#if youre trying to sell yourself as someone who could market my stories. which are as queer as i am. then thats a swing and a miss buddy

[raevenlywrites]

wow. not sure if i just had a conversation with a bot or a bigot, or a human being that's just supremely bad at conversation....

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Hi Derin,

I’m a relatively inexperienced writer (my only publication is in a school magazine lol), and I was hoping I could ask for advice, if it’s not too much of a hassle?

It feels weird being a writer in a time where there’s so many ways to publish work, and I’m having a hard time choosing between the stable but competitive traditional publishing routes and the independence of self-publishing. As an established writer, what works for you? Is independent publishing more of a struggle? Or does it create less stress from the lack of bureaucracy surrounding the publication?

Thank you.

I've never tried traditional publishing so I can't accurately compare the two for you, but I have to ask... why on earth would you think that trad publishing is in any way *stable*? Trad publishing does have many advantages, mostly in terms of publishers having existing networks to get your books into the hands of libraries and stores and soforth (it's best to ask a trad pub author about those, it's not my area), but stability is absolutely not one of those advantages. Trad authors are dropped all the time. It's a long journey fraught with obstacles to even get the book released.

For me, the choice was easy because I didn't consider things in terms of trad vs. indie, I considered income models. The two major avenues of earning money in this field are via book sales or via 'salary'. Trad or indie publishing fits the first; making your money primarily through book sales (traditional publishing is nice here because you get an advance as well as the sales connections of the publisher and use of their editors etc., indie publishing is nice because it's faster and you keep more of the money since you're doing it all yourself). A model relying directly on sales is inherently unstable --you might earn more in the long run, but aside from your advance, it's really hard to predict how much you're getting month to month.

I chose a salary model, via Patreon, for the stability. I want to be able to predict my income, and while it does fluctuate (people subscribe and unsubscribe all the time), it doesn't fluctuate nearly as much. Patreon also tends to be a 'rolling weight'; patrons who join usually stick around for awhile, meaning that once I've acquired a patron, they increase my income for several months, often years, rather than a single sale. This also means that I can release the stories for free to people who can't afford to, or don't want to, pay me.

Independent publishing is no struggle for me whatsoever, because I use the patreon model. This means that I don't have to do most of the marketing and organisation stuff that someone trying to sell books has to do. The big issue is still marketing, but if you can get a critical mass of readers, readers who will help you by making fanart and memes and getting their friends into your work, your main job is to write the best story you can and never miss any updates. I do know that indie publishing via the book sale model can be extremely challenging, which is why some people choose trad publishing instead (which is also extremely challenging but people who know what they are doing are involved with you). If does sound like your goal is to sell books though, judging by how the question is posed, in which case I'm the wrong person to ask, because I am not in the business of selling books. A previous work of mine (Curse Words) is available for sale as an ebook, but the core of my income is via Patreon, which is an entirely different business structure.

Do any indie or traditionally published authors who rely on book sales have advice?

[wheeloffortune-design]

I wrote a novel for 17 years. I loved it, I was proud of it. And it got published! By a respected publisher! I loved my book, I was proud of it!

And then, well. Time passed, books didn't sell. The publisher did not really market it, either. Most of my support came from loved ones, which I'm grateful for, but when the insidious voice of impostor syndrome tells you constantly "well, they don't really count", you doubt yourself.

Reviews came in. They were room temperature at best. The only professional review I had in a magazine could be summarized by the critique saying "Well I wouldn't have done it like this." I check the reviews on Amazon, on Goodreads, and I can't get the positive ones in my head. Just the mean ones. (No, not even the negative ones, the mean ones. Like the one that said "Well most of the support for this author comes from people who already like her so it doesn't count." It sucks when the worst things you tell yourself are said by someone else.)

And I doubt.

Was the plot too complex, was the writing too simple, were the characters annoying, the setting not serious enough, was it boring was it boring oh no it was boring wasn't it.

And I stopped loving my book.

I've been trying to work on the sequel. I have a great story to tell, I'm proud of it (?), I love it (?). But I can't stop thinking about the first book as a failure.

Imagine that! Finally getting your novel published! And being convinced, in the deepest part of yourself, that you failed at your lifelong dream.

I need to reread it. It's hard, I hate what I see, I only see what I would (should) change. It's a chore, and I don't want my story to be a chore.

I need to fall in love with this story again. I once adored these characters, and I was proud of the plot and the research. It's hard, I need to put aside the mean voices both outside and inside my head.

The copy I'm rereading is damaged and used, because I slept with it under my pillow for a month after receiving it. I used to love it, be proud of it.

(...I read books and fics and comics, watch shows and movies, with so much love and enthusiasm... Maybe someone somewhere gets joy out of this story like I get joy from other's.)

I just need to love my book again.

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Kyojuro and foreigner (purchased) reader

Some drabbles that had come to my mind in the recents days about that au of mine  (still thanks to @viridwns for the insirations)

The first time Kyojuro saw you, he decided that he wanted to help you. Not only because the concept of selling a human being to him was an atrocious act, but mostly because that was something that he knew his mother would have approved of.

What he couldn't predict was that you still had some fight in you. By the looks on your face, the bruises, the cuts, and what he believed was a broken hand, your "seller" must have used a hard hand on you for some specific reason. He realized after having left that rancid market why! No matter how many times he tried to reassure you and make you believe that he wasn't doing you any harm, you never stopped trying to free yourself from him. He was able to evade a few bites and scratches, but for almost all the road, you kept ulling the rope on your wrist. Only when you both reached his family estate did you finally give up, mostly from exhaustion.

Senjuro almost had a heart attack seeing you. You were like a walking corpse! How could someone have treated a human life like that? Maybe it was his calmer voice or the fact that he was just a child, but you gave him more compliance than Kyojuro. Still, trying to bathe and clean you was the biggest fight that the two brothers ever faced. You allowed Senjuro only on the condition of keeping some robes on your shoulder. Trying to clean your hair, which was a muddling mess, with a broken hand wasn't exactly a great idea.

Kyojuro was well aware of your western origins; the sellers were proud to have caught such an exotic creature that could be used for the most despicable thing, but he never guessed that even just eating for you was difficult. Your injuries aside, you had problems eating with chopsticks, speaking, or understanding the normal use of objects. You were, by all means, just like a baby who took the first step in the world.

This didn't stop the two from helping you learn the basic fundamentals of living in their country. Senjuro was an angel, always showing you how to do certain things, teaching you about simpler words, how to dress up, and how to eat. Kyojuro was more interested in helping you learn the language; after all, his loud voice was a help since he used to pronounce every word with his loud voice.

It wasn't planned, but neither of them were able to speak about their father or about you. Because his confinement in his room and his almost constant addiction to alcohol made it simple to keep you hidden from Shinjuro for the next few weeks, He never suspected a thing; after all, he actually never even left his room, so even if you were able to roam the estate, he couldn't catch you. To Kyojuro, it was almost like lying to his own father, but deeply, he was scared of what he could have done to you once he found out about your presence. You were a stranger in his house; yes, Kyojuro and Senjuro deeply cared for you, but Shinjuro? He was another story.

