur's lips stretched in a faint smile as a reply to your little fright.

"Erm, do ye want a drink or something? I mean, ye don't have to go right away.” He stated, showing you the empty glass he had in his hand. The thing was, you weren't in the mood to drink with a stranger, trapped in a bar in the middle of the night. Not that you didn't trust people in general, but you didn't trust the Peaky Blinders; and that guy, that tall and lanky bartender with his perfect suit and perfectly trimmed mustache, was one of them. Worst, he was a Shelby. And your mother always told you to avoid these Shelby men like the plague.

“That’s very nice, Mr. Shelby," You started, carefully choosing the next words that were going to come out of your slightly quivering lips, "But I must decline your invitation. I must have caught something in the rain because I am not feeling well and drinking alcohol would certainly worsen my headache.” You said with the most polite smile you could do, afraid to offend him for you've heard of his violent nature.

"Ah, alright Bunny," He replied with a little chuckle, trying his best to be affable despite his reputation and the line of snow he had just snorted before your arrival, "That's going to be a glass of water for ye, eh."

"Bunny?"

"Yer notebook. You've drawn a bunny on the cover."

"Oh." You exclaimed, glancing quickly at the wet notebook that was sticking out of your bag, "Yes I did," You slowly exhaled through your nostrils, "Okay for the glass of water. Thank you so much."

And that was all that happened this evening. You sat on one of the bar's stools, sipped on your glass of water, and waited impatiently for your mother to come. Arthur and you exchanged a few words though. He even put his long dark coat on your shoulders to keep you warm. Surprised by such a nice gesture, you blessed him a genuine smile. Little you knew that it was more because he was distracted by the way your wet dress stuck to your body and highlighted the round shape of your perky nipples than anything else.

It was at the moment he was about to ask you out for dinner that a car stopped in front of the Garrison. You gave his coat back and, with one last thank you, you left the pub without turning back.

"See ye soon, little Bunny." He simply whispered in the empty bar, still standing in front of the door a few minutes after your departure.

The next day he looked for any information he could collect about you. And God knew how he managed to learn so much but he ultimately found both your address and the one of the school you were attending.

From then, you started to receive huge and magnificent bouquets of flowers every week.

He waited for you in front of your university, his tall and slim silhouette leaning against a wall as he gulped down a mouthful of whiskey from his flask. Even if he had learned the major you were studying, he did not manage to find out your precise schedule. Hence, he decided to wait patiently for you to come out of the building. When his steel-blue eyes caught sight of you exiting the university with one of your friends, a sparkle of excitement shone in his iris. He walked to you, his long coat floating behind him as he did. Your facial expression turned into a surprised one when you saw him.

"Hey, Bunny."

"Mr. Shelby? What are you doing here?" You questioned, skipping the polite greetings. You took a quick glance at your friend, whose face had contorted into a frightened expression at Arthur's presence. Of course she also knew who the Peaky Blinders were.

"Just wanted to check if ye were doin' better."

"I'm fine. Thanks." You straight off replied

"Listen I-- I should go. See you tomorrow Y/N." She quickly said, walking away, thus leaving you alone with Arthur Shelby -- to his greatest pleasure.

A little shaky sigh escaped from your lips as your eyes fell back on Arthur. This time, you noticed details you did not before: his hands were shaking, his movements were slightly erratic, and his pupils were dilated. For sure, he was completely high.

"I was wondering," His hoarse voice broke the silence, "Can I take ye out for dinner? I know a great restaurant." He finally said, and his words had the immediate effect to make you blush. Was Peaky Blinders really asking you out? You blinked several times, making sure you were not having some kind of weird hallucination before your lips parted.

"I really appreciate it, Mr. Shelby --"

"Arthur." He corrected, his heart pounding in his tight chest as he waited for your reply.

"Yeah, thank you for your invitation, Arthur. But I have a boyfriend." You said out of the blue. His smile broke in thousands of sharp bits, "And he's waiting for me so... " You did not finish your sentence. Instead, you simply gifts him an apologetic smile and turned around to walk away. But all of sudden, his large hand grabbed you fiercely, which caused a little yelp to fall your lips.

"Got a man, hm?" His gravel voice repeated, a bit more threateningly. You started to regret your stupid lie the moment you felt his fingers tightening around you until your wrist felt sore and your skin bruised, "Fook him and just say yes. I'll make you spend a fookin' great evening." He said through gritted teeth.

"S-Stop that! You're hurting me!" You rebelled. Panic kicked so violently that you could not help but claw the skin of his hand with your nails. In despair, you looked around you but no one was there. The only people who met your gaze simply walked away: no one wanted to have beef with Arthur Shelby. Blood stuck under your nails as you scratched his skin, but the pain did not seem to have any effect upon him, his nerves numbed by cocaine. Yet, it was enough for him to release you from his menacing grip. Arthur stepped back and his mood switched again. Now, he was rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed at the sight of your frighted eyes.

"Eh, sorry. I don't mean to scare but yer just so cute."

You looked at him, confused and scared. What the hell was he talking about? How were these two things correlated? And how did he find the university in which you were studying? All of these questions bumped into each other in your mind. "Listen, I should go. My boyfriend's waiting." You concluded and left, not wanting to stay with Arthur for another minute. All you wanted was to flee from his stressful presence.

"Oi!" He called you as you were straying away from him, "Did ye like the flowers?!"

