#i'm trying to write another not-flares one but we'll see

[bloody-teared-angel]

The Sins are underused and plain just wasted

TW: Talk about SA, r*pe and a*use

And it hurts so bad yk?

First fumble is that we'll probably never get all 7 Deadly Sins in the same room (Lucifer in HH the rest in HB) - which already puts a damper on a lot of things.

Bee being disgusted by Mammon was already talked about but I'm going to bring it up again. Bee being disgusted with Mammon is not only hypocritical but downright stupid. Bee should be high on serotonin (since she feeds off of vibes) since Mammon was overindulging on unhealthy food - with her being the Sin of Gluttony and all.

These two should have been besties, I rest my case.

(Before I go on, there are no 'good' Sins. None. All Seven Sins go hand in hand one Sin usually leading up to the other)

Missed opportunity with Satan being an actual ruler of Hell before being dethroned. It would add some depth and complexity to the worldbuilding/characters. It would paint Lucifer in a bad light, sure (and would solidify his Sin of Pride) Satan's wrath in being dethroned, having to Rule only one ring instead of entirety of Hell, then Lucifer dips and Satan has to shoulder more work. (Brilliant)

(I'm not taking anything what Miss Medrano says on twitter, if it's not said in the story, it's not cannon)

Asmodeus is a wasted opportunity - his ties to Angels/Heaven - Azazel/Remiel - or Lilith/Adam - being a Nephilim (probably the only surviving one) in lore, Asmodeus was born by 'angels' seed and daughter of a man' in other Adam, The First Man was a*used and SAd by Lilith for over hundred years which resulted in Asmodeus.

Then there's the whole deal with Sarah, her murdered husbands out of jealousy, then him getting banished by Archangel Raphael - what I'm trying to say that Asmodeus' lore is rich and full of potential, which was not utilized - and could explain quite a bit about his characterization on HB and why consent is important for him.

Lucifer is not off the hook either, for he wronged both Adam and Eve (also depending on lore) started war in Heaven because of his PRIDE, caused fall of over quarter(?) of Heaven (as high as Dominion) and fathered Cain - which was another SA (if memory serves correctly) - reducing his to this 'innocent hopeless depressed dreamer' is not only doing a disservice to his character but to Eve and Adam too, along with their children.

Envy - here I'm going to get technical, so you can ignore my ramblings here - Leviathan was one of the Beasts created by God (depends on the lore and also can't look into my notes now) who got defeated by Jophiel and from a piece of their flesh was born Livyatan - the Sin of Envy - and Hellmouth - depends, in some, Leviathan was still the serpent, in the Sea of Envy in Hell. Envy and Pride go hand in hand (both Pride and Envy caused Lucifer's fall)

I think Mammon flirting with Envy would work in a setting where Bee and Mammon are besties, then Mammon starts giving attention to Bee, irking Leviathan and making their Envy flare up

Sloth - laziness and apathy, said person not wanting to work, resourcess being wasted - I think during the court proceedings, Belphegor should not have voted or if prompted enough, be completely apathetic towards everyone in the room - this is the shortest since....I don't have my notes and run on memory alone

(Also, everything depends on lore, what part of religion it is taken from - in some Lucifer and Samael are the same person in some not, Lucifer and Satan are the same and in some not - and so on and so forth)

I hope this makes sense and can see where I was going with this.

Edit: None of the Sins are Fallen Angels, not even King Paimon - not even the rest of Goetia since all of them are siblings all fathered by King Paimon and I do believe with this writing decision in order to vilify Heaven as much as possible, Miss Medrano keeps writing herself into corners

[mxxnlightwriting]

Writemas Day 2

Thanks to @agirlandherquill for hosting this challenge!

Tari's Note: Oh, I had so much fun writing this yesterday, and I'm doing it again today because now my brain has ideas™ and I must write them down (I've missed this feeling). This one is technically a continuation from Day 1, but it's a different POV so you don't need to read Day 1 to enjoy this one (I'm trying to keep them all connected). Also, please excuse any typos! I’ll be writing these directly here so they’ll have minimal editing. Thanks for understanding.

Writemas Day 1

Prompt: The smell of a bakery Synopsis: Rae's day goes from bad to worse when she realises everyone in her town already knows her ex is back in the old cabin. Genre/age group: adult contemporary (I’ll turning this into a sapphic romance just so you know) Warnings: Swearing (once) Word Count: 0.7k

Rae dug into her third slice of blueberry pie of the day, ignoring the worried glances her brother and best friend threw her way. She was grateful none of them asked her what had gotten into her because if one of them asked, she'd probably combust right on the spot.

Just thinking about it made her nostrils flare. Fourteen years. Fourteen years of no messages, no phone calls, no contact. After fourteen years, she should've been over this, no? She should be a well-adjusted woman in society, not someone who apparently couldn't function at the sight of her first love.

You're so embarrassing, Rae, she thought as she shoved some more pie inside her mouth. She leaned back on the leather booth, crossing her arms over her chest, taking in the slow movement of her brother's bakery. Most people stopped by to get a final order or to take some of the remaining pies for dinner.

She inhaled the sweet scent of baked goods and tried to relax in the only place in this town that didn't remind her of Emily. At the thought of her, she massaged her temples, trying to get the image of her at the door out of her head.

"Everything alright?" Ginny asked. She had her curly hair in a low ponytail, her golden skin flushed from the heat of the bakery. "Do you need another slice?"

Before she could answer, the bakery's bell rang as Mrs Mueller stepped inside at a fast pace, her eyes wide.

"Henry!" she yelled as she walked towards the counter, out of breath. "Where's Rae?"

"He's in the kitchen, Henrietta," Ginny said, looking at the woman over her shoulder. "And Rae's here."

Some of the panic faded from the old woman's features and she joined Rae in the booth, her eyes glancing at the empty plate and then at her.

"So you already know," Mrs Mueller said, nodding to herself. She patted Rae's hand, hers cold from the weather outside. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll talk with my book club friends and we'll find a way to send her away. Now that her grandfather's dead, they'll probably sell the property anyway!"

"Henrietta!" Ginny said as if she was reprimanding a small child. "Don't speak ill of the dead!"

"I'm not speaking ill of the dead! I'm speaking ill of Emily. That girl is trouble."

Tell me about it, Rae thought. Whenever Emily was around, trouble was soon to follow.

"Just let her be," Rae eventually said, trying to seem casual about the whole thing. "And I doubt they'll sell the property."

She stood from her chair and grabbed the plate from the table, disappearing into the kitchen area, where her brother sang under his breath to the radio as he finished cleaning the counters.

"What did Henrietta want?" he asked, lifting his eyes to look at his sister. "Was this about the furniture in the driveway? I told her you'd take care of it."

"I took care of it." Rae dropped her plate and fork in the industrial sink. She gripped its surface and pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to speak the words out loud. She couldn't. "Emily's back."

Saying her name out loud was like someone punching her in the gut. Seeing her in person was ten times worse.

"Oh," was all Henry said for a while. "And Henrietta was here to tell you that, is it?" Rae nodded, feeling her brother's gaze on her. "But you already knew because she was the one responsible for the furniture in the driveway. Wasn't it?"

Rae looked at her brother. He nodded in understanding when their eyes met.

"I told her it was nice to see her again which was obviously a fucking lie." Rae let out a bitter laugh. "And now Mrs Mueller is set on telling her book club friends her master plan to drive Emily away from town."

"And do you want that?" he asked, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Rae leaned on the sink and hugged herself, keeping her eyes on her brother as she said, "What I want doesn't matter, Henry."

"Right," he said, shaking his head slightly. "Keep lying to yourself, sis. You won't get closure that way, though. And we both know you're in dire need of it."

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[quinloki]

hello! i wonder if you still do the kinky one piece headcanon? if you do, could you please do ace, zoro, and smoker with brat taming, hate sex, and dirty talk? please and thank you!

feel free to customise this according to your liking ;)

You guys are hitting me with some good stuff I swear - but it's officially my long weekend start, so I can knock a few of these out if that's what I'm feeling like XD

Brat Taming, Hate Sex and Dirty Talk? Good, good options - I might end up with a more rival vibe, enemies starting to realize they're in deep for the hate sex, more than actual like angry-angry sex. We'll see how the mood carries me.

(I generally write these in one big go, for better or worse XD)

We'll go with the quasi alphabetical order you've provided (go go last names first alphabetical ordering).

Portgas D. Ace:

Brat Taming - Yes - Ace doesn't get into it too much, he makes a better brat than brat tamer, but he doesn't dislike it. He assumes his preference is in dealing with a brat that's not too willful, but if you give him serious hell one day and he doesn't use any safe words, he ends up pinning you down and fucking the brat straight out of you.

Emotions were flared, skin was flared, hell Ace probably literally caught on fire at some point. The whole thing was just hot and you were both an exhausted sweaty mess as the end of it. Switch that he is, he start leaning a little less 50/50 and more 70/30.

Hate Sex - Ace is completely undecided on this kink if you ask him, but if there's that one person - a rival probably, someone he keeps managing to cross proverbial swords with, someone who can keep up with him and with whom there never seems to be a clear winner. If at some point he and that one person end up crossing more than just swords he'll wake up the next day with a few revelations.

The sex was amazing, and the entire night was the two of you fighting for dominance. Ace will swear he won out, but hell, so will you, it probably starts another fight. But it was really really good sex, and oh god he didn't even know.

Dirty Talk - I guess - he's bad with words. He's so, SO BAD with words, bless his fiery little heart. He's a man of action. His words can be good, and they often come from the heart, and he has dropped some dirty talk in the midst of a good session, but he can't think about it, cause once he does he doesn't know what words to use. Whether he's the one gasping and moaning, or making you gasp and moan, he's more comfortable with the formless sounds of pleasure than trying to put it to words.

If you can get him blissed out and little and prompt him though, he's really good at it. But he can't realize it, that's the tricky part.

Roronoa Zoro:

Brat Taming - FUCK Yes - He likes the challenge of it. He'll grumble the entire time, he'll say it bothers him, he'll quip that you should just take things and stop struggle against him, but he loves it. It's like fighting with the shitty cook but better. He loves the banter, he loves the look in your eyes when he glares at you at the little bead of sweat slips down your back.

What he really enjoys is the conquest, and he's going to conquer you every single time. He loves the little quiver in your lip when your brattiness breaks and the shuddering intake of air before he claims your lips and shuts you up. He'll never admit to it, but he'll never say a safe word to get you to stop, and one the very rare occasions he doesn't have the focus for it, he'll kiss your cheek and pull you into his lap for a nap.

Hate Sex - rather not - Zoro can be, to be, completely feral in bed. He can be in control, he can let you control, he can be gentle, he can go from sunset to sunrise, and he can also go for months without so much as masturbation and be perfectly fine.

The one thing I think he needs is a connection. It's not that he couldn't just fuck, it's that he'd rather not. That feral part will be missing - there's just not going to be the same kind of enjoyment. It'll feel mechanical and it just doesn't vibe with him. The closest Zoro will get to hate sex is if he hasn't realized his feelings for someone are love.

But even if those cases, "hate" or "dislike" aren't the words he'd use to describe how he feels about the other person.

Dirty Talk - If you like being talked dirty to it's a Oh god you don't even know, but if you don't like being talked dirty to, it's a I guess. He doesn't have much of an opinion on it, but he is an Adept Student, and that's one of his strongest points when it comes to kinky things. He'll learn from you, adapt, adjust, discard what doesn't hit right, keep what does. He knows that the tone, volume, and octave of his voice can effect you almost more than the actual words.

He knows dirty talk isn't just the speech itself, it's the aura, the grip, the tug of hair or the pressure holding your body in place. It's a full package deal and don't doubt that he could talk you into an orgasm once he got good enough at it.

Smoker:

Brat Taming - Oh God you don't even know - this man is the Daddy Dom. Sorry, sorry to anyone out there, but I'm not even talking strictly Age Play when I say this. He's got that "Your Superior" vibe, and that DILF energy has nothing to do with actual fatherhood. He grips you by the nape of your neck and tells you to kneel while bringing you to your knees, and half the movement is because they're already weak from the sound of his voice.

Smoker isn't concerned how willful you are or aren't as a brat, at the end of the day you're going to shatter underneath him, one way or another. (He's a sweetheart at his core, he's not going to like, break you against your boundaries or anything.)

Hate Sex - No - Consent is king with this man. Agreements, safe words, contracts even - he's not getting into kinks with someone without express consent. Maybe it's the marine in him, I think it's because he's 60% Strong Daddy Dom Vibes and 40% Cinnamon Roll. He's just Too GODDAMN Sweet at the end of the day.

Brat taming, which he loves, is about as close as he'll ever get to hate sex. Now, make-up sex, that's a possibility.

Dirty Talk - Yes - and he's good at it too. He's more of a "bend to my will" kind of talker in the bedroom, lil' praise, lil' degradation if it turns you on, and dirty talk is certainly mixed in there as well. It's not going to be a large part of the night, but he's just as likely to force you to talk dirty as he is to talk dirty to you.

He's certainly more of a "Tell me what you want in exacting detail, and the better you are at it the better you'll be rewarded."

Kinky One Piece head canons

[umbracirrus]

Snippet Sunday!