You know that those two weren't alone. You caught a glimpse of that man and guessed that he was an older relative of the two brothers, but you never dared to cross paths with him. You loaded him deep. He used to scream at poor Senjuro and always say some strange words to Kyojuro, words that you were sure weren't anything nice. And the stench of alcohol—you hated them so much. But the two brothers never tried to present you to their father, so you guessed that something was up there.

You never knew why Kyojuro used to carry that sword around. To be honest, you believed he was some sort of police officer, but one day you saw them at the market with Senjuro, and their robes were quite different from his own. At some point, Senjuro tried to explain to you his brother's work, but the idea that monsters roam the night and prey on humans was so unreal. He was lying, so you could never know his brother's real work? You decided to keep your mouth shut.

Even so, Kyojuro started to get the strange habit of checking on you and Snejuro at night, the ones that he could spend with you two. It was like...guarding both of you? ... Maybe it was just your mind playing tricks on you.

[asksidon]

I hate to put 2 requests in at once, but with valentines day coming up I wanted to give you time to think up a valentines drabble. That time of year has always been hard for me and I’m sure it’s hard for others too sometimes.

I love my fishy prince, so obviously wanna request a Sidon x fem reader, but if you could find time and inspiration I also think it would be cool if you could do a Bazz x reader for the Bazz lovers here. Separately of course.

TIA ❤️ your writing always makes my day!

After wandering for a while, you've found yourself in the Zodobon Highlands. The air is crisp up here, but it is a relief after working up a sweat to get here. You sit underneath the shade of a tall pine to catch your breath, your heart quickening when you hear rustling several feet away from you.

When you turn, you see the Zora prince standing between the trees. He is holding a bow and arrow, which he leans against a trunk. "I thought I'd learn how to do something new today," he explains. "Are you here to avoid it too? Valentine's Day, I mean."

You've been trying not to give it too much thought. Your intention wasn't so much to run away as it was to spend a day with yourself. Then you think about the market inundated with people trying to sell you chocolate-covered strawberries in heart-shaped containers and all the pink, white, and red everywhere. Balloons, cards, candies. You didn't want to think about it, but it was everywhere. So it only made sense that you turned and walked in the other direction . . . and kept walking, for some time.

"I guess I am, yeah," you say. "I've never liked chocolate and flowers all that much, but days like this make me feel like I'm crazy for feeling that way."

Sidon comes to sit by you. "I know what you mean. I like chocolate and flowers well enough, really, but Tula and her crew are a little overwhelming. I suppose I have no right to complain . . . I'm not lonely, at least. Not unhappy. I just prefer to stay away from them."

You feel a little conflicted as you consider his response, not relishing the thought of Tula as Sidon's Valentine. You often wonder if he has someone, but if he did, then you suppose you wouldn't have found him here alone. "I'm glad you're not unhappy. Same for me. The day is just kind of blah. I wish I felt that way about someone that I could actually be with."

Sidon studies you and picks a silent princess, rolling the stem between his fingers. "Do you feel that way about someone you can't be with, then?"

You think it is safer not to answer. A beat passes and you stare at the pool of water below the mountains, where Vah Ruta rests. You remember the story about how Link rode on Sidon's back to tame the Divine Beast. You wish you had an adventure like that one to take on with Sidon; you wish you had some special talent or ability that would make you stand out to him.

"I kind of feel that way too," he offers after several moments of silence. "The people who bug me on Valentine's Day aren't the one I want to hear from. So, I hide . . . because it hurts to see her, but then she finds me anyway."

It takes his words a minute to sink in. You look over and realize his hand is trembling as he fidgets with the flower, his gaze flickering from your eyes to a random patch of pine needles on the ground. "I hate it that I feel like I can't ask her on a date," he continues. "I very much want to, but I worry about the attention she'll get. The Zora can be a little . . . unwelcoming sometimes, especially toward Hylians, and when a matter concerns their prince. If anyone ever hurt her, I would feel responsible. So, it's easier to just hope someday the feelings will go away, and avoid everything romantic in the meantime."

"Oh, Sidon." You reach for his hands. Words and thoughts fail you. Of all the things you expected to happen on this day, this would not have even been the last. It was never a thought to begin with, so it had no sequence in the order of your expectations.

"I'm sorry," he says. He holds your hands for a moment, then pulls back. "This is incredibly selfish of me. To tell you how I feel, but to be too cowardly to act on it. But you seemed . . . sad, and I didn't want you to think . . . to believe that no one is thinking of you on this day, because I am. I always am, Y/N."

It is just like him. To be sad himself, but to see an opportunity to make someone else happy and take it. He has made you happy, but it is bittersweet. You want the thing he suggests so much. Until now, you had thought it impossible because you believed there was no way he could feel anything other than friendship for you.

"You're not a coward." You understand his reasoning, and you've tried to stay out of the spotlight because you understand so well. Even revealing how close your friendship is with the prince could bring unwanted attention from his fan club. "You're a prince, who will one day be king. Of course it matters what your people think about you. You must do what is right, even if . . . even if I feel the same way about you."

Both of you stare silently at Vah Ruta for a while. The sun is beginning to sink to oblivion to give the moon its turn, a chilly wind blowing through the trees. Sidon releases a breath and says, "To Hylia with what people think." He shifts to rest his weight on his knee, and he looks like he is about to propose. "Y/N, I want you to be my Valentine. Will you?"

He holds the silent princess out to you. "I should have gotten you real flowers," he says, frowning. "More of them, I mean. A whole bouquet or twenty."

You accept his offering. "One is more than enough," you tell him. "Really, I hate getting flowers as gifts. They wilt and die, and then I get sad."

You and the silent princess are nearly crushed in his embrace. "I promise I'll never give you another flower, then. Wait." He pulls back again. "Are you saying yes?"

You chuckle, wipe your eyes that have suddenly become watery, and nod. "About that date . . ."

"Yes. Where do you want to go?"

He sees you look longingly toward Vah Ruta and nods.

"I like that idea very much. Climb on my back -- it will be much faster than walking."

[tea-with-evan-and-me]

"the entirety of this message is a problem and a projection - he doesn’t look pissed at natalie. no one was forced to be there. they did not look “distant”. they looked like two people with cameras shoved in their face and a whole mass of fans screaming for evan. i want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but please be serious and use not even critical thinking, just basic reasoning."

Admin, I really love you and I mostly agree with everything you say, I find you a breath of fresh air and reason in the fandom, or any fandom for that matter, because you remind me that truly funny and reasonable Evan fans exist and have a whole life of their own.

But, I think that you might be going to hard on the anon here 🥺 What they were trying to say, maybe, is that he seemed pissed. He did, what can you do? Maybe he wasn't,all they say is that he did seem pissed. As for the distant part, I don't know, they looked normal to me, but hey, I am not them,so how would I know. And how do we know that he was not forced to be there? Not by his gf of course, I don't think so, but by an agent / a deal? A deal he couldn't say no to because, you know marketing ties and everything? I'm just listing a couple of possibilities that may or may not be true. An anon a couple days ago in here ( I cannot find the post lol) has said that we don't know anything. I cannot say that Evan is happy, because I don't know. I can only say that he looks happy or he seems at a good place and hope for the best. We can only make assumptions, so why go hard on someone that insinuates anything that might actually be possible even by a tiny winiiiiee little bit?