Your heart missed a beat at the sudden realization: he was the one who sent them. Shivering with fear, you hastened your walk. Arthur took another sip of whisky, looking at the way your body was swaying at each of your steps. Every move you make, you were fucking sweeter than a cake. Like, he didn't know how you did that but you were literally making him go bonkers.

To the extent that he began following you in the streets the days that followed your rejection. His shadow was always lurking somewhere behind you, or in the darkest corner of a place. What started as a harmless crush turned into something that was terrorizing you on daily basis. Soon, you could not go one with your life without becoming paranoiac. Because you knew he was there. Every time, everywhere. Even when you could not see him. You could feel his petrifying presence following you outside...

But you didn't understand. You were getting him wrong. You were far too sweet for a damned city like Small Heath, so he had to make sure you were safe. And how could you be safe if he was not there to take care of you?

A feverish sigh escaped from his lips as the stars of pleasure that danced under his eyelids started to disappear. Arthur's backed up with a growl and extended one of his arms to grab his trousers and his shirt from the other side of the couch. He quickly put some clothes back on and slapped a banknote on the nightstand.

"Get the fook' out of here." He growled, slipping a cigarette between his lips. Still panting, sweat made the freckled skin of his bare chest glisten under the lights. With one trembling hand, he slicked his hair back while the prostitute he had just paid left the room half-naked, gathering all her remaining strength to leave the house as fast as she could. Arthur let out a cloud of smoke from his mouth and pinched the bridge of his nose as if he wanted to stop his dawning headache.

You know, he did it only because that whore looked a bit like you when he fucked her from behind like with the delicacy of an animal in heat. Yeah, she looked definitely a bit like you when he had wrapped her long ginger her around his fist and pulled it while exploring the deepest parts of her.

But he made himself the promise to stop all this kind of shit and be a good husband when you would embrace his love. Because you would. You just needed a bit of time to realize it.

But first, he had to wipe the other bitches out, so it was only you and him.

One night he really fucked up though, but you had provoked him by talking to that young and handsome man. He was called Gaspard, and he was probably the boyfriend you had been talking about. Arthur had tried to keep his calm, but when his saw the way you laughed at his jokes and hugged his arm against your breasts it made his self-control slip. He could not let him ruin his chances and take you away from him — especially because Gaspard was far more attractive and younger than him, with his charming smirk, his perfect dumb-looking haircut, and his cunning grey eyes.

Arthur had waited for the night to come and, when the unfortunate young man crossed his path, he grabbed him and pulled him into a dark alley. He could not remember what happened in detail for his rage took possession of him, but he did recall the burning feeling of anger that boiled within. He had slashed his face with a razor blade before beating him to death. He went home right after, drinking and drugging himself until he passed out on the floor.

He might have reacted a bit too much but he needed to be the only one for you. He was pretty sure you'd understand.

Sometimes the love and inextinguishable desire he felt for you was so overwhelming that he ended up not knowing if he wanted to hug you tight or fuck you against a wall until you cried his name and beg for him to stop. Then he would hate both himself and the drugs for the wicked thought of ruining you that had crossed his mind. How could you make him feel like he did? Sometimes this shit was scaring him. He grew afraid of the power you had upon him, leading him to pull his own hair and scream with frustration, rolled in a ball on the floor of his living room. He could not get you out of his fucking head and it messed with his already eroded sanity.

But you were sweet. So sweet he was convinced his teeth would hurt from your saccharine taste the day his lips would kiss yours and his tongue would lick the love juice from your innocent little pussy.

What he'd do to have you sitting here next to him... From massacring the men who dare to be interested in you, to sabotaging your mother’s car the day you were supposed to leave Birmingham for a few months because you were genuinely traumatized by him, especially after Gaspard's gruesome death. But Arthur would rather die than live one day without seeing your face, even though it sometimes made him want to gouge out his eyes, for your cuteness submerged his senses each time he would look at you.

But he wanted some more.

So he knocked at your door one night when you were all alone in your house. In truth, he had carefully spied on your mother's phone calls, and he knew she was going to spend the night at your grandparent's home.

When you opened the door, you backed up in fear and looked at him with tears streaming down your face. He was here, towering you with all his height, holding an empty bottle of whisky in one hand, and ropes in the other. A whimper of fear escaped from your lips as he pushed you inside and closed the door behind him, forcing you to welcome him inside. Your heart drummed to the cacophony of your anxiety because his body crashed against yours when he pulled you in a forced hug, his nose brushing your cheek and his whiskey breath fanning your skin as scorching as a dragon’s.

“Arthur, please — “

“That's okay Bunny. I'm not gonna hurt you eh.” He let the rope fall on the ground, as well as the empty bottle that crashed against the wooden floor and broke into pieces.

"Please, you need to stop that!" You begged, but he wasn't listening. Quite the contrary, one of his hands pinned yours above your head, while his other went up your skirt to grab your ass and squeeze it.

“Ye know, I think 'bout ye every day at least a hundred times or more.”

"Let me go, please, let me go!" You tried to fight, but you couldn't move anymore. He was trapping you between his body and the wall. All you managed to do was exhaust yourself. Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat, your words breaking down his core. They were spinning within, intoxicating him as you stopped struggling in his grip and let his calloused hands conquer your body in defeat.

"Hey relax Bunny, not gonna fuck you if that's what yer afraid of. You ain't no whore eh, I wanna spoil you and treats you like the princess you are before we make love, eh." He whispered in your ear before leaving small bites along your neck, his mustache scratching your skin and his body lingering for more. A smile flattered his liquor lips for he could feel your heartbeat, right under your small breasts that were crushed against his chest. "I'll make ye fookin' happy."