So, @hircines-hunter tagged me in a snippet sunday post before, and yeah, I think I can do that :3 Done quite a bit of writing over the past few days for anyone but Elyse who is who I'm wanting to write for right now😭

Here's a bit of chapter 3, possibly chapter 4 of Tempest!

--------------------

Brynjolf, I'm alive. Somehow. A dragon attacked Helgen when I was scoping the town out… I would have been done for if not for a soldier seeing me alive in the rubble, apparently. I'm not in the best way at the moment. Burns and broken bones. Currently in the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun, the priestess here has been tending to my injuries. I don't think I'll be in a state suitable for travel for a while. I'll be staying in Whiterun for the foreseeable future. I am sorry to ask this of you, but could you send me the belongings which I had intended to collect from Riften? I desperately need clothes. My own clothes specifically. I appreciate that I've been given some spare clothes from the temple to wear… but they smell terrible. And don't fit. Don't forget the armour either… you know the one. I've got the blade with me still, thankfully. Take care of yourself and the guild. You'll do great as the boss, Bryn. T.

Thorne had felt almost hesitant handing that letter over to the courier alongside a small bag of coin which Danica had kindly given to her after she had mentioned wanting to send a letter to her family. The priestess didn't need to know that the 'family' which she was talking about was the Thieves Guild. And thanks to her decision to distance herself from them… well, they weren't really her family now anyway.

All that she could do now was wait for a response, ideally with her belongings accompanying it, and hang around Whiterun. Danica had told her not to venture too far from the temple, just in case her injuries were to flare up any, so she had settled on sitting on a bench under the tree just outside the temple, picking flowers from around the bench and fiddling with their petals. It did, admittedly, frustrate her that she could hear a preacher of Talos crying out from nearby, but she did her best to try and ignore it by instead focussing on the sound of flowing water.

After a short while of hanging around there, she suddenly snapped to attention when she heard her name being called out, and frantically glanced around until she noticed Farkas descending the stairs leading to Jorrvaskr in the company of another man… who didn't half look similar to him. A brother or something?

"Thorne! It's good to see that you're out of the temple," Farkas grinned as he made his way over to her, grabbing the wrist of the other man in the process. "How are you doing? Injuries any better?"

"I… I'm okay, yes. Still some problems and pain, but… I'm getting better," she responded, noticing how the man in his company was now giving her a scowl. He really didn't seem friendly in the slightest. "Who is…?"

"Oh! This is my twin, Vilkas," he stated, giving Vilkas a playful nudge with his elbow. "Don't mind him. He isn't too friendly with anyone until you get to know him."

Vilkas made a quiet grunt noise as he shook his head. "We've got a job to do, Ice Brain. Come on."

Farkas frowned, then let out a sigh as Vilkas started walking away without another word. "Sorry about him. We'll chat again when I'm back, yeah?" He began to walk away, trying to keep pace with his brother. "And do consider what I mentioned the other day about joining us when you're feeling better!"

[missglittersmiles]

Noble To The Core- CH. 6

Descendants × Fem! ReaderSummary: Saturday is when the fun begins.

Prev Chapter

 •| ⊱ Wigs Part 1 ⊰ |•

Dear Family,

I'm afraid I have misplaced some of my letters I've written on the first day because I can't find them. I would have rewritten all of them, but I have been doing a lot of writing and my hand hurts. As you can already tell, this handwriting isn't my own. My roommate Frida Sutree has offered to write for me.

I am more than thankful that she is my roommate. We might even be reaching the point of calling each other friends. After a brief conversation, it is safe to say that I have made a friend here.

Everything is going well enough. The first day was eventful, and most of my time has been doing tests. The school wants to see what my academic level is. I can proudly say that I have been working hard! There hasn't been a moment where I haven't missed all of you. I hope you are all doing well.

Hopefully, in the next letter, I'll be the one writing it and I won't lose it. I still don't know what could have happened to them.

Next week is when I'll be starting my classes. I can't wait to see what it'll be like. Though regardless of how we did on the tests, we'll all be taking Remedial Goodness 101. They didn't explain much about it, but I have a basic idea of what it is. They also let us choose some classes. Aside from the required one, I'm most excited for art. I'll try to write to you soon. I love you all!

XOXO

y/n Vainira.

"Remedial Goodness 101?" The woman could feel a fire flaring up in her as she washed the dishes with her husband. The man gave her a sympathetic look, but she was too focused on scrubbing the dishes. "It's not like they could do anything. They're just kids. And they made a whole class because they don't think they'll behave or have basic morals? The gall to even think that. You know what it reminds me of—"

There was a slight cracking sound coming from the plate she was scrubbing. He gently grabbed the woman's wrist, stopping her movements. When she looked at him, the frustration in her eyes softened. She realized that she almost broke another plate. A sigh escaped her lips.

"I just worry. I'm already wondering if I made the wrong choice by letting her go there." He couldn't give her any comforting words without lying. It wasn't like he could speak anymore. So all he could do was rub circles on her wrist with his thumb. Tears poured down the woman's wrinkled face.

"I'm just scared that something's going to happen to her, and I can't even be there for her." She turned her head away from her husband. She hated being seen crying by anyone.

"But y/n's a good girl. She'll be fine. She's always been lucky." Her words sounded desperate. He let go of her wrist and held her hand. The two could only hope that their fears wouldn't come true.

For a brief moment, there was frustrated anger in her. It wasn't directed at y/n's future tribulations and her own inability to help her child. It was toward the one who was holding her hand so gently right now.

If only he hadn't been so reckless and fanatic, they wouldn't even have to be worrying about this. To her, it felt like the obvious choice was to throw everything behind. They could have run away. Left Vrahan that place only seemed to give him trouble anyway. Then they could find a new place to start their family. That's what they should have done. That should have been her ending.

It was either his extremist pride or his belief in this grandiose picture that led him down this path. He had spent years going to war with his only family. So much blood tainted the land he called home. He couldn't just throw that away, no matter how much she begged and cried. Love wouldn't win against a sword.

But in the end, it was both their fault for ending up here. Codrin with his unwavering belief and her own willingness to follow him to the end. They were the ones to bring children into this world. They brought this situation upon themselves.

She cracked a small, wistful smile at the image of her children. All of them are so different from one another, but still so precious. They were the ones who made her feel alive on this hellish island. "Everything will be fine." She said aloud. He squeezed her hand, and she responded with one as well. A wordless apology to each other and hope that her words were true.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The idea of going clothing shopping for the new students had been stirring around in Ben's mind for a while now. He wasn't against the shabby look of their clothes. They were fine, but everything looked like they had been through a number of fights. There were holes and poor stitches that were barely holding the fabric together.

Not to mention the backhanded comments from other students. No one said anything when the five were around, but when they were out of sight, so many snide remarks slipped out from the students' mouths. Sometimes they'd say it openly in front of Ben as if trying to bait a reaction out of him. Of course, he never caved in and gave them what they wanted.

He wasn't going to say that he regretted his choice. From what little he has seen of the five, they all seem to be a well-rounded bunch. Just a little different from everyone here, but that didn't make them bad. Their blood didn't mean they were any less than them. No one's future was determined.

So when Frida came up to Ben and asked if she could take y/n out for some shopping. He couldn't hide his grin. His plan of trying to integrate the Island kids was working faster than he thought.

"You don't have to ask for my permission." Ben's words were followed by a slight chuckle. Frida gave him a dubious look, which stopped his laughter. He went silent for a moment before realizing that asking for permission was probably the best thing.

As much as he didn't want the school to be a prison cell for the five. He couldn't exactly let them leave school grounds without some sort of security following behind them. It was a bit dehumanizing, he knows, but his parents believed that this was a safety net of sorts. Things could be worse. He just hoped that, over time, everyone would learn to respect one another.

Frida waited for the prince's response. Watching his face shift from mild sadness to his usual sunny self. "That is a great idea!" He gasped before adding, "We should plan a whole day for them to get out of school and do some shopping!" Frida stood as still as a statue and watched Ben go on and on.

She wasn't into fashion, but she thought updating y/n's wardrobe would brighten her mood. The Island girl had become less enthusiastic as the first week went on, and it wasn't just her missing letters that were bothering her. When Frida asked what was wrong, all she'd say was that she was tired and was missing home.

It was clear that wasn't the only problem, but she never pushed y/n to give her the full answer. Why bother forcing it out? That usually leads to hostility. Still, she was glad to have Ben back up her idea. She wasn't sure about adding the other four to their little field trip, but she'd put up with it.

The rest of that free period was spent talking about what shopping would look like. It was mostly Ben brainstorming aloud and Frida trying to get back to her classwork.

'At least we have everything planned out, I guess. Well, that's if the King and Queen agree.' Frida thought glumly as the bell rang. She was still slightly upset that her classwork wasn't partially finished. It threw off her whole schedule. With the appearance of y/n, she had thrown everything in for a loop.

Later that day, when school was over, Ben made a beeline towards the palace. It wasn't too far from the school, just a little over half an hour ride. When the carriage came to a stop, he practically jumped out and sprinted in. He quickly found his mom in the library. If she wasn't anywhere else, then she was there.

When Ben loudly busted down the door, Belle slightly jumped at the sudden noise. She looked up from her book with curiosity at who had rudely entered the room. Much to her surprise, it was Ben.

Belle looked at the clock and asked, "Don't you have tourney practice?" Ben shook his head, then thought for a moment before nodding. "Usually, yes, but all the bats have gone missing. Every single one, even the spare ones. Everyone thinks Percy is behind it, and I don't want to be quick to judge- ah. That doesn't matter right now. That's not why I'm here right now."

She was getting to the good part of the book, but she put it down and put all her attention on Ben. Not interrupting once while he talked on and on about getting the Isle kids new clothes. He wanted them to pick their clothes themselves instead of some random person doing it for them. He also wanted them to experience more than just the school. There was a whole world that they had yet to know about.

The whole time Ben spoke, his eyes sparkled with excitement and hope. He was hoping that with these five, they could show that rehabilitation was possible for some of the children of the Isle. With them being a success story, other kids could join the rehabilitation program as well. But at the same time, there wasn't anything wrong with wanting them to enjoy their time here.

Once Ben finished speaking, he looked at his mom. He looked at her with pleading eyes. Belle gave him a sympathetic smile as she said, "Let's talk to your father about this." She watched his shoulders slump slightly. They both knew how this would end, but he would need permission from both parties.

And so, during dinner, another debate between Father and Son began. Ben didn't bother easing into things or touching his food. When the king took his seat at the head of the table, Ben brought up his idea. Catching everyone off guard. Belle played moderator during the whole discussion to keep things from getting out of hand.

The two were so stubborn that it wasn't amusing to Belle anymore. In the end, the king declared that those five were to stay on school grounds until he believed that they wouldn't try to run away or something worse. Ben was going to argue more until Belle called his name. Her voice was as stern as her expression. Silently telling Ben to back down.

Ben bit his tongue and nodded his head. If his mom wasn't going to back him up, then there was no point in fighting with his father. It'd be an uphill battle, but regardless of the obvious loss, Ben was thinking.

Just as the room had calmed down, Ben spoke up to bring back the tension. "At least let me, Chad, Audrey, and Frida be the ones to pick out their clothes. We'll ask what they like, and then we'll get it." He turned to his mom while saying, "It's better to have us do it than some random strangers, right?"

Already wanting to be done with this topic in general. The king agreed, which ceased further conversations about the Isle kids. With that, Ben spent his free time silently thinking to himself.

It didn't take him long to plan out this idea. All that needed to be done was to get the cogs moving. There were definitely some cogs that wouldn't move, but a little oil would loosen them.

During the wee hours in the morning, Ben woke up. He didn't bother waiting around to join his parents for breakfast. There was too much to be done. He was on a timer, and his deadline was Saturday.

In his closet, he spent a good moment looking through clothes. Trying to find something that didn't look too flashy or make him stand out. Then he finally settled on a simple white button-up and some brown pants. He looked in the mirror and messed up his hair. With his hair looking like a bird's nest, he looked a little less recognizable. If someone were to really look at him, then they'd probably realize who he was.

He ordered his carriage, which surprised the servants by how early it was. Still, an order was an order, and they began preparing everything for the prince. While his ride was getting ready, he grabbed a bag and threw his usual clothes in there, along with a purse with too many coins in it.

When the carriage was ready, equipped with a horse and a coachman, Ben's parents were waking up. Just as he was about to enter, he turned to the servant standing by. "Tell Mom and Father that I said good morning for me." He said with a smile before jumping in.

As always, the ride between the castle and the school was long and boring. It was the main reason why he has his own room in the dorm. He used to share his dorm room with someone, but his parents unrolled him with the announcement about the Isle kids. Ben seemed to have lost a bit of respect amongst his peers and even friends because of his decision.

Ben didn't regret any of this, but he does wish some of his friends didn't leave him behind. Or at least tried to understand where he was coming from.

His social circle may have diminished quite a bit, but at least he had Audrey and Chad. They were still opposed to the Isle kids, yet were willing to support Ben. It seemed like Frida Sutree, the recluse princess, would be joining them in their effort. Though it seemed like Frida was only interested in y/n. Which was a small victory to Ben regardless.