Sorry for the long post, I hope my point is clear 🥺

Oh and I loved the new content from today, he does look uncomfortable but that's regular Evan in social situations I guess ✨ I loved his gf's dress too ❣️

first of all, thank you 💗 i hear you, and i genuinely do appreciate your perspective on this. but there’s a few things i want to expand on and be crystal clear about: there is no scenario in which it’s okay to make, nor entertain, entirely baseless accusations of domestic violence. this is not, and never can be, something we treat as a “let’s hear both sides” type situation. everyone who wants to play softball needs to remember how very quickly their words can sprout wings and start doing the rounds on social media, destroying an innocent persons character. some people may actually BE acting in good faith out of concern over the discourse they’re seeing about natalie potentially becoming violent with evan - again, based on dust. nothing. it’s already happening, and this is not okay. those that don’t want salacious and harmful rumors persisting must shut this down immediately and relegate those who play into it to the fringe parts of the fandom that no one takes seriously.

please take a moment to reflect back on the damage done during the worst of the brigade some fans started on frances. i literally spent hours debunking an elaborate plot where people photoshopped nude images of “evan” and his privates, fran’s tumblr page, AND patreon so that they could sell a story where she victimized evan and posted revenge porn. before that, these fans created a made up story about frances selling evan’s phone number to fans, and it STILL gets repeated years later. i’m sorry. i have thousands of people on this blog and with the audience i have, i DO have a responsibility to use strongly worded language to denounce people attempting to, or unwittingly going along with character assassination against a woman some hate simply due to her dating evan.

on a lesser note, i don’t find it appropriate to analyze every facial expression or movement actively looking for reasons to say they’re unhappy together, when we are quite literally discussing something that’s by nature, uncomfortable and unnatural. posing for photos in front of flashing lights, screaming fans, socializing with strangers… again, please place yourself in their position and try and imagine if you’d look jubilant and at ease. if you’d look like you were having fun and wanted to be there. now imagine you’re socially anxious as a person. i am asking people to stop seeking out negativity and projecting it onto these people - it’s not fair, and whether or not you are purposely trying to be problematic, it’s honestly just not necessary to paint every interaction in a negative light. as i said, i want to give the prior anon the benefit of the doubt that they got swept up in the negative commentary and baseless allegations.. and that’s why i responded to them directly. sometimes, we just need to take a breather and think critically before we put serious stuff like that out into the universe. i really hope that makes sense and you understand where i am coming from. 🫶🏼

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: Paula Banks

Tell us about yourself.: Hey there, I'm Paula, a 46-year-old author of children's books. When I'm not busy writing stories, I juggle my roles as a wife, a mother, and an implementation specialist. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I hail from Rockland County, NY, which is situated right outside the bustling city of NYC. It was during my time there that I discovered my love for writing stories. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I don't think I've got any weird writing habits. I just write, and when I feel stuck or overwhelmed, I take a break for a day or even a week to clear my head. Then I jump back in and keep going. What authors have influenced you? I hail from Rockland County, NY, which is situated right outside the bustling city of NYC. It was during my time there that I discovered my love for writing stories. Do you have any advice for new authors? Just keep going! Whether you sell one book or a hundred, never give up on writing. Your stories are important, and I promise that someone out there will connect with what you have to say. What is the best advice you have ever been given? The best piece of advice I ever gave was to my boys, and it was simply this: follow your dreams, no matter what. Don't wait for the perfect moment; just go ahead and do it. What are you reading now? Steve Furtick, Sun Stand Still What's your biggest weakness? I believe that my biggest weakness is self-doubt. What is your favorite book of all time? The Autobiography of Malcolm X When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? When I'm not writing, you can find me hanging out with my husband, watching an old '80s movie, or listening to some hip-hop. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? The very first books that had an impact on me were the Baby-Sitters Club series. I was obsessed with those books, and they inspired me to become a writer. Ann Martin was the first author I was introduced to who made me think, "This is what I want to do." What has inspired you and your writing style? My writing style is heavily influenced by my personal experiences. I take fragments of my childhood and reimagine them the way I wish they had played out. In that sense, my writing is very intimate, as it allows me to rewrite parts of my life that I may have missed out on due to my shyness or insecurities. What are you working on now? At the moment, I'm busy writing the second book of the Peyton's Journeys series, which is set to release on June 4th! I'm excited to share that I've infused one of my passions, hip hop, into this book. It's very special to me, and I can't wait for readers to experience it. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? Social media has been a game-changer for me! Not only does it provide a platform to market my books, but it's also a great way to connect with other authors, particularly black authors like myself. Through social media, I've been able to form valuable connections and expand my network in ways that I never thought possible. What's next for you as a writer? The sky's the limit! I'm eager to discover everything that God has in store for me on this journey as an author. How well do you work under pressure? I believe that I work fairly well under pressure. Sometimes I perform even better when things get hectic than when they're calm. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? Given that I write for the age group of 4-8, I always aim to maintain an engaging tone in my work. I try to avoid being too formal or using language that children might not relate to. It's important to me to remember that, even though I'm an adult, I'm writing for the little ones, so my stories must be told in a way that they can understand. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? While I may not have a huge fan base at the moment (but that will change soon, I am claiming!), To my current fans, I appreciate you more than words can say! Paula Banks's Author Websites and Profiles Website Amazon Profile Paula Banks's Social Media Links Instagram Read the full article

[claimbo]

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[bp-best-froggo]

Soo, uhh, the Arknights anime...

(fyi, this might be obvious, but I’m gonna spoil the first episode now. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. Then come back. Or don’t. I’m not your mom. I’m going to dump my thoughts here. This isn’t going to be very structured, very sorry if it’s incomprehensible rambling. It’s a long one. I’m not even kidding.)

First of all: What is this show supposed to be?

This might be an obvious one. An adaption of Arknights main story, in particular its first couple of chapters. The show is called “Prelude to Dawn” which does imply, also based on the material they have shown so far, that they will adapt Chapters 0 - 3 (as these chapters are also displayed together in the game’s story hub). Currently the show is listed with 8 episodes, which is shorter than most other shows.

With that out of the way, what kind of adaption is Arknights: Prelude to Dawn? Is it attempting to simply transfer its story to a different medium? Market the game to a new audience? Or is it trying to improve on a story, which was flawed on release, due to a lack of experience?

Or to frame the question differently: Why adapt Arknights into an anime show at all?

There are a couple of reasons for that. First of all: Expectations. If you’re releasing an anime-style game (or a manga or probably also a light novel), and it gains decent popularity, it’s a given that your fanbase will expect to see an anime adaption. Most fans are dreaming of that perfect adaption, that captures everything they love about a piece of media and looks stellar. Which I think is understandable, but also, when it comes to video games, near impossible to do right. Games are interactive art - you can only transfer a fraction of that experience into a visual/auditive medium.

Basically, you can tell me the story, but you can never capture the frustration of trying to clear NL-S-3 CM. Don’t get me wrong, I love the story, but I also love the gameplay. You can’t capture the gameplay, because I’m not the one doing it. In an anime, I watch someone else doing it. This makes it, by default, impossible to deliver on the expectations set by the community.