"Arthur please, I don't... I don't feel well..." You suddenly said as you felt your head spin.

"I know, Bunny. Don't fight it."

Without understanding what was happening, your body collapsed and Arthur caught you in his arms before you fall on the floor.

"I'm here." He said with a soothing hoarse voice.

His soft smile was the last thing you saw before your darkness fogged your brain. You closed your eyes, your body limp in Arthur's hands. All of your little habits held no secrets for him. He knew your favorite place to go, your favorite type of clothes, and what you liked to read. He even knew that each night, you drank a glass of cold milk before going to bed. That was how he came up with the idea to drug the bottle the milkman brought you earlier.

You let out a little painful moan when you tried to open your eyes, the blinding light fueling the throbbing headache you suffered from since you woke up. Your mouth was as dried as a desert and you didn't remember what happened -- All you knew was that the masculine perfume you smell on the bedsheet wasn't familiar. Forcing yourself to keep your eyes open, you groaned and slowly looked around you, each movement demanding an indescribable effort for your body felt heavy.

You were not in your bedroom, but somewhere you did not know.

That sole information was enough to send a surge of adrenaline in your brain, and you managed to sit on the edge of the bed, panicking despite the cotton-like haze that was still numbing your brain.

"Ar-Arthur?" You called with a weak voice.

"Mornin' little Bunny." He replied, standing from his chair and putting his half-empty bottle of whisky on the nightstand. Then, his slim body smoothly moved to the edge of the bed, on each he sat.

"My head hurts..." You lamented, crystal tears beading at the corner of your honey-like eyes. Arthur replied to your complaint by gently pressing his large and warm hand on your forehead to alleviate the pain. Surprisingly enough, the sensation was pleasant.

"I know, love. You've drunk a bit too much, but you're going to be fine" He whispered, his words as soft as a feather's caress, "All ye need is a well-deserved rest, and when you'll wake up I'll be there and I'll take care of ye, eh." He states, leaning over you. Some strands of hair fell on each side of his face as he brought it closer to yours until his lips crashed against your cheek. You squeezed your eyelids tight when the tip of his nose gently bumped against your skin.

"Yeah, I'll take care of ye." He repeated, the gravel in his voice making your whole body shiver. But you were confused, in pain, and tired. So tired you rolled on your side and snuggled against him.

Arthur smiled.

Somehow he knew it was wrong but it wasn't his fault.

He just loved you a little too much.

Any comment, review, reblog, or constructive criticism is welcome. Your reactions really motivate me and keep me alive, so please don't be shy. English is not my first language.

tagging: @brummiereader because you told me you needed a Yandere!Arthur in your life, babe! also tagging @raincoffeeandfandoms because I don't remember if ya wanted to be tagged on all my works or just Heaven in Your Eyes??

[jiiaian]

the color of roses // a shortfic for @rcttedpeach

He was allowed to take one flower. Each day, just one, trimmed at the joint to keep it growing.

“What do you need them for?”

“There is someone I owe many flowers.”

She smiled knowingly, nodding in the direction of the daisies. No sweet scent, but pretty in a simple, straightforward way. Just like his beloved lady.

He thanked her, bowing too low, and began his work. He chose his daisy at the end of the day and tucked it gingerly into the fold of his shirt.

He always made a point to lay it at her feet like a sacrifice or an offering. She was often sitting at her desk, still, into dusk, but she would always move her chair out from beneath the wood to sit beside him. This evening he chose to kneel before her, staring holes into the floor to avoid looking at the utter shock on her face. Surprise bordered too closely on disgust...

“What are you doing--?”

“I brought you something from the garden.” He fished out the daisy from within his clothes. Its stem had gotten a little battered, but the petals remained.

“O-oh...thank you.” She took it with some hesitation, but she did hold it close to her chest. He smiled, unable to help himself, glad that he had pleased her.

“There are tulips blooming quite beautifully, you know.”

He snipped a yellow one at the base and wrapped it carefully in tissue paper this time.

He knelt before her and bowed his head, setting the singular bouquet upon her lap. She giggled.

“You don't have to kneel...”

“I do.” There is a deference he cannot shake. He feels it only for her, and he must be ever at her feet. She sets the tulip upon her desk and leans forward to pat his head. Platonic, patronizing. But still she has blessed him with her touch.

“There are roses. Be careful of the thorns.”

He took two, because he could not decide between red and pink. Greedy, he was becoming.

He tied their stems together with twine and held them in his palms to her, knees beginning to sting of late. Hours in the garden, time on the wood of her floor. This time she smelled them, noisily, grinning wide. She kept the roses in her lap and squeezed his face between her hands. She ought to have been able to feel the radiant heat, the pulsing through his temples.

“You've been so sweet.”

“I must.”

He must, so staunch he was, once he believed something. Once he had a habit. Flowers each and every day...

On the fourth day, it rained. The plants needed it, but he felt as tearful as the sky. His boss sighed apologetically, placing a hand upon his back.

“I'm sure she'll understand.”

He clenched his fists at his sides.

“But I owe her flowers. Every day.”

She folded her arms then put a finger to her chin. She disappeared and came back with a little book with a flower pressed between its pages.

“You can take this. Read the haiku in it.”

He was unfamiliar with the form, and poetry was difficult for him to understand. But he needed something to give her. He got sent home early from work because of the rain.

He looked over the book as he stood in the hallway of her division. The fairest lilies/do grow even when plucked/drying in windows. He blinked. Lily-of-the-valley...