As the carriage entered the town, Ben told the coachman to stop when he saw what he was looking for. The coachman did as told before Ben leaped out. "Sir, what are you doing!?" The old man yelled out to the prince. "Don't worry, I'll be right back! I just need to pick up something!" Ben told the coachman as he entered the store.

The store owner was startled by Ben busting into the store. He couldn't tell if the woman was more startled by having a customer this early in the morning or how much energy he had. The prince smiled as he made his way to the counter. "Good morning! How are you doing?"

The woman spoke with wide eyes, "Good morning to you as well. I-I'm doing well." Ben looked around the shop. Taking in everything in the prop shop. The whole place looked messy yet organized at the same time. So many knickknacks. The woman rubbed her eyes, trying to see if her sleepiness was making her see things.

"You do wigs here, don't you?" He asked. His question was responded with a wordless nod.

"Great! You don't happen to have." He stopped and looked at his hands. Silently naming off names with each finger. Then he looked back at the woman to continue speaking, "Nine spare wigs?"

The woman didn't raise an eyebrow and went in the back. After waiting for a few minutes, she came back with a box of wigs. He grabbed the whole box and asked, "How much for them?"

"All of them?" She asked.

"All of them."

The moment Ben got back to school, he sneaked into the girl's dorm. Tiptoeing to Audrey's room. He knocked on the door lightly. Audrey wasn't a light sleeper, and she always got up early, so he was confident that she'd answer. The moment she opened the door, he rushed in and right past her.

Before she could question her boyfriend, he held out the box. "Do you think any of these bring out my eyes?" She peered into the boxes to see wigs. "What are these for? Wait, why do you even have these in the first place?"

He gave her a sheepish smile. "Listen, I have a plan." At that moment, Audrey's confusion turned into weariness. Ben and his little ideas were interesting, but not always successful. For instance, the tree incident that his friends would bring up. Or when he put hot sauce up his nose when he had a cold when he was younger.

"No! Don't look at me like that! Just hear me out, please, Audrey. It's for a good cause." Ben pleaded with his girlfriend. She didn't even have to look at his puppy dog eyes. His voice was enough for her. The prince of Auradon could make her do anything if he just asked. It was unfair how much power he had over her, but she supposed that was just love.

She let out a slight sigh and sat on her bed. "Fine." There was a slight pang of satisfaction when she saw him smile, and he thanked her. He set the box down and began explaining everything. How his father still didn't trust the five off school grounds. Even with security. Then on to his plan.

On Saturday, they'd sneak the Isle kids out. Everyone would be disguised, just so they wouldn't attract any unnecessary attention. He's already working out a deal with one of the coachmen, and he could bribe some of the guards. Although he would prefer fewer people get involved, he doesn't want to end up working with loose lips.

The boy stood the whole time while he talked. Making slight hand gestures from time to time. When he was done, he asked what Audrey thought about it. Without hesitation, she told him, "You're doing too much for them." He blinked. "You've brought them here. Isn't that enough?"

"Audrey," His usual sunshine aura slightly disappearing. "You know there's so much that needs to be done. Think about how many kids will be saved from that place if this program works. I know you don't believe in this, but—"

Audrey held up her hand to silence him. His mouth slightly hung open, but he quickly closed it when she spoke. "I believe you." She looked him in the eyes to clarify herself. "I believe in you. And if this program doesn't go right. If everything goes up in flames, I won't say I told you so. Because Chad and everyone will be saying it for me."

A slight laugh slipped from Ben. She continued on. "But no matter what, I'll always be right beside you. Helping you with whatever trouble you get into next. I'm sure Chad will be right there as well."

Ben wiped the corner of his eyes with his fingertips. "Why do you always say the sweetest things that make me cry? It's not fair."

She spoke in mild amusement. "It must be love, I suppose."

Once his eyes were cleared of any tears, he asked the important question. "Are you going to help me sneak them out?" His words made her "tsk" aloud and shake her head. "After everything I just said, you think I'd say no?"

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

"Why do you have to wear a wig?" y/n asked Frida.

"I guess the Prince is worried that I'll be recognized and ruin everything." Frida explained while putting on a red wig. Then she looked in the mirror and thought to herself, 'I don't even think the people of Auradon even know where Murkmire is on a map.'

The two went to gather Evie and Mal. Jay and Carlos would be picked up by Chad. Audrey and Ben would be waiting at the carriage. As the girls sneakily made their way to where the couple was waiting, y/n glanced at the two. Mal wore a short black wig. While Evie had a long green wig.

"Green looks good on you," y/n said without much thought. Evie smiled and spoke proudly, "Everything looks good on me." The other two had second thoughts on Evie's wig. The color was rather obnoxious and looked ugly. It didn't matter who wore it. No one could pull it off. Not even Evie. Still, they didn't voice their opinion. Mal had already spoken her mind just an hour ago.

When they made it to the stables, the boys had arrived before them. Jay busted out laughing when he saw Evie's wig. Carlos laughed as well, but he was much quieter. "What the hell is that?" Jay asked, pointing at Evie.

Evie flipped her hair while striking a pose. "It's called fashion, Jay. It's something you've never heard of." He shook his head slightly. His smile never faltered. "Whatever you say, snot green." She paid no mind to the name.

Chad introduced himself to the girls. Evie's eyes went wide when she heard his last name. Before she could start flirting with him, he focused his attention on Frida. "What do you think about long hair?" He asked while running his fingers through his blue wig. Frida shrugged her shoulders, uninterested by him and the question. "I have no opinion on it."

"Hm, well, do you think I should grow my hair out?" He asked. Frida shrugged her shoulders again and gave him a cold look. "I don't care." He quickly backed off.

Evie would add, "I think you'd look good with any hair." Chad didn't pay much attention to her and said thanks before moving closer to his friends.

While everyone chatted, y/n discreetly inched closer to Carlos. She took in the wig he wore for a moment before turning her eyes away from him. "That wig looks bad on you." She bluntly stated. He gasped and spoke with a quiver. "I thought it looked good on me."

Carlos watched her tense her shoulders from the corner of his eye. "I'm sorry, I just—" He quickly cut her off. He felt a little bad for making her worry, but only a little. "I'm kidding. That [random color] wig doesn't look good on you, either."

Her lips quirked up into a small smile. "I don't mind it looking bad, but it's a bit uncomfortable, isn't it?" He only hummed in agreement.

Ben clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. With all eyes on him, he went over a few things. They all stay close to each other, no wandering off. There should be no unnecessary conversations with strangers. When they get into town, they'll be divided into two groups, boys and girls.

"Today we are different people." Ben said.

Noble To The Core Masterlist

I just wanted to get something out before my birthday and get something out. Also sorry for the Ben focused chapter and lack of y/n. I enjoy stuff that doesn't focus on the main cast and fleshing out. As always, I have a vague idea for what I'll write, but I'd like to know what character/characters you would like y/n interact more with. Maybe I'll write it in the next chapter. Thanks for reading, and here's a quick doodle I made in an hour.

Taglist: @nobl3sse @remiechu

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

Forbidden knowledge and the one time you're allowed to use it

Warnings: heavy angst and I mean that!! I cried so much writing this and have debated abandoning it several times!!

Listen to this for the full experience because that's what I listened to while writing this.

---

"I really don't think we should be doing this..." Sizhui tried, pulling onto one of Jingyi's sleeves. He swatted Sizhui's hand away, and he picked up some random book, a decidedly different one from what Hanguang-Jun had told them to get when he handed them the token for access in the forbidden section of the library.

"C'mon, aren't you even a little bit curious what's in here?" Jingyi replied, flipping through the pages of the book. "It's not like there's anyone to tell on us or anything, and who knows when we'll get the chance to snoop around here again?"

"Maybe there's a reason why we aren't allowed here so liberally, Jingyi... We should just go..."

"Sizhui, my man, live a little." And Jingyi tossed him a heavy book. "See what's in there, look for anything that's very powerful and very forbidden."

"And exactly why do you want to learn very powerful and very forbidden things?" Sizhui asked, suspicious, though he began sifting through the book as told.

"Because I'm curious and I also want to be the coolest guy around, obviously!"

"Jingyi, you can be cool without using whatever forbidden techniques are written in these books, you know?"

"Yeah, but what's cooler than the forbidden and the occult?"

"Not getting punished to do handstands for 12 hours..." Sizhui mumbled, sending a talisman to the ornate doors of the library to warn him if anybody walked in. He'd lie if he said he wasn't curious too, but it felt a bit too risky to just waltz around in the Lan sect's dark knowledge dungeon like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Still, he reasoned, he'd already broken the rules by disobeying a superior and he'd already looked into a book that he hadn't been allowed to - he'd get punished either way. And perhaps Jingyi had been right, it was incredibly rare for junior cultivators to be allowed into the forbidden section of the library, might as well make the best of it.

---

The night hunt had gone haywire so quickly and so unexpectedly that Sizhui and Jingyi hadn't even had time to think of the tipping point that led to their current situation. One moment they were slaying a small horde of fierce corpses, the next they found themselves trapped in the strangest array they had ever seen, with a literal army of ghouls attacking them from all directions.

They tried asking for help - they sent all of their flares flying, but that strange array blocked them, extinguishing the firework-like signal before it lit up the sky.

There was no time to think of how to break the array, not with corpses and demons jumping at them ceaselessly, fueled by such resentment that it backed the two cultivators into a corner, back to back, trying to protect themselves and each other, struggling for a solution, for survival.

---

"Hey, Sizhui, look at this!"

The book depicted a figure gathering their qi in the center of their chest, manifesting it as a large, powerful sphere.

"Apparently, this is some kind of ultimate technique that can destroy a large number of enemies and purify cursed land, break any curse or spell and is largely invincible. Isn't that cool?"

Sizhui read over the page around the drawing and frowned. "This technique... anyone who uses it dies. Painfully. It requires draining your life force out of your body, and in order to do that it..."

He tore his eyes from the book and shut it closed. "Let's just go, Jingyi."

---

"No!" Sizhui shouted, blocking another fierce corpse's strike. "No way, no!"

"What else is there left?!" Jingyi shouted back, throwing the last of his talismans against their assailants. "Nobody's coming, and we're running out of time and energy already! How much longer do you think we can go like this? A few minutes at most!"

"I fucking said no!" Sizhui all but growled, eyes fierce. "I'm not doing that! And I'm not letting you do it either!"

---

"What are you writing there?" Sizhui asked, peering over his friend's shoulder. He expected to find some silly romance story or a journal entry - but his eyes darkened in disapproval instead as his eyes recognized the writing. "Jingyi."

"I know you disapprove, but hey, it could be useful!"

"Why are you so hung up on that particular thing? Did you like reading about how you'd die if you used it that much?"

"That's not it." Jingyi shook his head, "There's a rule about using it. Apparently it doesn't work just when you want it to. Your body and your spirit would fight it unless this condition is met."

Sizhui hated that his interest was piqued. "What condition?"

"The condition is-"

---

Sizhui screamed, pain tearing through him as the corpse's claws dug into his chest, tearing the fine material of his robes and the delicate layer of skin underneath.

Jingyi cut it down before it could do any more damage, and rushed to help Sizhui balance as he burnt the very last talisman he had to keep the monsters at bay.

"Sizhui... come on, we can't go on like this forever."

Sizhui tried to steady himself but the pain and the damage of past injuries caught up to him, collapsing onto the ground even as Jingyi held him. "No- Jingyi, no, I can't-"

Jingyi wiped the blood off his face with a small smile. "I'll do it, it's okay."

Tears filled Sizhui's eyes, his hands coming to grip his friend's wrists. "No, no, please, don't... there has to be another way..."

Jingyi tried to keep the smile on his face and ignore the tears threatening to fall down his own face. "There is no other way. Not this time."

Sizhui pulled his friend into the tightest hug he could muster, shaking with the force of it and his sobs. Or perhaps they weren't only his own. They had imagined their lives so many times, the future twin jades of Lan, honoring their sect and their seniors for decades to come, growing up together, building families and worthy reputations, helping people.

All of those things, they would never come true. There would be no future and nothing to share. No together, nothing at all.

"Let go, A-Yuan. The talisman's going to burn out soon." Jingyi mumbled, trying to hide the shake in his voice as he spoke into his friend's shoulder.

"Just a little longer."

Jingyi swallowed the hard lump in his throat and gently pushed Sizhui away. "It's going to be okay. You don't have to look."

But there was no way Sizhui would be able to close his eyes, there was no way he would convince himself to be blind to his friend's - no, his brother's sacrifice. The least he could do was look, admire his bravery and his power and his love, and catch his body as it would fall, limp and lifeless, to the ground.

Jingyi took in a deep breath, his expression steely, determined. Sizhui could never imagine himself so courageously facing death, and he wants to scream his cowardice and his weakness and his sorry to the man that would give his life just to save Sizhui's.

Slowly, Jingyi began coaxing his qi outside of his body, thin, white streams of energy coiling around one another in front of his chest. His brows furrowed, in pain, but he said nothing, uttered nothing of his discomfort, only the thinnest ribbon of blood falling from his lips. He'd bitten his tongue.

The sphere started taking more shape now, tragically beautiful in its wielder's hands, and it was for a brief second that Jingyi turned his head and opened his eyes to take one last look towards Sizhui, a serene, resigned, painless smile on his face.