If you’re making it so hard on yourself to deliver a satisfying product then, why bother? Reason #2: You can make money off of it. If you have a bunch of people, who are by default willing to spend money on your product, because there’s a familiar name on the tin.

I cut this one short: I don’t know how profitable making this show is. You can watch it on Crunchyroll and I don’t know how much HG is making by selling the liscense. But then they’re also sharing it on YouTube which... I mean, it’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but like... for free? I mean they are getting ad revenue too, but... is that enough to make up for the production cost or even turn a profit? I guess you could also sell physical copies, the fans are gonna love those. But is that enough? I have honestly no idea.

Reason #3: You can market your game. A lot of manga and light novels used to do this and probably still do (don’t know for sure, I don’t watch as many animes anymore), where they get adapet for a single 12-ep season, only to push sales on the original work. No Game No Life, Btooom!, Baccano! come to mind for me. Decent shows, but will probably never have another season aired, even though the show is far from concluded.

If you wanted to make an Arknights show, to have more people pick up your game, selling them a story is one way to do it. But frankly, is that going to work? Remember you’re selling a gacha game. Peeps like me are here for the story, sure - but also for the characters. And if you want to haul in new customers, you might want to sell me your characters.

I know this is going to sound cynical, but if you’re not showing me at least 6* waifus only obtainable by gacha in the first 2 minutes, what’s the point? EP1 features exactly one character who is (not even exclusively) obtainable by gacha: Dobermann, a 4*. So honestly, either HG has no idea how to market their game (which looking at some of their ads might be a somewhat valid take) or that’s not what they were going for. Or they have a lot of faith that the story ends on strong enough of a cliffhanger to pull in the players then. (Which I don’t think either? Like, there’s a Limited Banner coming up both on CN and Global. Why wouldn’t you want to pull in players now?)

Which leaves me only with Reason #4: You create it because you can.

You can also call this one wishful thinking. I certainly think it is. Nowadays it’s hard for me not to look at PieceOfMedia(tm) and immediately think about what it’s trying to sell me. Even Arknights to an extend, isn’t only trying to tell me story. Every event comes with a new banner, so I can waste money on the newest 6* Blorbo. But I wouldn’t like Arknights if I didn’t see an earnest attempt between all the gacha banners and marketable characters to create something meaningful.

Earlier this week I got Glaucus’ module. I don’t think she’s a super popular character, so her module text will probably go unnoticed by most players. It made me tear up, because whoever wrote these few sentences wanted to express a kind of joy and happiness that not everyone can or will experience. This is why I play Arknights.

It’s these kind of things that make wonder, if this anime really only does exist, because there are a couple of people who care so much about something they have created, they want even more people to experience it. Even if gacha or tower defense isn’t their cup of tea. Even if it doesn’t turn a profit. Even if it goes largely unnoticed or unappreciated.

The truth is, probably, somewhere in between these four reasons. That’s why this adaption exists.

And it’s actually pretty good. Admittedly, it has been a while since I’ve read Arknights first chapters, but I still remember that at the time I skipped through most of them. They weren’t the reason I stuck with the game. The reason came way later. If anything, Arknights was a welcome distraction from the absolute hellhole that ‘Rona was at the time.

There’s a strange sense of comfort in a story about a world ravaged by an illness, too poorly understood to be cured, and people yet fighting to help those who suffer from it. Because at the time, when I looked at the outside world, all I could see was selfishness and fear. It was probably, curiously, the best possible time when the game had come out. At least for me.

I think what sums up this episode is that it was simply: Solid. Unspectular, but solid. The animation was good. It looked well-made and it was clear to see, that the animators put a lot of care into every scene. The dark scenes hit pretty hard. The voice acting was really good and I especially adore the Doctor’s voice. There was only one fight scene, but it was well done. I liked how they portraied the Doctor’s tactical thinking, using the drones and all that stuff.

But overall, the pacing was pretty slow and the exposition felt a little... clumsy. The Doctor’s amnesia and weak physical state is a good explanation to have all the characters explain a lot of stuff to them. But it slows the story down in a situation where it would otherwise be adviceable to... hurry up and get the fuck out of there? We know from the beginning that Amiya and her companions are in enemy territory, so having them stop every other minute to tell the Doctor all the stuff they have forgotten takes out the urgency from the story. Not completely, most of the time they are still hiding somewhere. But apparently it’s not urgent enough to not save Ursus mom and her daughter from Reunion.

A faster pacing definitely would have helped deliver the story. I’m not sure how much of the exposition was actually necessary, a lot of it felt like it was mentioned twice, but that might also be just me. I’m already familiar with the setting afterall. I’m still curious how good the setting was actually explained though. I will try to convince a friend, who has no idea what Arknights is about, to watch the first episode. Just morbid curiosity.

A lot of this might read like I have mixed feelings about the show, but that’s not exactly true. In fact, I love it and enjoyed the first episode so much, I will probably rewatch it at least once or twice over the next week. Most of my thoughts are just... uncertainty. This is afterall HG’s first attempt at an adaption. So far, it’s really good. It has honestly surpassed all my expectations and I was expecting something less polished than that. But I want to be careful about setting my expectations too high.

On the other hand I can’t help but wonder if this show is what will inevitably make Arknights pop culture - if such a thing can even be called inevitable. Maybe Arknights isn’t meant to appeal to everyone. A part of me would much prefer that over a slow decline into mediocrity that usually comes with increased marketability.

I have long since made peace with the fact that even Arknights might only be a phase for me. Right now, I still love the game and I play it every day and talk to people about it all the time. I know this can’t last forever, and I can’t help but wonder, whether my love for Arknights has already peaked or if it’s still going to last for a long time. Times feel uncertain to me so I find it though to believe in an eternity.

Regardless, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting for this to last just a little longer.

Frankly, I don’t think this show was made to market the game. I feel like it was made for me, and people like me. I’m probably wrong about this, but this is what I choose to believe right now.

To the two people who chose to read all of this: .... thanks for reading, but also, why?

[cityofdreams-writing]

I Will Always Wait

Rating: M

Pairing: Bang Chan x M!Reader

Word Count: 1K

Genre: Angst

Warnings: Lots of angst, major feels, major character death, death, sadness, no swearing for once. I think that's it, let me know if I missed anything.

Author: @cityofdreams-writing

Description: You find out that your boyfriend is being forced to marry...but you know you will wait for him forever.

Notes: This was the prompt:

"WARNING: MENTION OF SUICIDE. I was just sitting alone and cant get this angst idea out of my mind: The idol (top) is a rich heir and the reader (bottom) is just a commoner. The idol was forced by his family to get married and need to break up with the reader. The reader was so sad but he managed to say, "i will wait for you till i'm 30. If you dont find me by then, i will move on and find another guy" (lets say rn they are 24). The reader wait year after year. And then his 30th birthday almost come. 10 minutes before 12 am, he committed suicide, as if declaring that he will wait for the idol forever as he will never be 30. Gosh, this kind of story always makes my heart goes brr. Wish someone write a fic using this idea PLEASE REBLOG UNTIL A WRITER DECIDES TO WRITE THIS FIC IM BEGGING YALL 😭"

@pervy-az I hope this satisfies you, but I apologize if it seems rushed, I wrote this at like 3 AM last night so bear with me please lmao. Thanks for the prompt!