He read it at her feet, stumbling over the meter, face red in bashfulness as he'd never once read a poem aloud. The book was set in her lap, his knuckles on her knees, the crushed flower laying bare. He saw the page turn wet, and he raised his eyes. She was crying. Yet again. He always seemed to make her cry. In a panic, he slammed the book close and held her hands to his chest. The flower fell out from between the pages and the petals fell off upon the floor.

“What is the matter?”

“I told you, you don't have to be so nice...”

“But I--”

“Don't.” Stern, as if angry, though her face, if he's studied it enough (and he has, staring when he oughtn't be, memorizing her eyes and lips--) just looks sad. Or maybe frightened. What had he done? “Don't say you have to because you love me or whatever bullshit--”

Like a pike through his chest.

“...alright.”

Though she wept, her cheeks were the color of roses. His too. He coughed.

“I will not say it anymore. But I will bring you flowers on days when it's not raining.”

“It rains a lot this time of year.”

“Then I will bring you seven flowers if it rains all week.”

She pursed her lips. He held fast onto her hands. Eventually, after what felt like hours of listening to nothing but the pounding in his head and the rain pouring down, her shoulders sloped and she sniffed back any more crying.

She nodded, and motioned for him to stand as she laid her head in her hand upon her desk. He did as he was told, as always, head bowed as he went for the door.

“Thank you,” she croaked, but a whisper as he stood at the exit. His clothes were just beginning to dry. He'd soak them again soon on the walk back to his room.

“For the gifts? Or for leaving?”

A long silence. He did not turn around.

“Both, Cang. Both.”

[heartfullofleeches]

Soo... Selene with a reader that also have a domestic spirit but have to work, so they wake up a little early so they can make her breakfast? 🥺

Seriously I just want to spoil this woman so much....!!

"What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?"

The question came from nowhere. Selene flushes from being put on the spotlight; stammering.

"O-oh, well, I'd probably have to say blueberry pancakes. My mother actually convinced me I had an allergy till I was about eight due to me going through a whole cart by myself when I was a baby before she had a chance to eat a single one. Why do you ask, dear?"

"No reason..."

-

The next morning, Selene wakes to noise in the kitchen. Removing her sleeping mask, she finds that the sun hadn't even fully risen; the clock beside her reading a little after dawn. She usually got up an hour later to make you some breakfast or pack something for lunch. You weren’t in the bed either. How odd. Slipping on her house shoes and robe, she heads into the kitchen to see what was going on.

"Y/n?"

Entering the room, she finds you hunched over the waffles iron; mixing bowl and a cartoon of blueberries beside you. A small stack of the cakes had already been filled to a plate, you adding another to the pile as she walks in. Hearing her voice, you look back.

"Oh, hey, Selene. I was just about to come wake you up."

"What are you doing?"

"Making you breakfast. You always do the same for me, and I don't usually have the time to make you anything due to work, so I got up early today."

You pick up the plate and set it on the kitchen table, pulling the chair out for her. "Come on before they get cold."

Selene walks over and sits down. Alongside the waffles; syrup, flowers, and a small note rest on the table. You had seen the vase while you were out picking up the fruit; deciding to add them to the surprise. A smile made from blueberries had been arranged over the waffles with too eyes to match. Before picking up her fork, Selene skims over the note.

"Have a good day. Love you! - Y/n."

A warmth hotter than anything she's ever felt spreads across Selene’s face; spreading to her chest. She tries to find words to say, but they all feel too dull to properly convey the way she was feeling right now. This is what it feels like - to be loved; she reminds herself. You had displayed tokens of affection in the past, but every new one always felt like the very first time. There wasn't anything she wouldn't give to show you how happy she was.

"Selene?.. Are you alright?"

She hasn't even realized she started crying; a stream running from her right eye. She quickly wipes them away.

"Yes.. of course, yes, I'm just... so happy right now it's hard to put into words. Thank you, honey."

You smile, kissing the side of her head. "No problem. I have to go get ready, but I'll see you before I head out."

You wonder off, leaving her in the afterglow of the occasion. Picking up her knife and fork, Selene takes her first bite. She can taste the love that you poured into each waffle; trying her hardest not to cry like a baby. She had always been such a sucker to her emotions.

After you shower, and kiss her goodbye, Selene sorts through the cookbooks her father had left her; searching for the perfect meal for dinner. She heads out and buys you the biggest bouquet of roses she could find; picking up an adorable stuffed animal she spotted match. She planned to do everything in her power to show you just how much she appreciated you and that she loved you just as much as you did her, if not moreso.

[lunaastoir]

fluff/relationships w the mondstadt crew

characters included: diluc, kaeya, and jean

gn! reader as always <3

tw: fluff??? domesticity??? crack??? ideal relationships w people who will never be real??? also mentions of alcohol!

an: so i’m back w a sequel to my “fluff/relationships w the liyue crew” since you guys seemed to really like it <3 thank you my heart is literally melting 😩 this post was getting too long so i excluded some of the characters but expect a part. 2 (more like part 3 but part 2 to the mondstadt version)! 