...and then, for a few seconds, blinding light swallowed everything, all the beasts, the forest, the array, the moon, the stars and the entire world. For a few seconds, there was nothing, nothing but the gut-wrenching scream Sizhui let out.

---

"The condition is that you can only use this technique if somebody you couldn't live without is in mortal danger."

---

The light died out, and the world returned to its muted, dark colors. There were no more corpses, no more monsters, no more wounds on Sizhui's body.

There was no more Jingyi.

Nothing was left.

Not even ashes, not even a shred of clothing, nothing at all.

---

"This technique... it destroys the spirit... there's nothing left after, no reincarnation, no chance to respond to Inquiry, nothing at all. It's like you never even existed, ever."

"But if you think about it... it's not something you use lightly. The condition says you can only use it for someone you can't live without. If they die, isn't that the same thing as having your soul destroyed?"

---

It started to rain.

Jingyi used to hate the rain.

[acourtofthought]

How do you think Lucien is going to react to having Helion as a father? I know everyone is excited about it and thinks Lucien will be happy to find a different father but I just don't feel like he's going to be happy with Helion. At. All. Not after what his mother has gone through; I know it's not exactly Helion's fault, but I think Lucien will attribute Helion as a major cause for much of his mother's abuse. Also, she waited for him and he didn't come for her. Also, I don't think Helion is going to be a "cool dad;" I'm not sure how he's going to feel about having a son who grew up in the Autumn Court. How do you think Helion will react? Anyway, this is why I'm more invested in Lucien and Eris repairing their relationship.

I definitely don't think Lucien is going to run straight into Helions arms, thankful for a decent father figure at last. I imagine he'd have too many unanswered questions at first (not to mention they haven't been written as having any sort of relationship in the series so far, even one outside father / son).

Did Helion know Lucien was his son? Did he suspect?

If so then Lucien would definitely want to know why he never attempted to have a relationship with him.

Though I can't imagine SJM would write a scenario where Helion knew and didn't have a valid reason for keeping his distance, she has spoken of being weirdly obsessed with Helions character so I don't imagine she'd want to turn him into the bad guy especially when Lucien already has one of those in his life in Beron.

I think eventually, we're going to see Helion and Lucien getting along well. They're too similar in their sassy personalities with a flare to their style not to find common ground and recognize a likeness to one another. But Lucien is grown now, he doesn't need a dad to play catch with, so any relationship that does form isn't going to look the same as what it would have had he been much younger. Maybe there will be a scene where Helion offers him advice on his situation with Elain, about not giving up on hope when it comes to the right female and that will be a representation of their bonding, something Helion personally has experience with and could share his wisdom on. However I think we'll see them connect on a more equal level rather than Helion suddenly morphing into Super Dad trying to constantly guide Lucien without Lucien asking for his advice.

I hope Lucien doesn't blame Helion for what happened with his mother because Helion was no more capable of stopping Beron than Lucien and Eris were.

Lucien is centuries old at this point. Not as old as Rhys and the others in the IC but maybe 300? 400?

The LoA was twenty when she married Beron and had many sons before Lucien. Helion only came into power about 40 years ago while UTM as Amarantha killed the HL of Day and most of their family when they tried to rebel.

That means when the LoA married Beron, Helion had no idea he'd become a High Lord and that means he may not have had the power to stop Beron who already had internal ties to power. It also sounds like neither Helion or the LoA had any chance in what appears to have been her arranged marriage.

I also think it's important to remember that the LOA chose to stay.

The LoA did not reach out for help, she did not request someone free her from Berons shackles.

So who was Helion to interfere in her marriage? What he thinks she should do and what he'd like to do doesn't trump what she herself did.

I actually have had personal experience (not my own but family members) who are victims of domestic abuse and I can attest to the fact that you can't force someone to leave unless they want to. You can offer them all the help and a place of safety but there is truly no interfering and insisting they leave if they themselves aren't ready to walk away.

I do agree that I'd also love to see Eris and Lucien repair their relationship if there is some valid reason behind the years Eris spent treating Lucien cruelly. I think that's the direction SJM is heading, she's laid a few hints that maybe he could have been protecting Lucien in a way that wouldn't raise Berons suspicions but we still haven't gotten a true explanation for it all.

Really, I want all the relationships for Lucien.

I want to see him reconnecting with his brother so he has one decent sibling.

I want to see Helion and Lucien working towards a relationship, in whatever capacity that is.

I want he and Tamlin to find peace with one another even if they don't end up being extremely close.

I would like Az to finally acknowledge Lucien is a worthy male and for the two to move forward as friendly acquaintances.

I want him to be blissfully happy with his mate.

He's spent so many years alone and there would be nothing more satisfying than seeing him surrounded by love in every court.

[the-ultimate-pie-family]

Noble 6 the reaper part 2

Comet and Noble 6 were hiking a mountain to another outpost, hoping for a working radio 6 up there. "Noble 6 looked up, seeing a down pelican. Hmm," move up noble 6 took the lead scooting the area clear move up "Comet ran up look for the radio it work may day may day pelican 115 we need help? hello? Pelican 115 is down and needs exfil hello? Ahh damnit, Comet, get down, stay quiet. Comet took cover and hid and was ready to fire. Hands up how dare you treat your brother like that. "Blood collapsed, falling in a small trench" ow....... told you guys I'll make it...... "Comet and noble 6 carried blood in the down pelican." How did you escape? I did? "Blood was confused." I must've lost them back there, hahah. "Comet and 6 were just shocked he lost them that easy." we should keep moving. why? The radio works, right? Right? Yes, but no one answers, and then I must need time to give life in the pelican. "Then elites started to move in. Comet threw a plasma grenade at an elite blow chunks everywhere. " Like old times, huh guys? "Comet fired his assault rifle, killing 10 grunts and three jackles and 1 elite." 14 kills for me 6. How about you 5 grunts, 10 jackles, and 3 elites? "As 6 killed a brute" and one brute, hahah, that's 25. You suck your buying dinner a comet. Can you guys shut up? I can't work hello. This is Pelican 115 can any one hear me? Hey, we got survivor caption. we need help. Please, Pelican, down, elite are here we'll try to meet you some send in location fast we read you pelican 115 write this down fast. Blood, what's going on? "Comet and 6 were firing, then blood made an escape hole move. Dammit I'm hit. "Comet got shot with a needler 6 grabbed comet and threw him out the hole." Blood go my destiny is writen already no you're destiny is still going blood grabbed 6 jumping down the hill comet run "Comet coughed trying to get his barring" run gotcha "they ran to the exfil while getting fired at" 6 flare now "6 threw a flare to signal" blood all sides blood comet back to back. The last resort shit "Comet 6 and blood went back to back to back" 3......... "elite, grunts, jackles, hunters, brutes, and drones started swarming in, then 6 yelled." FIRE!!!!!!

"Noble 6, comet, and blood fired their weapons, dropping the grunts and jackles." Comet behind you "6 rolled over comet stabbing an elite in it head with emile's knife" pelican 115 group were above you drop that ladder now solider "the ladder fell climb men go go go comet climbed up then 6 and blood grabbed the ladder" go go go get us out of here "then the random portal grabbed comet and blood again teleporting them back home" Huh?

Mod pie: halo story lol

Tag: @clown-sip

[deejadabbles]

Okay IDK what happened with my inbox, but I know someone sent this song to me for the song fic game, even if the ask isn't there anymore (i saved it to my drafts while my wifi was wonky so maybe it's in the tumblr aether somewhere?). Anywho, hopefully you see this, whoever you are <3

For this song, I'm going to write Jesse for the first time, and because I have the unexplainable urge to step on this man, you're all getting a slightly dominant reader this time around lol

Warnings for: highly suggestive themes (minors don't look!), drinking, and the sexy shenanigans we expect at 79s

Jesse was not a man easily taken by surprise. It just came with the territory, he couldn't afford to let anything captivate or shock him on the battlefield.

But when you walked in to 79s?

Oh, Jesse knew he would do anything he could to get close to you, or damn if he wouldn't die trying.

You walked in with some friends, but something about you stood out like gold in a sea of silver. He was vaguely aware of Fives nudging him, saying something about your group matching their numbers perfectly, but Jesse was too busy gawking like some shinny.

When you moved by him to get to the bar he swore you locked eyes with him for just a moment. And that was all the confidence boost he needed.

After flashing his brother a knowing look, Jesse sauntered up to the bar, making sure to fill as much space near you as possible- hey, he didn't get arms like pythons and thighs like tree trunks for nothing, after all.

"So, you and your friends want some handsome troopers to buy your drinks?"

He saw the way your brows quirked up, before your eyes or head turned in his direction. Then, those eyes that were starting to remind him of a tiger looked him up and and down.

"Sure, we'll let you boys buy our drinks."

Kriffing hell, that voice! Obviously you were someone who made sure every inch of you, every side, was as captivating as the last. Again, Jesse only vaguely took notice to the fact that Fives, Tup, and Kix were paring off with your friends. Right now, all his senses were taken up with you.

"So," he began, just as the bartender handed you a drink, "what's your name, gorgeous?"

You huffed a laugh, took a sip, then said, "Wouldn't you like to know."

And just like that, you turned on your perfect heels, and walked away from him.

To his credit, Jesse only needed a second to recover, something stirring low in his belly. It wasn't just the arousal he felt anytime he spotted someone he wanted to take home, this was similar but...new. A different kind of arousal, a brand of it that he wasn't used to feeling.

Jesse didn't waste a beat, he followed, gave chase as you swayed onto the dance floor.

"If you wanted to dance before your drink, you could have just said so," he called over the music and putting on his most charming smile. The one that got him comm numbers and little lacy souvenirs to tuck in his pocket.

But all you did was look over your shoulder at him, taking another drink before your hips started swaying. When he didn't back down, you sashayed your body to face him, a look somewhere between disinterest and mild amusement on your face.

"Listen, trooper, I don't want to waste my time, so I'll warn you now: I'm a hard woman to please, so either walk away, or prove you're worth my attention."

That sensation in his belly was flaring, and he felt his grin widen. Making sure he gave you time to pull away if you wanted, Jesse reached out, and gripped your hip. Not breaking his gaze from yours, he drew you in just a little closer. Enough to tease, enough to leave you wanting more.

"Oh, baby, I can do that."

He didn't even know how much time passed that night. Somewhere between the dancing and the drinks, he managed to prove himself enough to tug you into a hallway lit only by a neon sign. He was pulling out all the stops, using every skill his mouth and hands had learned to make you his.

But it still wasn't quite enough.

You hadn't moaned and whimpered like the others, you weren't begging him for more and writhing in his touch like it was heaven incarnate.

And that just spurred him on all the more.

"Tell me what you want," he whispered in your ear, breath hot, armor so painfully tight he might just be willing to beg you for any scrap of guidance on how to make you his.

You lifted your leg, opening up for him, inviting, "I'm sure a smart man like you can think of something," you purred, "Or is that mouth of yours just good at talking?"

Jesse felt all his bravado fall away in an instant. He didn't waste any time in sinking to his knees for you.

taglist: @blueink-bluesoul @anxiouspineapple99 @starrylothcat @sinfulsalutations @commander-sunshine @dystopicjumpsuit @wolffegirlsunite @sunshinesdaydream @arcsimper5

[alexandraisyes]

Highly Unconventional But We Make It Work's Moon some time in the distance future is willing to talk to the 'villain' family on civil terms and he finds out about Sun sleeping with KC and Flare and is just like "is there anyone in this family that hasn't slept with my brother?" and Lunar, who considers himself Eclipse's brother (or did before?) comments that he hasn't while Sun is dying of embarrassment.

This is a gentle reminder and disclaimer that H.U.B.W.M.I.W (also dubbed "The Deal" series) is rated Explicit 18+ and is a non-canon-aligned TSAMS AU. Literally, if you haven't read the fic just scroll past, I know most of you are here for my art, not my writing. I will even do the courtesy of adding a read more for both those who aren't entirely caught up and also those who aren't interested or who are uncomfortable with ship-based AUs in this fandom (valid).

. . . so like how distant of a future are we talking? Cause. . . coughs-

Also, Lunar and Eclipse do consider each other brothers! In this AU Eclipse is the only one Lunar considers to be family, like real actual family, and not just "a friend that is like family". I've gone slightly in-depth about the relationship dynamics before, and I will share that here, although you can also find it in the comments under chapter four of TMiB (some of my readers may recall that as the KC/Sun moment).

KC and Flare see Eclipse and BM as their (unruly) kids, but only BM sees them as parents. Eclipse sees KC more as an older friend than a parent, and Flare as someone he has to accept exists. He's a bit bitter over the fact that Flare was technically a failed project via gaining sentience because it's just another reminder that Eclipse kinda fucks up everything he programs. They get along for the most part these days, but they have their moments. Eclipse and Lunar see each other as siblings. Eclipse also sees the twins as siblings to an extent, but the twins don't share that sentiment. As far as the twins are concerned the only one they're related to is Killcode (with Flare by extension as a sorta adoptive mom). Lunar is not part of the Celestial family. Sun, Moon, and Earth are all siblings and they all consider the Creator to be their father (the Creator does not actually see them as his children but he'll toss around the word for shits and giggles). Earth considers Lunar her little brother, but Lunar doesn't share the sentiment. Solar doesn't consider anyone to be family in the main reality, but his Sun (and only his Sun) back in his reality was his brother.