Also, annyeonghaseyo yowrobun (Hello everyone), I'm finally back, feeling a little better (mentally, physically I am sick right now lmao), and back with a story. No, I'm not coming off hiatus right now, as I don't really feel ready yet to continue the series I have going, or the request that I have pending right now. But I hope you do enjoy this.

Soundtrack: Click!

"(Y/N)..."

"(Y/N)?"

"(Y/N)!!"

You woke with a gasp. Your brother, Lee Felix, or Lixie, as you called him, tapped his foot angrily. His clothes were all dirty and ripped again...you sighed internally.

"I'm up, I'm up, hyung." You sleepily grumbled and raked a hand through your already-wild curls, messing it up even more with your hand.

"Come on. Eomma said we had to go shopping." Felix rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on, not again." You groaned at the mere thought of going with your brother for the third time this week to the stinky market.

"Get ready, Seungmin and I be waiting for you downstairs, 'kay?" With that, Felix shut the door softly behind him as he left.

You stood there for a moment, your shoulders slumping as you considered your fate.

You groaned, dragging yourself to the bathroom and cleaning yourself up.

You headed downstairs and gave your mom a sleepy hug, which she graciously accepted, chuckling at your groggy state.

You headed out with your brothers with the promise to be back in a maximum of two hours.

You talked and smiled with your brothers all the way to the market, where a hooded figure yanked you by your dirty sleeve into a shaded alleyway, not noticing how shabby the alley actually looked.

Not knowing who it was, you pushed the figure to the ground and snarled at a filthy vendor trying to sell you some suspicious looking plants.

The vendor backed away, whimpering at your ferocious temper.

"Show yourself." You growled lowly, yanking the person to their feet. The person didn't resist as they were manhandled by you. In fact, they seemed almost…melancholy. Or despairing.

The figure removed their hood, revealing…your boyfriend.

Christopher Bang.

The boy all the girls wanted, and if there were boys who were straight within a one-mile radius, Chris could make them fall in love with him with just a look. He was beautiful, handsome, and he could speak eloquently.

Guess who he was.

The prince. The rich heir to the throne. Since he was the only child in the family, he got everything.

But…that came with a few disadvantages.

Soft lips brushed over yours, surprising you at first and pulling you out of your thoughts, but then you closed your eyes as you cradled his soft cheek and slowly sunk into the kiss, and he pulled you close, wrapping his muscular arms around your neck.

He sighed as he pulled away, hugging you and resting his head on your chest (you were taller than him).

"Baby…I missed you…" Your words were soft as you gently stroked his pretty golden hair, playing with the strands between your fingers.

Chris smiled sadly. "I missed you too, love…but…I have bad news, and I don't want to hide this any longer."

You quirked an eyebrow. What could possibly be going wrong?

"As you know, Mum and Dad don't know that we're in a relationship…"

"Mhm?"

"T-they're forcing me to get married to a girl from another kingdom. They say it's gonna be good for the family…" Chris broke off, in tears at this point.

You were shocked, and it showed, but you weren't angry. It wasn't his fault anyway. "How long, Chris? How long have you been hiding it?"

His head fell, trying to swipe away the tears away fruitlessly.

”T-two months…I don’t even like the girl! I'm so sorry baby, we have to break up, I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore…"

You tore up, muffling your sobs in his hair. You didn't know about this, but you were not mad at all, just sad and shocked.

Your voice cracked and warbled, but you managed to say something and break the heavy silence between you two.

"Tell you what, Chris…I-I will wait for you until I'm 30. If you don't find me by then, I will find someone else and move on. Okay?" You wiped your tears away, and his too.

"O-okay…I am so sorry, (Y/N)…"

"It's okay, Prince Bang, I understand. Goodbye." You smiled a forlorn smile, kissing his head one last time, hiding your tears as you walked away and disappeared into the crowd. He hated that title that you had used on him.

That was your last kiss with him.

You acted like you were okay all the way through the shopping trip, hiding everything in your heart, and then you went home with them. They went their separate ways to do their chores, and you broke down.

Your mom knew that you were dating the prince, so when you explained why your eyes were red and puffy, she put down her sewing kit and held you in her arms like you were a baby until you were exhausted from crying. She knew you loved him a lot.

"Eomma, why is love so painful?" You sniffled, curling up in your mother's lap.

"I don't know, (Y/N)-ie…trust me, if I knew, I would tell you…I mean, I went through a lot of pain when I lost your father…" She trailed off, her hands stopping the soothing stroking of your hair, the memory seeming too painful for her to breach.

It was much of the same for six years. Cry every time you saw the palace, try to forget, wallow in the pain, act like you were fine…

Six years later, your 30th birthday was coming up. In 10 minutes, actually. 11:50 PM, you looked at the time. You sprinted up to your bedroom, where you quickly and shakily penned a note to your family through your tears. You left it in the room, and climbed out of the window, up to the roof.

"See? He forgot you. You should have just moved on…you knew this would happen. What's the point of living now? You were stupid because love blinded you to see what was happening! Such an idiot."

Your head clouded with negative thoughts, and yet…

You forced a smile through your tears, which were wetting your chin at this point.

"I will always wait for you, baby." You whispered softly to the silent night.

Five minutes before the clock struck 12, you were gone.

When the prince, now king, found out that you had died a few hours later, on your birthday, he mourned for you, crying for hours on end, wanting to save you.

The same night, at 6:35 AM, just as the sun started to rise, he joined you in heaven.

"You don’t have to wait for me anymore, love, I'm here now."

[imagines-to-quench-thirst]

Visiting your hometown

What happens when you take your man to your home town? As your memories, people and places come together how will he react?

A small/long drabble to get me back into writing. Enjoy!

Victor Creed

This mutant never thought that he would walk in your hometown. He didn't expect to see cultures that morph together into one special town, your town. A place where you grew up. So keeping all that in mind he was cautious. Various not to offend someone or to say a rude word in your mother tongue. For the first time in his life, he is frazzled and nervous. he will keep in his front pocket a small leaflet some words he heard you say a few times that may be of some assistance. trying to woo you.

-that old hag showed me the middle finger. let's go.

Unfortunately, anything that he says wrong, will be your responsibility to amend it. so good luck.

Loki

you just know that Loki will have your mother tongue in his little finger (that sounds weird but let's carry on) but do not be fooled, he can not survive the morning wave of people in the farmers market. something that is pretty much normal for you. Loki doesn't know how to feel when he sees the local butcher wrapping the meat in todays' newspaper giving it to buyers or how people shove him to the side as his black suit with the green scarf is more than brought down in value. he will hear the near shouts of Famers that are trying to sell their livelihood to him as his head goes from one side to another in a split second. he will easily get reeled in by the old farmer who just smells the innocence on the Midgardian addressed god. you know the moment you grabs his hand he looks at you.

-how did you ever survive in this chaos?

-I thought you said that chaos is your middle name.

-it is however my kind of chaos is more dignified.

-survive just a little bit more, I need to go to that man in the corner.

-oh, no...