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diluc

man. this MAN.

that’s it, that’s the headcanon. 

he would literally be the most doting lover in the softest ways

SUCH a soft romantic like you thought you knew love??? nah this man will show you what love is

will constantly leave you things around the winery to convey his silent thank you’s and appreciation for you putting up with him being busy for most of the day

it’s always the most thoughtful things ever too like-

you mentioned how nice it would be to have some fresh lemonade with the hotter weather outside but it was too late in the day to actually go to the market in search of fresh lemons 

the next day you walked downstairs only to be greeted with a pitcher of cool lemonade with a side of lemon bars

there was a note attached to the handle of the pitcher <3 

“i recall you mentioning how lemonade would be perfect for the warmer weather so i decided to make some for you this morning. i hope it’s still cool by the time you drink it. love, d” 

pls sir your hand in marriage

he secretly loves it when you usher him to bed after waking up in the dead of night to see him working by candlelight on reports 

soft hands on his cheeks gently whispering about how, it’s been far too long and come to bed, darling and there will be time for this in the morning

his protests are light given the dark purple hues under his crimson eyes but he’ll still make a little fuss 

don’t let this man fool you tho he’s so so touched that you care enough to check up on him and drag him to bed!!

sometimes on the days he has a bit more free time, the two of you will quickly grab your dinners and race to the highest spot in the winery to watch the setting sun

these moments are always filled with laughter, something you’ve found you’re easily able to pull out of diluc, simply because it’s you 

uncontrollable sobbing

he would let you paint his nails black like the angsty man he is 

frankly he would let you do anything to him if it makes you happy <3 

ok but wait diluc w bLACK NAILS?? AND RINGS??? i would die on the spot ⚰️

on the topic of makeup, this man is surprisingly really good w it 

i like to think he learned after practicing on kaeya when they were younger bc kaeya was really into makeup

you found out after babysitting klee one day and trying failing to draw eyeliner on the sweet girl after her “big brother ‘bedo!”

you hastily grabbed some wipes, gently wiping off the messed up design before attempting to dive back in 

diluc however, had some down time so he decided to check up on his favorite chaotic duo 

only to be met with a pile of dirtied makeup wipes, your frustrated expression, and klee’s growing jitteriness 

swiftly moving to your side, he quietly asked if you needed help 

you glanced up quizzically before handing him the eyeliner, already looking around to find more makeup wipes when this inevitably goes wrong 

to your utter surprise tho the eyeliner is perfect??? two perfect winged lines??? in less than a minute??? WHAT

you just stood there like 😦 before diluc got back up and handed you the eyeliner 

you were short-circuiting, klee was ecstatic, diluc was worried about you 

ok last thing abt diluc 

crack! warning but the both of you like lowkey pranking kaeya 

for diluc it’s revenge on his annoying brother; for you it’s good - natured sibling rivalry fun 

every time the two of you see kaeya, one of you always swipes something of his 

small things really, it could be a pen or a handkerchief

one time, diluc swiped kaeya’s spare eyepatch and from the looks of it, kaeya’s only spare black eyepatch bc he was frantically looking for it yk he’s desperate when he even asked diluc if he saw it

the two of you spent an hour nearly laughing your asses off 

all in all, life w him is so sweet 

kaeya

pretty boy? pretty boy. 

while i can’t guarantee stability, life would never be boring w this man that’s for sure

piggy back rides 🗣 piggy back rides 🗣 piggy back rides 

he LOVES it, the feel of you on his back while he’s walking around mondstadt most likely carrying you to your commission 

he finds it comforting especially since he can hear the rumble of your voice against him while you recount stories, or just babble on about everything under the sun 

he is SO dramatic so obviously when y’all reach the site of the commission he has to kill all the monsters even tho the both of you agreed to split it up evenly 

he makes quick work of his set before stealing some of yours much to your chagrin 

you scold him but can you really be mad at him when he looks drop dead gorgeous freezing the hilichurls the answer is no, no you cannot be

oh my god ok wait-

he does this thing where he tries to spook you in public 

so say you’re getting groceries at the mondstadt general store

you round the corner just minding your own business, looking around, taking in the sunshine 

and suddenly you just hear someone drop in behind you but before you can register anything you hear a soft “boo” and hands circle your waist 

you jump SIKE let’s be honest you shrieked 

meanwhile kaeya’s just laughing his ass off 

you can hear his rich peals of laughter while you attempt to regain your bearings 

he does this so often you SHOULD be used to it but you really aren’t bc mans is SNEAKY-

he cards his fingers in your hair whenever you’re speaking 

he doesn’t know why, it’s just a cute habit and he finds the feel of his fingers in your hair soothing

oH on the topic of comfort, kaeya really likes resting two fingers on the back of your neck???

ik he seems like the type to throw his arm around your shoulder which yes he totally is but during more serious conversations his hand automatically seeks out the warmth of your neck 

your neck feels amazing especially during the warmer months due to his chilly fingers contrasting with your warm skin  

he likes that he’s able to access such a vulnerable part of you and you would willingly let him 

HE GETS YOU MATCHING OUTFITS

no i will NOT take criticism on this i just kNOW he’s that type of guy

it would be those stupid “i’m his” and “they’re mine” sweatshirts like BYE 

it’s so cringy but for some reason it’s oddly adorable and you truly despise it but you can’t seem to say no whenever he asks 

you pretend to ignore the look of pity diluc throws your way whenever he sees you like this

kaeya really loves accessories so i think he would be the type to give you a promise ring or something similar to show that he truly does care for you 

he would brush it off, flirting a little like usual before handing you the ring 

with the way his cheeks softly darken though, you know he’s being genuine 

TICKLE FIGHTS ik i mentioned this for childe but shhhh

he has tickle fingers??? his hands just loOK like they’re itching to tickle someone so you’ll most likely be the unfortunate victim 

he will not show you mercy. at all. he’ll tickle you until there are tears streaming from your eyes, your face is hot, and your voice is hoarse from laughing so damn hard 

it gives him such a rush of serotonin its SO CUTE 

i feel like this goes without saying but he’s super into pda,,, anything and everything is on the table 

hand holding? duh. ass grabs? ofc. carrying you bridal style around mondstadt? why not 

ik he’s typically very playful but once the relationship reaches a certain stage, he’ll slowly start to let down the walls that surround his facade 

very very slowly show you the more realistic parts of him 

the real, damaged pieces of his soul 

he’ll be carefully monitoring your reaction though, any sign of fear or disgust will have him recoiling within himself again and you most likely will never see his true nature ever again 