Also, as far as Moon and Sun talking? We're currently at the end of May in the fic, and Sun and Moon won't see each other until the beginning of the next book, which is set in the beginning of October. Actually, lmfao, I'm just now realizing that by the time we reach the third book, it may actually be October just because of how we have the schedule structured. Also just a heads up for my readers, there isn't gonna be an update this weekend either (I'm moving) which is why I uploaded that KC/Flare drabble last weekend. I'll try to upload another drabble this weekend as well to make up for the lack of content, or maybe some art. We'll see.

Anyways, we'll see how well this ask ages after chapter 14 haha. Thanks for sending an ask! I love rambling about my fics and gladly will ramble some more if people want me to. Ask away! We'd love to answer more!

[lorellaishc]

Purpose

(( @daily-writing-challenge February 2023, Day 7, Event, Recovery, CW: violence, gore))

The proto-drake's roar echoed off the nearby cliffs as it swooped down, scattering the adventurers who had ambushed her primalist servants. Her flames, hot as the Firelands, blasted down where they had stood, driving them away from the precious, stolen eggs they sought.

"Not good!" Lorellai shouted, shouldering her now empty rifle and drawing her sword. "I'm almost out of bombs!"

"We're all feeling a bit spent, miss!" Edmund shouted as he grabbed Cay out of the open with one big arm, and dived with them behind a boulder to evade the fiery blast as the drake slammed down.

"INSOLENT TITAN BORN WRETCHES! YOU WILL NOT STOP US!" the drake roared, unleashing flame in all directions, superheating the air of the battlefield, heedless of any of her primalist servants scattered about who might still have been clinging to life.

Lorellai's comm flared to life, and she heard Pin's voice come through. "We need that drake out of the way, what do you have left Lorellai?"

She patted down her vest, and pulled out her last blasting charge. "Just one blaster and my sword, ma'am!"

"We'll get you an opening, try and get it somewhere it'll do some damage." Pinapple replied, and Lorellai saw the sky above begin to roil with cloud, and her heart soared as she saw Shansii step to the edge of one of the nearby rock pillars, her hands aglow with lightning. There weren't any primalists to contest her for the power of the storm now. Lightning shot up out of her hands into the clouds, and then moments later shrieked down, slamming into the drake as she rose her head to blast the draenei girl.

"NOW!" Pin's voice called out as she broke cover, charging the drake. Behind her, Edmund roared and followed her in, slamming into the drake shield first as Pin slashed as hard as she could at the drake's underside. Both staggered under the immense heat the beast gave off, but the glowing energy of Cay's healing chants surrounded them to fight off the wounds. Lorellai charged forward, setting the charge for a thirty second timer. One way or another it would be over by then.

The heat was intense as the drake reared up, throwing off the shackles of lightning and batting the warriors away with her wings, both of them flying past Lorellai as she rushed forward. She could hear her friends calling for her distantly, but the roar of flame all around her muffled the sound. Time seemed to slow as she approached, the massive, fire-infused drake still reared up, eyes on the retreating draenei, seemingly heedless of Lorellai's advance. Getting in close, Lorellai realized what she had to do. Pin had cut through one of the armored scales of the drake's underbelly, exposing the broiling innards of the creature. Lorellai set and fired her hookshot, striking the dragon and hauling herself in close to the wound. The heat and noise were all but unbearable, but once again Cay's healing magic surrounded Lorellai and held the worst at bay. Shouting at the top of her lungs, still impossible to be heard over the cacophony, Lorellai jammed the charge into the wound, shoving it as deep as she could, before the drake leapt into the air, shaking the dwarf loose. She hit the ground hard, looking up to see the dragon hovering over her, mouth filled with flame.

"PATHETIC CREATURE! NOW YOU WILL B-" the drake's sentence was cut off as the timer hit zero, and the charge exploded in the drake's chest, showering the area in searing hot viscera. Lorellai scrambled to her feet and drove away as the drake fell, slamming into the ground with a thud, lifeless.

----------

Hours later, the team made it back to the life pools, precious cargo intact. A wagon full of drakonid eggs, ready to be returned to the care of their parents and caretakers.

Lorellai all but collapsed onto the bench next to Shansii, the two leaning on each other, exhausted from their exertion. Pinapple looked at the two of them, and was about to approach when Edmund caught her eye.

"Have to say miss, these primalists sure seem to believe they're on the side of righteousness. Didn't even consider surrender once we'd had them surrounded and outgunned."

Pin brushed some errant hair out of her face. "Unfortunately, these cults tend to breed that kind of thing. I know they're wrong though."

"And how's that?"

"Because any group with goals that are actually worth it doesn't have to threaten so many innocent people to make their dreams come true."

"Fair enough. You want some help getting those two back to camp?"

"I don't see why I would need..." Pin started, turning to see the girls very much asleep, leaning on each other. "Ah. I'm sure the reds can set aside some space for us to rest after all that."

"As you say, I'll go ask then."

Edmund wandered off, waving at Cay and going to talk to the drakonids as Pin walked over to the two, and smiled. "You two did good work today. Enjoy your rest, you've earned it."

[bereft-of-frogs]

hello friends, it is October 1, I am at my PEAK spooky bitch, in honor of this have a list of bad summaries of everything I'm working on for whumptober (and a reminder that I have been flaunting the 'rules' of whumptober for 5 years, not planning on changing now, won't start posting until Halloween 🎃)

Day 1 (safety net, swooning, 'how many fingers am I holding up'): unlikely hero deeply resents being forced to save everyone (status: outline only, eehh sort of lower on the priority list, probably won't get finished tbh)

Day 2 (delirium, 'they don't care about you'): dude just really fucking hates a teenager for no reason; bad vibes are infectious (status: I have 332 words, should be able to finish)

Day 3 (journal, solitary confinement): I once again attempt to make found footage happen ('stop trying to make found footage happen, it's not going to happen--') (it's going to happen) (status: I'm obsessed with this, it's at 1.2k, I think I can get this done)

Day 8 (overcrowded ER): ack crowds (status: 299 words, but it's an old draft so finishing will mean getting over the cringe factor)

Day 11 (animal trap, captivity): yet another character who was definitely supposed to be dead is in fact not and is going to make that everyone's problem (status: barely an outline, I've been kicking this one around for ages but I'm sort of torn on how deep to go into the disturbing content, so...we'll see. if anything it will probably be just the first chapter of a wip)

Day 12 (red, insomnia): second chapter to a currently posting WIP in which our characters play detective, make an ill-advised, true-crime-obsessed friend, and debate the nature of ghosts (status: first draft done! needs second, currently at 7.4k, posting this one on Halloween)

Day 13 (cold compress, infection, 'I don't feel so good'): first chapter of a future WIP (I'm embracing the serialized nature of fandom) in which there are concussions, dreams, and deeply held headcanons (status: 272 words...I think I can finish it? the outline is extensive)

Day 14 (flare, water inhalation): :) big water = bad (status: 434 words, but also there are more because I'm kidnapping a cut dream from the dark ocean duology. the dreams in that got a little out of hand, but some of the cut ones were really fun so I'm glad I found this one a home)

Day 15 (suppressed suffering): deeply unfair consequences (status: first draft done, 3.2k)

Day 19 (psychological): you can't convince me that consultants aren't evil geniuses (status: 2.5k, there is 0% chance of this being finished, because it's going to be long - this is the outline that I wrote at work last week that made my hand go numb - but using the prompt as a springboard to work on it. this took over my life for a couple days last week)

Day 21 (vows, restraints, 'don't move'): folk horror #1 (yes there are two) (status: vague outline only, unlikely to be finished)

Day 23 (shadows, stalking): literally my worst nightmare (status: so this is actually excerpts from my nanowrimo project, because I need a little push to get it started and not just re-outline it again. I have one scene written in a notebook, so we're starting to chip away at that barrier)

Day 25 (storm, buried alive): HAUNTED HOUSE!!! 👻💀👻💀 HARVEST FESTIVAL!!!!!!! 🍂🎃🍂🎃STORM!!!!!!!!! ⛈️🪦⛈️🪦YEAAAAAAAAHHHHH-- (status: 269 words, this one is a late addition idea but I'm moving it up in the priority because it is the spookiest, I'm obsessed)

Day 28 (bloody knife, sacrifice): folk horror #2. this one came to me in a dream. (status: there's an older draft that has like 2.7k in it but like Day 19, I want to be able to do it justice, so I doubt it will be finished, but it's a good springboard)

Day 29 (troubled past resurfacing): a little interaction I have absolutely no business writing (status: done, 1.1k, debating moving to Day 6 (recording))

Day 30 (bridal carry): literal. babies. (status: I have about a thousand words here but I don't...love them. I really want to finish it though. I did math for this. Sort of stretching the prompt on this one.)

Alt Prompt 10 (shaking): SADNESS. 🥲 (status: first draft done, currently at 2.4k, manifestation of my denial)

'hey, you said there were 15 ideas, why are there 17 here--' shutup

laying them all out like this is slightly stressful, especially because I've become a two-draft minimum person, but I have a plan. I think I'm going to focus on first drafts until the weekend of October 14-15, when I'm going up to dogsit for my parents, then after that shift priority to the second drafts of what I have finished. I think that's...doable...? we shall see!

[huphilpuffs]

what we both need

summary: Dan’s too sick to go to pride. flares verse. word count: 1148 rating: e for everyone warnings: chronic illness, chronic pain a/n: written for @phandomficfests pride flash fest. thank you to @philliebf for beta’ing this for me. if you haven’t read flares, all you really need to know is that Dan has fibromylagia. 

ao3 link

The bitterness comes the moment Dan cracks his eyes open to a bedroom painted in afternoon sunlight.

It’s been there for weeks, a nauseating burn in his stomach, a painful weight on his chest, layered beneath fruitless hope, the desperate kind that Dan knew would result in nothing, but could never erase entirely. That maybe, just maybe, this time his body would cooperate. Maybe he’d feel good.

Maybe the fibromyalgia would leave his brain alone for just one day.

But his arms ache with a phantom sunburn and his eyes sting from the summer sun and Dan rolls over, presses his face into his pillow, and cries until his ribs ache too much to breathe.

---

Crawling out of bed is hard.

The duvet is too bright and the room is too happy and Dan wants nothing more than to bury himself in his biggest hoodie and pretend the world doesn’t exist. Just for a day, so his brain doesn’t need to remember what he’s missing out on.

But it’s July and his body already can’t handle the heat.

He wears a singlet instead, so no fabric grates over the burning nerves of his upper arms. He stays in his pants because it’s been a long time since he’s needed to wear trousers at home.

Even though his chest goes tight with sadness, he drags himself out of the bedroom and tries to face the day.

---

Phil intercepts him in the hallway.

He’s wearing a button down and shorts and a smile far too happy. Dan sinks into the hand that wraps around his hip, the fingers that slide into his hair.

“How are you feeling?” asks Phil, just before pressing a soft kiss to Dan’s lips.

He shrugs in response, humming against the pain in his chest.

Phil squeezes his hip. “I have something for you.”

His hand slides into Dan’s, tugs him gently towards the lounge. Dan’s breath hitches at the sight, and sputters when the spasm of his chest muscles makes him choke.

“Is it okay?” says Phil.

And as soon as Dan stops coughing, Phil presses a kiss to the round of his shoulder.

---

Dan settles on the sofa with a sigh, stares at the room around him.

Phil replaced their makeshift blanket curtains with a pair of not-quite-opaque rainbow flags. There’s smoothies sitting on the coffee table, that Dan’s certain Phil didn’t make himself, layered in the colours of the rainbow. The breakfast bar is littered with little things Dan can’t see, and Mario Kart lights up the telly.

“Is it too much?” asks Phil.

It’s a lot, Dan thinks. Bright and colourful and exuberant. He shakes his head, reaching out to tug Phil onto the sofa with him.

“I love you,” he says.

Phil’s smile goes broad and happy. He kisses Dan again.

It’s a lot, but it feels like pride.

---

Dan ends up changing into a new singlet, this one made of mesh. He pulls on a pair of shorts and sits back down on the sofa where his outfit doesn’t matter.

Except it feels like it matters. Everything about today suddenly feels like it matters.

Phil pins a rainbow to the collar of his shirt. He smiles like it matters to him, too. Like this is actually a suitable alternative to the parade full of colours and community that marches through the city too many stories beneath their feet.

Pain twists in Dan’s chest. He wishes he could be there, could walk through city streets surrounded by happy, proud people. Just for a few steps. That would be enough, if only his body would let him drag himself there.

If only he wasn’t so broken.

He blinks the thought away.

The sadness lingers, but when Dan smiles around his smoothie’s swirly straw, it doesn’t feel forced.

---

The rainbow curtains paint the lounge is stripes of faded colours.

Dan’s head is tilted back against the sofa. He stares at where translucent orange bleeds into red and yellow, and a smile draws at the corners of his mouth.

Phil’s fingers tap at his jaw. “Don’t move.”

“Sorry,” says Dan, but he’s still smiling.