Thor

we all in the fandom know that thor is a ball of joy. but when he lands in your city, your territory he is stoic. he is here on a mission and no one should stand in his way. he will glue himself to your side and he will hold the dictionary book in his mighty right hand and your hand in his left. he will not stand for wasting a day on mundane stuff that you do with him back in the HQ so say goodbye to lazying around. when you go to the oceanic part of your country you are now almost ready to drown him in the ocean. or just leave him on the road, it is getting that heavy.

-thor, think it is time to stop.

-what do you mean?

-to be honest, I don't know anymore I am so tired.

-you are right... let us stop. for 2 minutes and then you can drive again.

-I will leave you here.

Bucky Barnes

bucky loves to travel. he loves to see you in the role of a guide you tell him about the park where you cut your leg open and when you got to the hospital as a nun stood above you praying for your recovery. bucky loves to feel the fresh air going into his nose thinking to himself how this was the same air that you breathe in. he loves to see all the different parts of the city where you went to. even so much that he went to your former hairstylist.

-bucky, you don't have to do this.

-nonsense, doll. I want to experience it. just like you did.

-that was eons ago. and I wore super short hair, like a hedgehog.

-hedgehog?

-yeah, it was so short that I only put on gel and made small spikes.

- I will give everything I have and say that you looked beautiful.

-alright, your call.

Steve Rogers

steve cannot wait for enough for him to arrive in the city where you walked, ran, and laughed. he cannot wait to enter your old apartment and see all of the hidden pieces that he wants to know. he loves to help you clean the apartment and see a big box of your old photos. he will look with your through on the hard wooden floor with one arm around your shoulders as you talk about each photo. even showing him the photo of your sister.

-when will I meet her?

-I don't know.

-didn't you say that she lived here, still?

-yeah...

-I want to meet her. I think am ready for it.

-okay...

Bruce Wayne

you just know that when you told him to pack his bags to go with you he did his research. he knows when, how the city was built. he will try to memorize the tongue twisters and say them horribly wrong just to make you laugh. when he looks at your old apartment he tries to envision the day you left it all behind to go to Gotham and it breaks his heart to imagine you in tears.

-bruce.

you take his calloused hand feeling his fingers tighten the grip.

-sorry, I immediately imagined you when you moved out. I got sad.

-why?

-because, you surely cried.

-I did, a little, but this city didn't have that something.

-and what is that?

-you dumbass. now stop sulking we need to clean.

Clark Kent

as Clark arrived at the farm where your aunt lived he couldn't help feel but prepared. he saw the cows eating grabs and was ready in a split second to milk it just to show off his soft and delicate side. Clark heard the stories of your aunt, well one of them, and from what he concluded, for now, this aunt was the beginner level, nice one, the one who won't tear him a new one if he doesn't treat you right. as the door opened you greeted your aunt in your mother tongue and introduced your man. Clark shakingly trying to reply in the mother tongue feeling the few letters that stood together could fall more apart than from his mouth. your aunt laughed hugging him and roughly patted him on his back. almost like a punch if you will. you look at your aunt and Clark cannot help but stand behind you as he whispered.

-what did she say?

-she said that you seem stiffer than a goat's turd.

-you said that this aunt was nice.

-she is. but that is the way we express ourselves.

-with curse words???!!

-what better way.

Arthur curry

Arthur was relaxed when he arrived, he was laid back when he slept in your apartment but that all suicide jumped off a cliff as he shook hands with your mother. Your mom wasn't that intimating but he heard the stories of her standing to your abusive father and running away with just some change in her pocket and a used car. he knows that the woman in front of him is strong can make or break your relationship. so he held the coffee cup in his hands as if was the key to everything he needed to know how to make your mother happy. he saw how your eyes sparkled when you talked to her how your smile ever left for a second you take what seemed to him in complete gibberish but cute gibberish. your mother turns to him asking in English.

-so Arthur, can I call you by your first name?

-yes, madam. of course, you can.

-thank you. well, then Arthur what do you do for a living?

with a small nod from you, he tells the honest truth.

-I am a superhero. but minus the stupid cape. I am here to keep you and your daughter, of course, safe from all danger. and I hope you will like me!!!!

you turn to your mother with a small chuckle as you tell her in your mother tongue.

-he is helpless.

-he seems like it, good luck, Y/n.

Orm Marius

nothing can save his pulse from rising as he walked with the crowd of people in the town square only your hand which he held more than tightly enough. you stopped pointing at a big statue of a colonel on a horse placed in the middle of the square.

-he is a big deal.

-yes, I can imagine the poor people that had to lift it up to place it here.

-yes, but thanks to those people, people now in the present can always remember what they went through at that time.

he didn't find any specialness in the statute for him it lacked in far more than that he can count but when he saw your face looking at the statue he knew that whatever that stirred in you he wanted to see it every day. he only squeezed your hand placing a kiss on your knuckles.

-does this mean you want in your likeness?

-sure, but only if you will make it.

-oh, darling, that is a recipe for chaos.

The Joker

j never put effort into himself. he did in destruction, in chaos, in mayhem, and even in covering his white skin with some basic foundation as he meets your off the edge aunt. when you told him that every second sentence from her is a curse he was more than ready to meet her. because sometimes crazy people click with the people who like to curse. everyone knows that. so when he sat in the house of your crazy aunt he firstly observed, he watched you talked together and exchanged laughs, even more, when you ever brought to tears as you laughed off the curses she threw at you so playfully making even j smile. so when she turned to him it was game time. and you were the translator.

-my aunt asked what is that you do for a job?

-tell her I am the man of your dreams.

-I told her that.

-damn, then tell her-WHAT?!

you giggle at his shock as you heard the playful quote she told you when you were little and j wanted to know what she said.

-what did she say?

-she said "if a girl gives a man a hand, she will give him her ass"

-your aunt is a wise woman.

- I knew you would like her.

Duncan Vizla

Duncan likes to take walks and taking a walk with you next to him as you showed him around your old neighborhood and told him stores of the always pissed on metal slide and the always filled cafes that were always the pinpoints for some scammers he found in question why you like it so much. as you showed his around you stopped at your old elementary school. you showed him the main entrance was where everyone hurled in the morning hours and where you sat with your friends and talked about the horribly proffers that still to this day haunt you. something he heard you mumble in your sleep.

-she was that awful?

-yes, and people like here never get old it's like the evilness she has in her keeps her eligible for work.

-am i not the same?

he couldn't ask a stupider question. and for that, you punched him in the shoulder.

-don't compare yourself to her. you aren't evil.

-you are forgetting my job, darling.

-you kill for money, she kills for fun and to keep herself alive. a difference now let's go home I need to remind you just how good and attentive you can be.

-lead the way, dove.

hope you liked it. Tell me what you think❤️

Support me with a kofi

[twsted-simp-writer]

Hello and welcome back! May I request hcs for dormleaders with a s/o who wears shades a lot till' they found out that everyone in their middle school wanted to gouge their beautiful eyes out beacuse some are jealous or wanting to sell it to the market? Thank u!