SO BE CAREFUL 👹

once you’ve seen the parts of him he’s offered to you, the hushed whispers of his past, and the uncertain lines of his future, he will take off his eyepatch 

pretends like he’s not super nervous but he’s SWEATING- 

the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen though hands down 

you can understand why he covers it up but you would like it if he felt comfortable enough to take off the eyepatch occasionally when he’s with you 

also!!! sleeps with his eyepatch side facing you (in the event he wears it to bed) 

if this happens you KNOW he trusts you bc it’s his blindside <3 

anyways life w kaeya will never be boring but he is a very complicated man 

stay with him though, i promise it’ll be worth it 

jean

the key to jean’s heart is coffee and food 

GET HER COFFEE AND FOOD

i am begging you she deserves it 😭

the poor woman works so hard bc the knights are so mf understaffed, this is literally the best way you can ever show her your love and appreciation when she has work

she will MELT if you have a hot shower and dinner waiting for her when she inevitably returns later than she promised

will completely refuse at first with, “you did not have to do this, it’s too much” but shush her as you shOULD bc she deserves the entire world 

she’s the definition of “you do something for me, i’ll return the favor ten times grander”

you leave a flower on her desk bc it reminded you of her??? you’ll wake up to find a whole bouquet of the prettiest windwheel asters you’ve ever seen the next morning along with a thank you note

she’s so sweet BYE

she gets flustered extremely easily so you obviously use this as an opportunity to tease her 

when you’re in public rest your hand on her waist and inch it higher until your hand is underneath her shirt and in contact with her warm skin 

she’ll actually short-circuit its quite adorable 

sometimes y’all will be cuddling and you’ll hear whispers of her insecurities 

“am i a good grand master? will i ever be as valiant as vanessa?”

reassure her!!! tell her that she doesn’t need to be like vanessa, she’s already amazing as jean 

if you haven’t seen her in awhile, track her down and schedule a lunch date 

she never misses appointments and if it’s for you, she’ll gladly make time to see you even if she has to stay up even later than usual 

OH-

GIVE HER MASSAGES 

she has so much tension and the sorest muscles from hunching over papers and running around on errands 

if you sneak into her office and quietly stand behind her before gently pushing down on the sore tendons of her neck, she’ll genuinely fall over on her desk 

so make sure you steady her 😀

after you feel how tight her muscles are though, you drag her to barbara bc she needs a healer asap 😭

while most of your time is spent in her office - you helping out in the ways you can while jean is overseeing knight duties - you still have your fair share of life outside of the favonius headquarters

jean never likes to sit still so whenever you have free time, the both of you head off looking for monsters to clear

bouken da bouken???

adventuring w jean is seriously the funnest thing you could ever do 

it’s just non-stop you accidentally getting into trouble and her having to come help you 

even tho the both of you are dead tired after fighting, what? 20 hilichurl camps now??? the laughter and joy in your eyes shows how you both truly loved every minute of it

it’s both a stress reliever, good fun, and a work-out <3

you’re definitely prone to getting dragged to angel’s share w kaeya 

kaeya and jean sometimes hang out after work at the tavern so inevitably you’re dragged along too 

all three of you are drunk out of your minds which just makes everything a MILLION times funnier 

kaeya slurring over his words makes the two of you start cackling endlessly while diluc just shakes his head making sure to not give you more wine despite your pleas 

angel’s share ft. kaeya and bartender diluc are always the best times fr fr 

life with her literally feels like y’all are married 

so much domesticity it’s so NICE ALJDKSFH

your house is always so clean and the color scheme is impeccable bc jean has such a good eye 

you have a chore schedule 😎 but it almost never works out bc jean ends up doing everything without you knowing- 

you always confront her abt it and she’s like 😁 “i had some time so i did them! no worries tho” like i- time??? where bitc-

oH- she has amazing style so you can bet shopping w her is literally the best experience 

she takes you to all of the hidden gems some places lisa recommended and helps you pick out things 

will 100% get really blushy if you come out in something and ask her for her opinion tho she’s literally the cutest

basically jean is a sweet girl who deserves the entirety of teyvat that is all. 

thanks for reading! if you have any requests don’t hesitate to send them in <3 

[writingonpaperpetals]

Reader Who Makes Preserved Flower Epoxy Resin Charms + Receiving A Gift From The Reader

Type: Blurbs

Characters: Ningguang, Ganyu, Xiao, Childe, Jean, Zhongli, Kaeya, Diluc, and Eula

Notes + cw: Apologies if some seem longer than others, tiny death mention cw in Zhongli’s but that’s it maybe

Ningguang is aware of your craft. She buys everything you ask her for your hobbies, even setting aside a room in the Jade Chamber for your work. She is always ready to offer you monetary advice if you want to earn money from your craft, but understands if you do not wish to go down that route and does not pressure you over it.