Phil giggles. The wet paint brush he’s holding shakes against Dan’s cheek, leaving lines Dan knows will squiggle. But it’ll be good, he thinks.

It’ll be great.

Phil pulls back. “All done.”

Dan grabs his phone, pulls up the camera to see Phil’s work. The flag isn’t straight, the colours a little mixed. But he can’t help but smile, take a poorly-lit, awkward-angled picture of himself.

And then he reaches out, drags Phil forward to press a clumsy kiss to the corner of his mouth.

He takes a picture of that, too, just for them.

Part of him wishes it wasn’t a sofa he was sitting on, wasn’t an empty wall behind him, but, still, he smiles.

It’s a snapshot of their tiny slice of pride.

---

Twitter is full of photos of people who are actually there.

For a moment, the sadness returns, as Dan stares at pictures of couples sharing kisses on public streets, surrounded by colours and flags and support and joy. The face paint’s gone dry on his cheek and the mesh shirt feels a little awkward over his body, and the urge to curl up and ignore it stabs painfully behind his eyes.

Phil takes his phone when the first tear falls.

“It’s not fair,” Dan mumbles.

“I know,” says Phil. “Next year, we’ll figure it out, okay? Even if we can only go for a little bit.”

Dan nods. But the sadness stays, sending another tear rolling down his cheek. Phil reaches for him, draws him in and holds Dan to his chest until his breathing evens out.

Until he can stares at the rainbow flags hanging over their windows and see stripes instead of teary swirls.

“Thank you,” says Dan.

Phil just kisses the top of his head.

---

The world quiets down in the evening.

Inside, the flat’s gone darker. They order rainbowless pizza for dinner and sit on the sofa. The rainbow on Dan’s cheek is smeared just a little from his tears and Phil’s rainbow pin is sitting on the coffee table now because it was bothering him.

Phil hands him a Wii remote. His smile is a little too wide as he selects a race.

Dan’s laugh stabs between his ribs, echoes happily through the lounge. “I don’t think Rainbow Road is how most people celebrate pride, Phil.”

But they play it once, and then again when Phil whines about how he didn’t win.

The sun has fallen. The rainbow flags still hang from the windows. Their empty smoothie glasses and half-eaten pizza linger on the coffee table.

Dan kisses the pout off Phil’s lips when he comes in second again.

The rainbow Phil painted on his cheek goes smudged when Phil reaches up, cradles his face and kiss him again.

[up-sideand-down]

31 sefikura

Send me a NUMBER & PAIRING and I’ll write a little something.

31. Catching the other before they fall

Cloud dove without thinking, arms held out after the small puff of smoke hit Sephiroth. The Sahagin fell over, very dead, but it still had fired off one last shot. Cloud felt something plop into hands before he slammed to the ground with a grunt. He looked up.

A frog with a tiny leather coat and tiny masamune held over its shoulder stared back. It gave one solemn nod and quietly jumped off Cloud's hands. Cloud stood up and brushed his uniform off.

"Sorry, sir," Cloud said, "I've only gotten frogged once and...the impact kinda hurt." The frog nodded again. Cloud took it as a thank you even if it wasn't. Cloud dug through his pack his heart sinking.

"I'm sorry," Cloud said, "Martin must have the Esunas and Maiden's Kisses. I just have elixirs and potions." Sephiroth shook his head as a frog, probably just some sort of "it's fine" and hopped along. Cloud followed behind.

Sephiroth stopped at a particularly dark passage.

"Can you see down there?" Cloud asked, "because I can't." Sephiroth shook his head. Cloud bent down, holding his hand out.

"Might be safer so I don't step on you," Cloud said, but Sephiroth already hopped back into his hands. Cloud panicked about whether it was rude to shove Sephiroth into his bag or just hold him. Then he realized Sephiroth probably could balance himself just fine and set him on a shoulder. He pulled out his flashlight and held it on the other side of his head.

Sephiroth communicated with gentle tugs on his bangs and small pointing. They made their way into an open part of the ravine.

"There's the truck," Cloud said. He pulled out one of the emergency flares and lit it. He heard Zack yelling seconds later. His head popped over a rock about 20 feet up.

"You alright?" Zack asked, "where's Seph."

"He's got a Toad Status," Cloud yelled back, "Does Martin have the Esunas?" Zack popped back then reappeared with a small bottle.

"Can you catch?" Zack asked.

"Maybe?" Cloud said. He pulled off his scarf to try and cushion the landing. Zack tossed it. Cloud stepped back and caught it neatly.

"Thanks!" Cloud said.

"We're fixing the truck winch," Zack said, "we'll pull you up soon!"

"We're fine," Cloud said, "we're gonna take cover until then." Cloud went back to the small cave entrance. He pulled out an emergency bedroll and set it against a rock. A comfy chair to wait on. He started to uncork the esuna, but a small hand stopped him.

"Sir?" Cloud asked. Sephiroth crawled down to Cloud's hands and curled up.

A lot of things hit Cloud at once. Sephiroth had often requested for Cloud to be his infantry support. His reports stated that Cloud was efficient, professional, and good at his work. Sephiroth also often chose to sit next to Cloud on transport, offered to share rooms or tents, and pulled various favors for him in ShinRa.

They might have more than just a "professional" relationship. Or Sephiroth might have been hinting at something more.

"Sir," Cloud said, "Are you...do you like me?" Sephiroth nodded before closing his eyes.

"You know it would be easier to tell me that as a human," Cloud sais. Sephiroth curled up more, but Cloud got the message. Warm here. Cloud's experience of Toad Status was flopping around and fighting mostly by himself. He had to admit if their roles were switched...he'd definitely take a nap in Sephiroth's hands.

"I'll wake you when they come get us then," Cloud said and leaned back to cushion Sephiroth more.

An hour and a half later, they were back in the truck no worse for wear, and Sephiroth was human again.

"That was awful," Sephiroth said, "never jump into a ravine again."

"I told you," Zack said, "but hey, at least Cloud went after you."

"Of course he did," Sephiroth said, "He's a good friend, unlike you. I'm tired. Let's go home. We'll deal with this another day." Zack just laughed but didn't argue.

Sephiroth sank into the seat nearest Cloud. It was by the exit, should Cloud get motion sick, but Sephiroth didn't seem to mind. Despite his hour long nap as a frog he leaned in closer. His head rested on Cloud's shoulder. Cloud smiled at patted his shoulder as the truck started back up.

[pocketfulofrecs]

Dee - So! We have a little game in our discord server where writers write a fic together, blindly, without any plot. One writer starts a thread, other follows up, and then another joins in. Our first run produced the story you see below. It was a game between @auspiciouscandy, @whiteflowercrimsonparasol (or justdoityoufucker) and myself or @vrishchikawrites.

We thought it should be shared with everyone. That's why Ju and I decided to start a new section on Pocketful called Storytime with Bunnies. We'll publish all stories that we write there on Pocketful and eventually on Ao3.

Personally, it was a great deal of fun and I'm so happy that we're continuing it! I hope you like the story! It was written by three people and still turned out so smooth!

-------

A Strange Encounter

by Vrishchika, justdoityoufucker, and auspiciouscandy

-------

It is dark, but Wei Ying has never been afraid of darkness.

The juniors shuffle nervously behind him, sticking so close to his back, he can feel the warmth of their bodies. Suddenly, there is a noise - loud in the silence of the night and out of place. Wei Ying clutches Chengqing tightly, ready to strike. He turns in the direction of the noise only to suck in a sharp breath and try to suppress the sigh threatening to overtake him.

He’d mostly been following the juniors, letting them take the lead to hunt the nest of low-level yao that had been terrorizing the small mountain town. They’d done well, so far, and had dealt with half of the yao without incident. The problem started when they’d run into a higher-level yao, which was to be expected given his luck on night hunts, but he hadn’t expected to see a strange man.

He seems almost as tall as Chifeng-zun had been; Wei Ying can't see his features clearly, but his instincts warn him to be cautious. The man says nothing as he steps forward. He doesn't have a corpse's stiff gait. Each step brings him closer and reveals more of him. Pale skin, dark eyes, lips as red as blood, almost unnaturally still features.

His beauty is disarming, but Wei Ying is unmoved. He's married to the most beautiful man in existence, after all. But he is curious. What is this strange, beautiful man doing in the middle of the woods? And while he looks the man over, cautious of any sharp movement the man could make, he steps forward. Though contrary to his beautiful appearance, his body is but a corpse and it is difficult to hide when he staggers and what appears to be his arm drops down onto the floor. Wei Ying hears someone gagging behind him, but he cannot take his eyes off the man; every instinct in his body is screaming about the danger in front of them.

Just when he is about to speak, the man's face changes to a look of pained horror, a look that the stiffness of a corpse shouldn't be able to achieve. There is something about the way his jaw moves, that makes it seem as if he was trying to speak, but no sound leaves his red, red lips.

"Stop," Wei Ying says, putting the force of his cultivation into the word. The corpse's mouth opens even wider, and Wei Ying senses it before anything, "Cover your ears!" he shouts, but it is too late, there are some indistinguishable whispers he catches before his hands reach his ears, and he doubts any of the juniors were fast enough even as he hears their swords immediately drop to the floor.

He wracks his brain to match the odd corpse with any of the descriptions he remembers from his studies and it suddenly clicks into place. He remembers tales of bewitching creatures. Beings that can ensnare and seduce with their voice and their beauty. Beings that can control the living mind as Wei Ying controls corpses. He remembers tales of how cultivators of immense strength would drop their swords and simply submit to these creatures, allowing them to consume their Qi without protest.

His eyes flicker towards his juniors, alarm stirring in his chest. What can he do? Think. Think, Wei Ying!

And he reaches a conclusion, the corpse uses its voice to control, to influence, and had Wei Ying not used his own to do the same? Resentful energy and spiritual energy are almost similar, it's risky, but there isn't much else to do. He already perceives the juniors trying to walk past him, and he is overcome with waves after waves of compulsion from his small amount of exposure, so Wei Ying does the only thing he can think of.

He gathers the power towards his throat. His voice laced with command, he opens his mouth and sings not a real tune, at first, but simply unbridled power that cuts off the corpse's control over the juniors.

But he cannot just wrest control; he needs to suppress the corpse, and that takes more than random notes. He slides into a familiar song, lyrics that Lan Zhan shared but have never been sung before in deference to their usual duets. The juniors have never heard Wei-qianbei sing before; they have heard his tuneful humming, whistling, and music, but not his true singing voice. It renders them silent. Wei Ying's voice is resonant and it bounces off the surrounding trees and rocks, becoming amplified. The effect is otherworldly, unlike anything they have ever experienced.

It halts the strange creature in his tracks. He sways dazedly. Something about the expression is almost covetous.

Wei Ying hears Sizhui whisper his name in worry. He is his father's son and has somehow inherited all of Hanguang-jun's protectiveness. Even now, he takes a shaky step forward to stand before Wei Ying. But there's no reason he should worry; Wei Ying's control over his power is absolute, his control over the corpse-creature the same.

He changes the intent of his power, the tone of his singing, to lure the creature to lower its guard and step closer. He trusts that Sizhui knows what to do, that the other juniors will assist as his voice lulls it into submission. The creature stumbles forward, his hand stretched out towards Wei Ying. He sways with every step and Wei Ying tracks his movements carefully.

"Good boy," he croons, maintaining a singing tone in his voice, "Whatever shall we do with you?"

The corpse's hand is still outstretched and his expression is still mesmerized. Wei Ying reaches out and closes his fingers around the hand, keeping his voice mellow and soothing. "You're a strong one, aren't you?" he sings, ignoring Sizhui's alarmed noise.

The corpse will only need to twist his grip to break Wei Ying's arm but something tells him he's safe. He leans forward, curious, "Wei Ying," and Wei Ying freezes. He doesn't let off his control but it is enough for the corpse to pull him closer, a hand reaching up to caress his hair—he is aware of the gasped whispers by the juniors of, 'Hanguang-jun,' the juniors who were just beginning to take control—but this is something out of his expectation. A normally high-level corpse of this type would be troublesome on its own, but one that could mimic?

The danger levels have increased far more than what juniors can handle; Wei Ying pivots in his singing, pulls Sizhui behind him and crowds back, keeping the juniors behind him. He pauses, for the barest moment, to say, "Flare."

That snaps Sizhui to action, and as Wei Ying resumes singing, voice louder and louder, he draws a flare out of his robes and sets it off, the sparkling blue of the fireworks temporarily catching the creature's attention, making Wei Ying snap forward and cup the corpse's face, physically drawing his attention back towards him.

It is intimate, the way he angles his body and draws the creature in. Something burns in him. He has never touched anyone but his Lan Zhan like this, with so much tenderness.

The creature that mimics his husband's voice seems to mimic his affection too. Wei Ying cringes as cold fingers trace his cheek, trailing dangerously close to his neck. One slip, and Wei Ying could potentially lose his life.

"Wei Ying," The corpse whispers in his husband's voice, and something dark stirs within him. His lips twitch into an alluring smile and Wei Ying has his hand slowly reaching up and caressing its cold skin. He thinks the eyes shimmer an amber shade, for they are nowhere near the molten gold of his husband’s. He's all too aware of this cheap imitation's intent and responds in kind.