(Yes I am referencing the eys from Gojo from JJK)

I haven't really watched Jujutsu Kaisen (tho I watched sukuna and gojo scenes in YT) but I already know Gojo and Sukuna, seeing the thirst tweets on Twitter back then. I plan on watching it once it's totally finished. (But seriously Gojo’s eyes are so pretty) Thank you for the request and I hope you like this!~

Dorm Leader Headcanons

Riddle Rosehearts

He'll had to admit. The first time he met you, he almost chop off your head for wearing those shades all day. Even at night, much to his utter disbelief. Being the strict abide-to-the-rules person he was back then, he ordered you to take them off. Seeing those eyes had startled him for dear life.

This was the time he finds out everything you've been through because of those eyes. Constantly in danger for people in your school who might possibly attack you. The redhead was upset as you predicted. You further explained more about your eyes and how those shades affect your vision.

Riddle quietly observed you. How come you are so strong despite all the pain you have been through? The redhead held your hands and pecked your lips.

Even himself was flustered with his own actions, he wasn't really good at expressing his feelings for you but he'll try his best. Seeing how he was doing his own way of comforting someone, you giggled at the cuteness of your boyfriend.

"I'm not strong physically but with my magic, I'll make sure those who have ill intensions towards you will have their heads cut off."

Leona Kingscholar

This lion never spoke a word about it as he respects your space. Until you decided to open it up to him. That sunglasses didn't really bothered him the slightest except when he discovered you even wear it in the dark especially at night much to his chagrin.

Can you even see in that especially in the dark? He'll just huff at the idea that popped in his mind. It is definitely impossible for a human like you to see clearly in the dark.

When he thought you were just an odd herbivore, he was taken aback when you suddenly opened up your past and explained more about your eyes.  Both of you were lying down his bed cuddling, when he crawled atop of you stopping you from your story.

As he held your face, both staring into each others eyes for a moment. Leona's face was blank yet so many emotions are going through his eyes. Yet you recognize anger, worry and fear. Knowing many thoughts were running in his head, you lean your face close and your lips met with his and that calm his mind. Leona's body became relaxed as he bury his face to the side of your neck.

"I may not always be beside you, but just call my name. I'll be sure to be there."

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul merely shook his head at how violent land dwellers were. He have heard stories of how humans can be cruel ever since he was small. But to think you were a target just because of your eyes is what made him distraught. Your boyfriend silently hugged you from behind as he thought of the possibilities of you being targeted once more but here in Twisted-Wonderland.

He would suggest you to have a contract with him to hide the true appearance of your eyes. In exchange of it, you will have to spend your entire life with him. He offered this, his cheeks bright pink and shaky voice.

You let a little laugh at what your lover what implying. Pecking his lips, you held his hands and stare at his bluish-gray eyes.

"Darling, I would love the thought but that will not change the effect of how I see the world. I would also love to spend the rest of my life with you but marriage can wait."

Azul had a huge smile as he peppered your neck with kisses. If ever someone planned on laying a hand on you, your lover will certainly pay them a visit with the twins. In the end, he would suggest to you to atleast have Jade and Floyd near you at all times to which you rejected.

Kalim Al-Asim

Kalim would be that type of person who is very vocal of things. He would bug you about why you wore shades all the time. Upon catching a glimpse of your eyes, he was stunned. This soft boy loves complimenting your eyes despite not knowing the story behind those. Learning how others wanted to take your eyes just for their own benefit or out of jealousy, he'll shower you with lots of attention and affection.

Kalim is the type of person who'll empathize with someone who has experience things he himself didn't.  He'll even apologize even if it wasn't his fault.

This boy would even cry for you which made you comfort him and tell he shouldn't feel responsible.  There were times you thought he was too good that others may use this against him.

The next day,  a stressed out Jamil will approach you to question why Kalim suddenly wanted to buy lots of shades. Hearing this you immediately run to find your boyfriend to stop him.

"They say jewels and gold are have far more worth but for me, your worth is more that those things."

Vil Schoenheit

Vil thought those shades was just part of your fashion and it looked good on you. It may have startled him before, that you wore it the whole time until Rook pointed it out to him.

He loves putting different shades of eyeshadows that compliments your eyes. It didn't help that your boyfriend will stare heatedly at yours, making you feel shy.

After hearing what you've been though back in your world, he understood how it is to be envied by others for something they don't have nor feel threatened by someone. But to the point of wanting their eyes out of jealousy or to sell them?

The thought of his s/o being in danger back then all because of their eyes, he felt sick and disgusted. Who in the world would gouge out someone's eyes? (cougheyesonmecough). Vil would then press on to know if there are ever people following you lately. To which you reassured no one was.

Also being aware on how the sunglasses affects your vision, your lover made sure to tag you along to buy different kinds that will fit to your outfits. You just let yourself be dragged by your boyfriend seeing how fired up he was when it comes to fashion and makeup.

Idia Shroud

At the beginning, Idia was creeped out when you wore shades all the time. Be it during History class, Physical Education, even Alchemy (much to Crewel's dismay).  Upon discovering your eyes, he was fascinated by them.

When he find out how people back in your middle school wanted your eyes just to sell them for their own profit made this lovable boyfriend of yours speechless at human greed. He would literally made a special glasses just to hide your unique eyes.

A small part of him was guilty that he felt like he didn't deserve someone like you. But hearing your story, a surge of determination overcame him.

You tried to convince him that he doesn't need to build one for him, but he was already gone by the time Ortho told you.

Much to your surprise, the glasses let you see normally than you usually would whenever you don't have your shades.

Idia would explain to you the other functions it can do and the precautions. He even handed you the contacts just in case. Moved by the efforts of your usual gloomy boyfriend who is now , you happily kissed your boyfriend who suddenly turned into a blabbering mess at the sudden kiss.

"I may not be so reliable but I'll make sure to protect you from the shadows..."

Malleus Draconia

Your eyes is what made a lasting impression for Malleus. It was as if those eyes could swallow his whole being despite you being a human. Hearing this all from you, he wasn't surprise that your fellow humans would try to gouge out your eyes. Humans are fickle and easily swayed by their desires. Jealousy was an ugly thing.

Caressing your cheek, he kissed both of your eyelids as he spoke. "When I am here, no one will dare to hurt you. If they ever do, they will have to suffer my wrath."

Seeing your lover was emitting dark aura, you immediately hugged his waist and reassured that was in the past. Many thoughts ran through this fae as he wanted to ease your burden. When he offered that he might find a way to make your eyes normal, you rejected it.

He didn't have to go through so much length just to change your eyes. As much as it was hell for you but thanks to these eyes, you met many friends here in Twisted Wonderland.

Malleus merely shook his head. HIs s/o was too kind for their own good. As much as he didn’t agree with your decision, he’ll definitely be more protective for the next few days than you thought.

"Others may find you a thorn to my side, but to me you are my human, my heart, my soul and my weakness. My other half."