Upon being gifted the preserved glaze lily pendant, Ningguang holds the trinket close to her chest. Anyone can go out and buy her an expensive trinket, but a handmade gift from you is priceless. It shows her you are willing to dedicate hours of your life towards her, crafting something that comes from your own efforts. She keeps it tucked close to her own heart, viewing it when she misses you.

Ganyu finds your work with resin concerning for your health, but respects your dedication to the craft. She finds your passion genuinely inspiring. Upon being gifted a qingxin flower paperweight, she treasures it gingerly in her hands. For the first few weeks she stresses over keeping it looking nice and fearing the day she gets too hungry and tries to eat it, but as the weeks pass these concerns melt away. Her hands wrap around the paperweight, and she always smiles seeing it on her desk. It makes her stresses go away. And maybe a little hungry.

Xiao is silent, inspecting the small qingxin flower charm in his hand. “It’s...beautiful.” He whispers, his voice barely audible. His mind worries it might get shattered and bring you misfortune. He would never forgive himself if that happened. He thinks of giving it back. He doesn’t want the things you spent so much time and effort on to get damaged or even tainted by his karma. Then your hands clasp over the one holding the charm. “You’re even more beautiful. Keep it.” You say. Xiao is unable to protest against your request. How can he, when you told him to keep it just now?

He wordlessly puts it away in his pocket.

Later he hangs it off his sash.

Childe smiles brightly as you present him a preserved sweet flower with starshell pieces floating in the resin, making it glitter in the sun. “Thanks for the good luck charm, sweetness. I’ll keep it close!” He holds it up to the light, watching the sun shine through the flower. The clear resin reminds him of the unforgiving ice of his homeland, the starshell bits freezing cold diamond dust, but the sweet flower blooming within will always remain eternal. Resolute and undying.

Yes, he thinks, this is a fine gift from you. He has it molded to a pin and kept on his scarf, proudly wearing it like a medal.

Jean becomes briefly speechless when presented with the dandelion puff resin necklace. She wonders how much time you put into it for her and almost feels embarrassed accepting it, but she knows it would break your heart to refuse it. She finds it quiet pretty, the sunlight refracted in the resin making the dandelion puffs shimmer bright in her hand. “Reader, thank you very much.” She says.

Lisa catches a glimpse of the necklace and won’t stop teasing her about it, making Jean flush red. It’s such a romantic gesture out of the romance novels she’s so fond of reading. It also reminds her of your own smile, sweet as the gentle path of a dandelion.

Zhongli’s slitted eyes trace over the epoxy resin preserved petals and leaves in the bookmark you present him. He can easily identify silk flowers, glaze lilies, qingxin flowers, sweet flowers, mist and fire flower petals in the bookmark. He knows the exact places those flowers bloomed as well. He treasures such an item. Zhongli is always willing to tell you the best places to get the prettiest flowers and the ideal preservation conditions to keep them fresh looking until you preserve them.

One day, he can hope to preserve your wedding bonquet this way. So he can remember the happy times you shared with him when you’re gone.

Kaeya chuckles when presented with the resin preserved Calla Lily trinket. The resin is clear with mist flower petals framed around the single calla lily bud.

“I don’t need a good luck charm when I already got the best one right next to me.” He teases, hooking an arm around you and pressing a kiss to your forehead. He holds it in his palm, admiring its beauty. Kaeya then smiles at you. “I’ll keep it close. It reminds me of you, after all.” He keeps the charm hanging off his belt next to his vision.

He feels a little less lonely whenever he’s wearing it, and he appreciates that so much more than he can ever outright say.

Diluc, much like Ganyu, worries for you health but remains supportive of your passion. Everything you make is a reflection of you, and he loves it all. He always offers to buy you resources you need. When presented with a charm you made, he handles it gingerly in his gloves. A flat rectangle with a falcon feather and small lamp grass buds in the clear resin. He holds it as if it’s a delicate piece of glass and not a chunk of firm material.

“Sucrose helped me treat the lamp grass with something to help it glow in the dark even while dead in the charm, but I made it small if you want to hide it away for stealth purposes.” You explain. “Or just don’t expose to light.” Diluc nods. He doesn’t say anything.

“Is something the matter?” You ask, worry setting in that he doesn’t like it.

Diluc begins shaking at your words, eyes watering. He’s unable to hold in his feelings.

“It’s beautiful. I’ll cherish it.”

Eula holds the teal dandelion puff and dark blue mist flower petal charm in her hand. She folds her fingers over it. Her grip on it reminds you of the crushing way she destroys the symbol of her family when bored. The strength and passion behind that simple gesture always entranced you. Here, though, you get a safe, protective sense from her strong grip. As if her fingers are a jealous snowdrift burying a mountain peak from the world so time could never mar it with its passage. A part of her almost doesn’t want to wear it but keep it to herself so it wouldn’t get damaged. But it wouldn’t be fair to you. She slides it in her blue hair.

“No words could ever convey how much this means to me.” She says. “I’ll proudly wear it always.”

[lilblueorchid]

Thought process and easter egg on the Digimon Anniversary Illustration! 

Hello everyone, today I feel like explaining some stuff over my Digimon Illustration, mostly why I drew thing this way or point out some little details and easter eggs you might have missed. ;)

Click on read more if you want a LENGTHLY explanation with a lot of rambling from me, or if not you can just enjoy the process gif. <3 

The Digimon illustration was a special one for me for different reasons. Firstly, obviously, Digimon! It was a show I grew up with, and I find it quite fitting that after a tough year of graduation movie under a pandemic, in which I really experienced the pain of growing up, I ended up finding back Digimon. 