Wei Ying ignores the yells of his nephew, the sound of another flare going up into the night sky; his hand is coated in resentful energy as it reaches the back of the corpse's neck, and he maintains eye contact with it, his voice softer to only reach the corpse.

It is completely enamoured, that is why when Wei Ying makes a hand sign to the juniors to tell them to leave, the creature doesn't react. It is like a careful, possessive lover, but, unlike his husband, there is no real care behind its actions as it closes in on him. The resentful energy on Wei Ying's hands increases, solidifies, a black, hateful knife.

When he drives it directly into the corpse-creature's neck, spearing it up into its skull, the creature makes a weak, pained groan in that facsimile of his husband's voice, and Wei Ying shouldn't feel the way he does—it is but a creature who had taken up the face of his beloved—but to hear the wounded noises it makes, trying to garner his sympathy, Wei Ying cannot help but feel that sympathy. Wei Ying should know that the hands around his neck are the ones that wouldn't hesitate to kill him, so very cold, lacking his husband's warmth.

He raises his voice, and sings a sharp tune, and the corpse whines once more before it’s rendered mute, opening its mouth wide with a final hissed, “Wei Ying!”

Wei Ying's eyes widen because, for a second, before he tightens his hands, he catches a glimpse of his husband, pain and grief on his face that he hasn't seen in years. The corpse falls, its weakness stabbed through, unable to move again and Wei Ying shudders, feeling so incredibly off-kilter.

He needs to see Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan is fine, he's sure, but the look on the creature's face, the timbre of its voice--it's almost enough to overwhelm.

The juniors, still near enough to catch the sudden silence, creep back through the trees, worried looks on their faces as they take in the look on their teacher's face, the still form of the corpse-creature on the ground.

"Xian-gege?" Sizhui starts, clearly shaken if he's reverted to that form of address. He continues forward as if to grasp Wei Ying's shoulder, but Wei Ying needs a moment. Maybe it is the leftover effects of the corpse, maybe it is his own fears and concerns.

But he takes in a sharp breath and pulls his mouth into a smile, "Now then, shouldn't we return? I assume none of you are hurt?" He looks them over, ignoring the sneaked glances from the dazed juniors as they stand up on their shaking legs, "Come along now—" he places his hand on top of Sizhui's, which shakes almost unnoticeably.

Sizhui wants to reassure him, but he knows already that Wei-qianbei wouldn't feel comforted until he lays his eyes on Hanguang-jun. Sizhui has seen enough of their love to know this is one of the few things that can rattle his indomitable Xian-gege. If anything happens to Hanguang-jun, Wei-qianbei would—

Sizhui draws his mind away from grim thoughts and watches as Wei-qianbei steps forward to the body, pulling out his qiankun pouch. Suddenly, there's a twitch of movement from nearby. As if called by Wei Ying and Lan Sizhui's thoughts, the austere white of Lan Zhan's robes appears, and he comes to a graceful halt near the corpse-creature.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying can't help but exhale in relief, "We're fine."

Hanguang-jun casts a look at the corpse-creature, then back at Wei Ying. He looks over Wei Ying completely before turning his gaze towards the juniors while moving towards Wei Ying, almost a split second of a glance but enough to know they're fine; it wouldn't have been noticed if Sizhui hadn't been looking for it. Then, he reaches up to caress Wei Ying’s face and Wei Ying melts into it, feeling the warmth seep into his skin.

"Wei Ying," Wei Ying can't describe how relieved he feels when the familiar scent of sandalwood envelopes him. It takes but a glance for Lan Zhan to see past his welcoming smile and glimpse the truly shaken core of him.

"Go forth, Sizhui, we'll join you soon." Lan Zhan commands and Wei Ying almost protests. He doesn't want the children away from him. Lan Zhan just shakes his head and pulls him close, "Breathe, center yourself."

Wei Ying presses his forehead to Lan Zhan's shoulder and sighs. Lan Zhan is here. Lan Zhan is safe, solid, and strong. That's all he cares about, and he feels his arms encircling him so he completely rests his weight upon his husband, his head on Lan Zhan's chest, hearing his heartbeat go thump thump thump.

He feels the earlier fight leaving his body as he relaxes against him, matching their breaths together. Wei Ying wants to stay there with him, the forest trees and the silence that was eerie and offsetting earlier feels serene and calming. But they can’t, because they have to get back, everyone in need of rest, the kids in need of checking to see if they're all actually okay.

Then there's the issue of the corpse-creature; research will need to be done when they are back in Cloud Recesses, to figure out what it is and if there might be more. Wei Ying breathes in the sandalwood scent of his husband, then steps away, qiankun pouch in hand. The corpse is where it had fallen, and he kneels next to it, Lan Zhan a comforting presence next to him.

"Aiya," He says, "They tried but couldn't get close to your perfection, Lan Zhan."

His husband huffs but keeps a steady, warm hand on his back. It is a reassuring presence that makes it easier to examine the body. Wei Ying runs his eyes along the tall body, mind stirring, "Who could be behind this?" How and why did they mimic Lan Zhan of all people? Wei Ying can't help but feel concerned. Lan Zhan hums in response but offers no commentary; he's probably still in a protective, vigilant state. Wei Ying smiles fondly and kisses him on his cheek, "let's return then,” he says, and gets up after putting it away.

Lan Zhan pulls him closer to himself; maybe he knows what worried Wei Ying as he keeps a comforting presence by his side. They walk to the Juniors standing ahead, who stop their whispers as soon as they get close. Wei Ying looks them over once again. They look at him with a slightly dazed look, but are steady on their feet. Wei Ying frowns, maybe it's the effects of leftover energy?

Jin Ling starts to say something about heading back to Jinlintai. As if Wei Ying would let him! It's almost midnight, and the night hunt has taken them to the far reaches of Gusu-Lan territory, a long trip of a couple days to Lanling-Jin territory. "None of that," Wei Ying chides, feeling like himself again. "Back to the village for all of us; Hanguang-jun needs to make sure there are no lingering effects."

Jin Ling half-scowls, but doesn't deny or try to argue back, and there's a blur as Sizhui all but pulls Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji into a hug. Jin Ling sees Sizhui’s shoulders shake slightly and he looks away. Terrifying situation or not, that illusion had felt all too real. It was as if it were Hanguang-jun standing before them, the mannerism, the voice, how he...he—

Before he can think more he feels a pull at his wrist and he feels the warmth of another person around him. He hears Jingyi make a startled noise as the other two are also pulled into a clustered little group hug. Jin Ling’s face flushes red and he opens his mouth to protest but doesn't push them away.

“You're safe,” Wei Ying says, as the teens start to pull away after a few moments. If a few of them have reddened eyes, or barely-there tear tracks down their cheeks, neither he nor Lan Zhan mention it.

"Aiya," he gives Sizhui an extra pat on the head, a smile finally pulling at his face as he takes in the juniors' despondent looks. "What is all this? I would think someone died if I came upon you all like this! Come now, back to the village.”

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan calls suddenly and Wei Ying doesn't understand why. He looks up at his husband, only to see his eyes shining with concern, perhaps even some panic.

"What? Lan Zha—"

An abrupt wave of dizziness overcomes him and he falters, feeling something dripping down his nose. He touches his upper lip shakily, his limbs starting to feel heavy. His vision swims and Lan Zhan catches him immediately as he sways forward. Something cold is settling within him. "Lan Zhan," he croaks. His vision is turning black from the corner of his eyes, and Lan Zhan is saying something but he can't hear it, it’s muffled and sounds so far away.

Wei Ying hates the feeling that floods him, the wave of cold dread that he hasn't felt in a long time. His hair stands up as he feels ghosts of the touches. They linger on the back of his neck, his face, his arms where the corpse had touched him, among the distant noises, he hears a clear, sharp "Wei Ying," but it sounds so odd, so unfamiliar despite it being his husband’s voice and that's when he crumples, losing all control of his limbs.

The cheer and safety of mere moments before has fled, and Wei Ying can't stamp out the panic that grips him as his breath hitches. He's vaguely aware, as if he is not truly in possession of his own body anymore, that his sweet husband, his Lan Zhan, has pulled his body up into his arms.

That awareness lessens even more as Lan Zhan's distant, warped voice sends out some sharp commands, and then he feels the slap of wind on his face and something isn't right. His senses are fading but he has practiced dual cultivation with Lan Zhan for several years now. He's intimately familiar with his husband's core. Something isn't right because—

—they're running. The wind is against his face. He remembers the trapped look of despair. His husband commands the children but something isn't right. He's leaving something behind. The arms carrying him are familiar but recognition slips him and he becomes increasingly aware as a sharp pain increases from his arm and he gasps, because it feels as if fire is under his skin, it moves from his arm and reaches up to his neck and it increases. Wei Ying has always had a large tolerance to pain, but he is in little control and he cannot stop himself as he lets out a pained scream, the wind feels faster as Lan Zhan—

—not right, not right, not right—

—he wakes up to the dark wood and white paint of the Cloud Recesses. He does not move, cataloging his body, the sensations, what he remembers. There was an oppressive feeling of pain, of wrongness, that is now mostly gone. Did they fly back? How long has it been?

He feels like he's forgetting something, forgetting; he thinks it over, the body, the pain, and reaches up his arm and sure enough, there are bright red marks, beginning from his arm, spreading out like spilled ink on paper, they resemble a spiders web as they crawl upwards, up along until they disappear into his clothes and he had no doubt they reach till his neck. What about his face? He reaches up to try and touch but before he can, the door slides open as Lan Zhan steps through.

Wei Ying's entire focus shifts towards the Second Jade. Lan Zhan looks pristine as always, calm like nothing can disturb him. His movements are steady, unhurried. He sets his things aside and walks into the Jingshi casually. There's no trace of urgency or worry in him. Wei Ying feels his heart grow cold. His Lan Zhan wouldn't have been as calm, nor would his Lan Zhan look at him the way it did, unmoving and—the same way that thing had.

"Lan Zhan" comes and sits by his bed, eyes lock over him, dark and amber. "Wei Ying," he—it—reaches up a hand, and cradles his cheek, the same way his husband did. Except, its thumb inches towards lips and it is colder than ice. Wei Ying acts unbothered, showing a soft smile as he puts his hand over the one on his face.

"I'm fine, Lan Zhan!" he says softly. The suspicion grows when he remembers the red veining on his body, when he realizes that the touch isn't as tangible as it should be.

Touching the creature's hand feels like holding a dust mote, and he abruptly realizes that he isn't sure if this even is the Jingshi. It is the same pristine colors, of course, but their possessions seem blurred, as if only half-existing. There is no familiar, comforting scent of sandalwood. Is it an illusion? A dream? Is this creature a figment of his imagination? Or is it something else? He tries to access his core and can't grasp anything. He tries to summon resentful energy but it slips through his fingers like water. His only choice is to get information.

"What happened?" he asks in a soft tone he reserves for his husband. He angles his body to be welcoming, like he would with Lan Zhan. None of his actions give any indication of his suspicions. "Are the children safe?"

Lan Zhan nods, "They're safe. Lan Xichen is looking after them and a healer is examining them. You are the only one to be harmed. We do not know the nature of your injuries—" Verbose. Too verbose. Lan Xichen, not xiongzhang or Xichen. Even his imagination wouldn't conjure an illusion so inaccurate. This isn't just a simple case of his mind making things up.

The last thing he remembers is Lan Zhan, his Lan Zhan sending waves of spiritual energy and holding him close, so he can rest assured his body is safe. The hand slips from his cheek, as the "Lan Zhan"—no, the corpse, raises his chin making him look directly at it.

"What is Wei Ying thinking of?" it croons and Wei Ying looks away from it, and bites his lip as way of disguising his eyes roaming over the interior of the Jingshi, now that he looks carefully, the arrangement of the bed, the dresser, everything is out of order—the hand on his chin tightens, "Wei Ying, I'm right here."

The meaning is subtle, and Wei Ying turns to it, his expression as if hesitant, "I..I'm worried about the kids.." he takes on a concerned expression, not entirely faked, "Can you take me to see them?"

A pulse of Lan Zhan's--his Lan Zhan's spiritual energy abruptly floods him, and then is gone. It is a miracle he is able to keep his expression level and unbothered by it, but he's beginning to put the pieces together. He needs to keep the creature distracted, talking.

"Wei Ying," the creature wearing Lan Zhan's body says, almost chiding, "they need their rest, and you need your own rest. I am here with you; do not worry about them for the time being.”

Wei Ying knows it isn't the right time to push. He decides on a different approach, "You know how I get when there's a mystery to solve, Lan Zhan!" he protests with a playful smile, "You can't expect me to rest without any explanation? What happened? How did I get hurt? What did the healers say?" Simple questions, things he would've asked Lan Zhan in any case.

There's a lingering heat of Lan Zhan's qi swirling around within him, too weak to actually heal him or bring him out of this state, but enough to sharpen his perception and remove his pain. He knows his husband is trying to save him and there's no person more capable than his Lan Zhan. Something in him settles at that. Let Lan Zhan work from the outside to resolve the situation. Wei Ying will work from the inside to get more information.