Secondly, as a child, I remember spending HOURS looking for fanarts online! I would save all the ones I found pretty and keep them preciously, i still have the folders actually haha. While pursuing art, I always had in mind thatI wanted one day to make a fanart my child self would have gone crazy over! And, i think I achieved that with that one haha. 

Anyway LET’S START! Shall we? 

First off : the illustration process

When I do an illustration I always do a quick draft first, and most of the time, in colors. I think I’m more of a “color” person than a “line” person, I tend to need to see colors quickly in order to see if it’s ok. 

For this one, I’ve always had in mind it would be a double illustration, with the older Tai’s silhouette acting as a frame for the children illustration. It was a bit tricky, I had to make the children illustration fit nicely into his silhouette, it was hassle around the neck area, that’s why I made little Taichi stand up haha. Also used Mimi’s hat to balance the picture : the bottom part is very heavy and there’s only sky in the upper part, adding the hat helps making it more balanced. 

The character were the longest and the most challenging part by far. As you can see I had 3 different steps : super rough, they’re almost like stickmen and smiley face, a more detailled one in which I figure out their actual pose and anatomy, then a last one in which I fix some proportion, add details and clean. Fun fact I don’t clean over a new layer... i just erase the unwanted part of my sketch. :’D

I did a quick pass over the BG after that, then I colored the characters in flat colors before rendering them. It was a back and forth between the BG and the characters to make sure everything was working together nicely. 

Now was the time to render the BG, I did the tramway first, the flower field after. Fun fact, I did my flower field study in order to know how to approach the flowers in this illustration! If your have the time, i totally recommend finding a photograph close to the kind of BG you wanna do, and make a study of it so you can try your hand at it first and go into your own BG later with an idea of how to approach this.

Adjust colors, add flower petals and butterflies and emotional text, slap over a paper texture, and THERE. You have it! On to the next part now...

The meaningful details and easter eggs

Be aware there will be spoilers for Digimon Adventure 01 (but I assume you already know it), but also for Digimon Adventure : Last evolution Kizuna, which is the conclusion of the first serie. So read at your own risk! 

The tramway is obviously a reference to the end of Digimon Adventure 01. The kids used it to go back to their world, so It was their goodbye to their Digimon at this moment. In Kizuna, Tai and Matt find the tramway trapped in crystal in Menoa’s fake memory world. Hinting that had they been caught by her, their memories would have brought them back here.

Tailmon has Kari’s whistle! At the end of Digimon Adventure 01, Kari gives it to her as a memento. 

When I drew Sora, I had in mind how she was in Kizuna, very stressed out by her mom’s expectation, which led her to neglect Piyomon. She realized it too late, and after that she refused to fight because she wanted to keep Piyomon with her as long as possible. Tragically, she was the first one to lose her Digimon. Here I tried to convey a softness and a kind of “I won’t forget to appreciate you” vibe in the way she holds Piyomon’s hand. As for Mimi and Palmon, in Digimon adventure 01 Palmon was very emotionally affected by Mimi’s departure, so, a hug was fitting. :’) 

The screens on the Tramway display DA for Digimon Adventure, and also 01.08.1999 which is the date of the children’s journey’s beginning. :) 

The little drawings also show the 8 crests. 

There are butterflies flying over the illustration, it’s a reference to Butter-fly, the first Digimon opening, by the late Koji Wada. 

"I'll become a happy butterfly, and ride on the glittering wind, I'll come and see you soon. “

Now, let’s the see the counterpart of the illustration. The one with the grown up Tai from Kizuna.

I made him wear the hoodie he had in his very last adventure with Agumon.... but truthfully the reason is that I think hoodies are cool lol. And the hood’s volume gave me more space in the silhouette, which made it easier for me to do the other illustration inside.

You don’t see it clearly, but he is holding his Digivice, albeit the darkened version once his partner bond with Agumon is broken. The Tai in this illustration has already lost Agumon. (Yes it was painful for me to go fetch the screenshots)

He is also holding his dear signature google he used to wear as a child. Fun fact, I rewatched the older movies, and as a kid he even used to sleep with it, how cute haha. 

Also yes, the crest of Courage over his hand, which is his own. I’m so dumb I realize I should have made the time counter from the movie instead of the crest for a maximum emotional hurt impact. 

And the quote is from one of the trailer for Kizuna, I think.....................

But then you go : Oh that illustration is so depressing then! Well. Yes. But no. but yes. But not really. 

One of my favorite shot of the movie is this one : this is after Tai and Agumon learn their time together is limited. Agumon asks him if they will have to go separate ways once Tai is all grown up. Tai doesn’t answer, and takes him to eat something instead, as Agumon was hungry. In this shot Agumon eats to his heart content next to Tai, who’s not eating at all and just watches him fondly. I love that the framing doesnt show agumon. It’s a foreshadowing of their unavoidable separation. 

At the very end of the movie, Tai write in his thesis about Human and Digimon’s relationship that Agumon was like a part of himself.

In a way, Agumon symbolizes childhood, the carefree days we would spend as a kid, with our big dreams and hopes. When you grow up, you tend to forget those simple emotions because you get swallowed into the stress of studies, figuring out your carreer, your life path. Just like us, Tai forgot this part of himself. In the madness of growing up, he lost Agumon. 

However, it’s not the end. He will pick himself back up. He will move forward in life despite his worries and incertainities, and he will find himself again. Therefore, he will find Agumon again. The kids in the illustration are waving goodbye, but it’s not goodbye, it’s a see you later.  In the meantime, Tai is holding on to these precious memories, until they meet again.