The expression that crosses the corpse's face, of being caught off-guard, seems so foreign on Lan Zhan's face, but it composes itself and lets go of his chin, and seems to contemplate before deciding on an expression of utmost gentleness and care. "This," it says, as it reaches to touch the back of his neck, where one of the webbings must be, "is a mark of possession." A hint of darkness, desire, flashes in its eyes, "It means Wei Ying's qi has been flooded with another’s—" Wei Ying tenses, but the corpse has no suspicion in its eyes, meaning it was referring to that moment in the forest—"and Wei Ying is one of the few who have been able to reject it, so these," it reaches down to his arm, tracing over the red, "remain as a reminder." It looks enthralled, pleased even.

And Wei Ying feels his lips press flat. "I don't like them at all!" He pretends to whine, shows how he absolutely abhors the idea of it, feeling satisfied when it frowns in displeasure. "I don't like any marks other than the ones Lan Zhan makes,” he adds, looking at the corpse through his lashes.

Its facade almost slips, with the anger appearing on its face, and Wei Ying fights back a smug smile when another rush of his husband's warm spiritual energy wraps around him. The corpse-creature's face blurs for a moment, with that rush of qi, but then resettles. It looks distinctly displeased, though it tries to mask the expression with one of fondness that looks laughably fake. Wei Ying does not laugh.

"If my Lan Zhan wanted to make some marks," Wei Ying says coyly, trailing off in a suggestive manner. The creature seems to freeze and flicker, as if it is wholly unsure of what to do with that. And Wei Ying pulls back just as the corpse makes a hesitant hand gesture and says, softly, "Of course I'm joking Lan Zhan, you know your Wei Ying, I can't relax until I see the kids, and—" he adds seeing it fume "—you too, I know you're worried about them but they're strong! So they'll be fine!"

Wei Ying finishes his 'assurance' and Lan Zhan succeeds. There's a towering surge of qi coursing through him, ready to pull him back, his to command. By now, he is so familiar with his husband's qi that he can use it as his own. He sees how it makes the creature's eyes widen and falter. He smiles coyly, tapping his chin as the binds holding him to this place snap one by one.

"Now, who are you, my dear friend?" he asks as Lan Zhan's power unseals his own. The core he has cultivated so diligently pulses with power and the remaining binds disintegrate. Before the illusionary world around him can disappear, he reaches forward and slams a palm against the creature's chest, a smile of triumph curling at his lips.

"There you are," he whispers and drags them both to the real world that awaits them. His eyes flicker towards the real Lan Zhan, who looks pale and strikingly furious, and smirks coyly, "Lan Zhan! Someone had the audacity to steal your Wei Ying from you!"

The fury in his husband's eyes brightens into an inferno ready to destroy the most powerful of foes, and Wei Ying can't help but quiver in delight, in satisfaction. No words are needed between them, their souls and actions in perfect harmony. The creature that had taken him, and now is beholden to him, collapses and rebuilds itself, now not in Lan Zhan's form but again the form of the corpse he and the juniors had first encountered. It tries to fight against his power, but it stands no chance.

Lan Zhan steps forward, Bichen already unsheathed and ready to cut the corpse down, but Wei Ying shakes his head. He turns to the corpse, "Now, my friend, let's figure out what you are."

Wei Ying slams a talisman on the creature's chest and watches in satisfaction as it binds the creature completely. It squirms and tries to break the binds but to no avail. Seeing that the prisoner is secure, the juniors, healthy and hale, rush forward, gathering around him in concern.

Wei Ying smiles and meets Lan Zhan's eyes over their heads. 'Ah,' He thinks with something like heat curling in him, 'still furious.'

Indeed, Lan Zhan is furious. His eyes are dark and tracking all of Wei Ying's movements. His smile takes on an edge and he tilts his head to the side, baring his neck just slightly. Lan Zhan's eyes narrow and lips thin.

"Aiya," he pats the children indulgently, "Let your senior go, your Hanguang-jun is getting impatient."

The juniors flush red, and mutter excuses to leave. Wei Ying looks at Lan Zhan and reaches forward to pull him, but that movement shifts his sleeve to show the red markings and he finds his arm in the other’s grasp as Lan Zhan pulls him closer, so Wei Ying’s weight is entirely on his body as if he's hugging him. He's startled.

"Ah, Lan Zhan what're you—" he cuts off mid-sentence as Lan Zhan curls one hand around his waist, holding him close, and the other raises his hair, letting air brush against his nape. The sensation tingles; Lan Zhan knows his weak spot and with the energy flow from earlier it's sensitive, and Wei Ying flushes figuring out—"Lan Zhan, wait, wait—Ah!!"

His back arches and he shivers as Lan Zhan’s lips infused with spiritual energy land on his neck and he continues with a sharp bite, one that lets Wei Ying know just how displeased his husband is, how worried he had been and how thankful he now is that they are safe. Wei Ying can't help the squeak that comes from him at the action, but he is not hurt. The bite is followed by a tender kiss, one that spreads his husband's spiritual energy through him, chasing away the redness of the spider-webbed marks on his arms, filling him with comfort and at the same time lighting a fire in him.

"Wei Ying is careless," Lan Zhan says, lips moving against Wei Ying's skin when he doesn't even pull away to speak, "I have been worried, Wei Ying was gone, alone."

He says the last part softly but Wei Ying hears it anyway with their bodies together, he can feel his warmth, their heartbeats and breaths mingling together, he can feel him and Wei Ying feels at ease, Lan Zhan’s words make his heart ache, 'Aish his beloved', "Lan-er-gege," he begins, his voice mellow and teasing, "Lan-er-gege, I felt you," he says, tracing Lan Zhan's back with his fingers as his breathing hitches. "I wasn't alone,” he finishes.

After waiting for a moment to soak in the comfort, Wei Ying leans back and looks at his husband, before leaning in to pull him into a kiss Lan Zhan leans into him, desperate and fierce. A strong arm curls around his back, holding onto him tightly. Wei Ying feels fond as he cups his husband's face, making soothing noises in the back of his throat even as the kiss grows heated. He pulls away with a gasp, chuckling when Lan Zhan doesn't let go, dipping his head to kiss along his jaw, "Aiya, husband, we're in public. Your uncle could arrive any moment now."

Lan Zhan doesn't let go and Wei Ying yelps when sharp teeth sink into his flesh once again, "How cruel to your poor Wei Ying!"

"It would seem you're well, Wuxian," An amused voice interrupts them and Wei Ying startles, looking beyond his beloved to see Lan Xichen watching them in amusement. Wei Ying pushes Lan Zhan away and, this time, his husband parts with him reluctantly to bow to their brother. There's not even an ounce of shame on his beloved's face and Wei Ying feels flushed. How unfair.

He turns to greet Lan Xichen. "Da baizi! Yes, I'm okay!" Lan Wangji's arm around him tightens and Wei Ying squirms slightly. Their robes are already in a complete state of disarray. "Lan Zhan!" he whispers though he's pretty sure it’s still loud, and, sure enough, he hears a chuckle as Lan Xichen shakes his head slightly.

"That's a relief," he smiles at them, which Wei Ying returns just as bright, "I will not hold you up further," he says gently, and adds a joyful and teasing, "I'll go let Uncle know."

To not disturb you is left unsaid as he turns to leave and Wei Ying hides his face in Lan Zhan's neck as he hums in agreement, completely unrepentant. "Lan Zhaaaan" but doesn't say anything else as the door closes. The smile remains on his face; everyone is home safe, Wei Ying is happy, and it all feels right once again.

[seelestia]

my day was great!! it’s the weekendddddd~ hru lia?? have you eaten and drank your water??

to stand by the pillar of fortitude himself you must persevere and remain steadfast through the trials, little one- lmao it's ok we'll nurse them back to health!!! ( ayato fully knows he can heal himself with magic but since you're panicking and fussing over him he decides to not tell you ;) )

ikr prefect!ayato is such a good concept slkdjflskdjf

LMAO I TOTALLY AGREE HE WOULD BLACKMAIL ME THE MOMENT HE SAW ME SWOONING OVER ZHONGLI

o h ? hehehe i feel like ayato would totally go :0 when he sees your protective instinct flaring up. kinda backfires for you tho, cause he probably finds if even more endearing and he just falls for you even more <3

ye!!! he has the potential and background to become a villain but he’s not!! i think that’s even more impressive ✨ pff imagine him and professor yae’s “banter” in class…. all the chilling smiles and the tension in the air as they throw veiled passive-aggressive comments back and forth… all the students are like “o archons please get me out of here-“

i-it is…. gosh…. he’s so….. hhhhhhhh i love love love his jp voice. so much. ohhh i like that take!! slytherin al haitham <3

awee that’s a very cute imagination - us just picking up these smol little chibi characters by the scruff of their night and plopping them down to the appropriate miniature hogwarts houses' common rooms hehehe

giant rock frog bahahahhah omg- if you want a full shield bot i think you can probably have more? otherwise that should be enough?? if you want a 50:50 my brother said 30-40k should be good, and for the rest just focus on geo dmg + crits… but dps zhongli on the other hand... lemme see if i can get his build-

(jesus christ that crit dmg lmao)

GLADLY i mean you would be invited to the wedding either way so ikr??? he would look so good aldkjaksjdlajsdkakljd i’m frot hignlkjd

ohoho. hmmm. for fluff, definitely “childhood sweethearts”, “soulmates”, and “reincarnation au” <3 for angst, whatever trope my request was (is that even a trope lmao), and i totally agree - “right person, wrong time” is so </3 “terminal illness” probably? or stuff like “amnesia” or “accident/surgery/being in a coma” is also very very nice….. ooooooh this is giving me request ideas ✨✨✨✨

WAIT REALLY??? awh that’s too bad… ok have this then - if you ever try to see the chasm from sumeru, it looks like the great wall of china or something, it's amazing:

(ignore the charred grass klee was having a little too much fun there lmao)

^ additionally, zhongli, babysitting klee. run, hilichurl, run for your life-

oh, poor poor gimel. i created a teleport waypoint just for farming zhongli’s pillars. literally went there every day just to beat them up 🤕

awh dw about it!! you were on vacation and all!! <3 and i see you hehehe

rin jieeee, i'm super sorry for the late reply but i am here !! >:) NAURRRR, has your hubby's ancient fossil soul possessed your body??? snap out of it 🤨 (/j) seeing the word, persevere reminds me of the ayato angst drabble i wrote and now, i'm writing another angst fic about him for your collab <//3 aaaaa, i really wanna ramble about my vaporize wip to you but that might ruin the surprise, so maybe i should keep it hush-hush??? fjejkskdwk

IKR??? ayato is a character whose personality would flourish as a villain like if he weren't the son of a noble clan in inazuma, imagine his potential... as a fatui harbinger. albeit, i think both him and pantalone share those rich, classy vibes so they gotta fight for that spot in the ranks (/j) BUT AYATO AS A FATUI HARBINGER?? GOODBYE 🏃🏃🏃

i swear, he'd no longer need a bodyguard if he has me <//3 if i hear anyone say anything less than likable about him in the streets, it's on sight (/j) as a samoyed puppy in human form, i shall protect him !! tho, i can't help but think about what animal would suit him... i wanna say fox, but that'd somewhat make ayato a blue version of miko AND I LAUGH AT THAT 😭

your love for alhaitham really did grow immensely, it seems... has he dethroned kazuha??? *gasp* 👀 (/j) rip, @/meizuha, it is now time for @/meitham to shine <3 speaking of, have you finished the sumeru archon quest??? i just got around to finishing it a few days ago but it sure was memorable when alhaitham appeared fkekwdk ty for the tips~ my zhongli has about 46k HP now, and he's a shielder who gives occasional burst DMG (around 30k) since he has the catch r1 with accidentally 250% energy recharge 🫣 your crit DMG is smth else, you are spoiling him, helpppp. (/lh) i can understand because that shall be me when ayato rerun arrives <//3

awww, i can see the link between your fav fluff tropes here 👀 like the sense of being connected thru time and just an intuition of knowing that you're simply meant to be together :( this suddenly makes me think of a reincarnation au with zhongli, oml. there is something about you. something familiar but he can't place his hands on it like searching for a way out amidst a hazy fog. he has never met you before, or has he? your name is lost at the tip of his tongue — but as he looks into your eyes — memories surge forward and the disbelief in his voice echoes, "y/n?" weird, you've never told him your name.

AND THE ANGST TROPES, SO TRUE. smth about external obstacles that hold back a character just hurts because it feels like they can't do anything about whatever that fate has thrown at them, aaaaa. <//3 amnesia trope, in particular, has sm potential imo because the sheer devastation when you realize that all those memories of you loving that person are now lost? just like that? and when your own beloved stares at you so blankly as if you're a mere stranger, your heart can't help but shatter.

oooo, it does look like the great wall of china from that angle! hoyoverse really said irl inspiration, huh 🤧 BUT THE WAY THE HILICHURL GAVE UP??? it saw babysitter zhongli and fled. (/j) and as someone who also has klee, the charred grass is a familiar sight~ at least, she's not fish blasting this time but idk if sumerians care that much about their grass... klee gets banned from sumeru city era??? 😭 also, i don't remember if i've asked this before but what five stars do you have in your acc rn, rin jie??? i know that you have zhongli, itto, kazuha, xiao, and jean — is there anyone else i'm missing??? 👀