[youryanderedaddy]

♡100 followers special♡

Guys, I would like to thank all of you for all the support since I started this blog, you are the best <3 Btw this is the fic Elon Musk doesn’t want you to see lol, jk jk 

Title: Humanity

Words: 3.6k 

Summary: When you get sold to an odd looking robot after the last failure of a rebellion, things go better than you had expected. Until they don’t. 

tw: robot/AI apocalypse au, dystopia au, slavery, slight non - sexual public nudity, discrimination, vulgar language, mention of death and child abuse (in the past), obsessive behavior, non - consensual touching, angst 

              AD 3061y., 14 September

 Your hometown was in ruins, shattered by the Forces and left without any source of food, clean water or reliable manpower. The rebellion had failed just like the first ten attempts and as much as you had wanted to believe this time would be different, your dreams stayed nothing more than a way to cope with the harsh reality. Any intelligent individual had either managed to flee before the prosecution or died in agony while trying. You could still hear their pained screams ringing in your ear, the desperate look in their pupils sealed forever in your mind along with the sound of heavy breathing slowly fading into the background like your own hopes for a better future.

 The ones who decided to play meek and close their eyes to the inhuman torture happening in the area were spared, but what awaited them could potentially be worse than death itself. You were part of the flock of pitiful weak humans who had surrendered to the heartless machines wanting nothing more than to see mankind squirm and kneel underneath their mechanic heel like a bug. And now you would face the hour of judgment – tired and exhausted, heavy rusty chains around your bruised ankles making every next step a little harder than the last one. But you were certain that the most painful humiliating event hadn’t taken place yet and the thought made your blood run cold. You could recall the countless stories you used to hear on the streets from your friends about androids stealing kids and selling them like cattle to the most powerful leaders of society. Back then you would laugh at them, finding the ideas ridiculous, better fit for a conspiracy theory or a legend rather than an actual threat. But during that time life was easier – the robots were still your friends, just your average citizens, equal to the humans in every manner. It wasn’t until ten years later that some of them realized just how much better, stronger and smarter than the people they really were. That’s how the apocalypse started and that’s how it was going to end. These days the mortals were becoming extinct with the population cut down to one million. You didn’t have names or rights to any possession. Your mere survival had one purpose only – to entertain the machines so they could feel human again. And right now you were being dragged to Soraq, also known as the biggest slave market in the country.

----

 It was just as terrifying as you had imagined it to be. The Capital was supposed to express wealth, luxury and maybe even happiness but your old human views were easily opposed when faced with the mud  covering what was left of the pavement and the pale exhausted bodies of the mortals wandering the streets searching for a hot meal and a little bit of kindness it was clear no one wanted to provide. You reached out to help a young girl sobbing all by herself on the ground but the Officer roughly yanked your shoulder back and ordered you to keep going – his cold hard touch was enough to bruise your skin.

 After a few long minutes of uncertainty your keeper finally stopped, pulling you up some black stairs leading to a small stage and if you weren’t too busy looking around for the others who were captured, you might have noticed the crowd gathered inches away from you. Soon enough you were forced to redirect your attention as you heard the approving screams and cheering below. There were hundreds of robots staring at you, smirking maliciously, pinning you with their cold calculating gazes. You finally realized that this wasn’t just a bad dream or a nightmare, something unreal you could easily run away from by opening your eyes. You were about to become property and the worst part was the way the cruel machines perfectly resembled people – they looked the same except for the dark red pupils each possessed which glowed when going into a fight mode. But unlike humans the androids had gotten rid of their most intimate emotions and fears, turning themselves into empty shells, shiny and murderous with no way to experience anything properly, be it pleasure or pain.

 “Ladies and gentlemen!” The Officers started off with a low chuckle, his heavy hand wrapped tightly around your arm. His voice should have been programmed to be monotone but now it had a playful edge to it. “Today our dear subjects have decided to be feisty yet again. They still haven’t learned their lesson it seems.” He grinned eerily, quickly followed by the mocking laugher of the crowd. Some even shouted slurs and insults but you tried to focus on controlling your feelings. You needed to stay calm if you wanted to survive. “We really can’t expect more from the mankind. They are primal after all, they just can’t learn from their mistakes.” The male robot paused for a second to fix his microphone. “It’s in their DNA code to be foolish and pathetic. That’s why we need to take better care of them.” He whispered the last line down your neck and despite knowing that the machines didn’t have actual lungs, you could swear you felt his cold breath on your sensitive skin.

 “The woman is in her early twenties. Her background is unknown, but she certainly looks like someone you would want in your collection.” The android continued talking as if you weren’t there, his hands all over your tinier frame. The mass was yelling, but you only made out the words „down”, „strip” and „human”. Your eyes watered involuntarily and you let the tears stream down your cheeks in spite of the weakness they showed. It didn’t matter – it couldn’t get any worse so you could at least let yourself experience such little bits of comfort. In the next moment the Officer ripped your old ragged t-shirt, exposing your breasts to the cold autumn air. The hot red humiliation washed over you as the degrading whistles pierced trough your heart. It was such a cruel unfair punishment and you couldn’t even keep your composure long enough to not break down ugly – crying right there.

 “The bidding starts at one thousand eros!” The robot’s evil voice echoed through the area, reaching the market borders. Suddenly all the attention was on your scared vulnerable half-naked self. More than ten androids raised their hands, making your stomach turn in terror. Most of them had unpleasant appearances, resembling old people, usually men. “Do we have two thousand eros?” The officer added quickly afterwards having seen the shown interest. This time there were only five bots willing to buy you for so much money – but the show was far from over. “Am I seeing three thousand eros?” Your keeper kept going, determined to drain your bidders off their wealth, but to his utmost surprise now there were only two robots with their hands in the air – one seemingly younger and the other looking all wrinkled and bitter at the world. You silently prayed that fate would work in your favor only this time and hand you over to the man who would treat you more like a living being and less like an object.

 “Ten thousand eros.” Suddenly the android with a kinder appearance declared out loud, his cold stern gaze fixed onto you. The other male hesitated for a moment, probably wondering whether or not you were worth so much money, but at the end he cursed under his breath and slowly put his hand down with a sour expression. “Sold to K-010 for ten thousand eros!” The automatic voice of the Officer was ringing in your ear like an alarm while the crowd was shouting and cussing, some going as far as to criticize your new owner for giving up his monthly salary for a “cheap human whore”. Next he was invited on the stage to sign off all the needed documents leading to your freedom being ripped away forever and you were injected with a tiny chip which would make your location visible to your buyer at any given time. The android looked at you soon after and in one swift move he managed to place his leather coat on your shoulders, muttering at you to cover up. You obeyed, embarrassed by the reminder that your upper half was still fully exposed to all the hungry prying immortals. When the chains were finally removed, the robot took you by the hand and led you to a small white flying car with a yellow lily drawn on top – the brand was popular among the most powerful members of the Forces.

 “Don’t even think about running away.” K-010 growled when he noticed the way your attention drifted to the nearby road before finally taking your seat. You knew it was pointless now that the tracking device was deep into your skin but deep down you still couldn’t kill the last bit of hope screaming at you to do something before you were too far away to find home again, wherever it was. “If you so much as look outside while we drive, I will use my lasers to turn you into ash. Okay?” You nodded meekly and sank into the soft comfortable seat, wishing that your body would stop shaking in fear but to no avail.

---

 The journey was long and silent but it made you remember the days when music was still allowed and you used to turn the radio all the way up in your mother’s car. You would sing loudly until your throat hurt and your friends would ask you to just shut up and focus on the road. Everything was so normal and happy back then. The stinging nostalgia threatened to overcome so you tried to focus on something else. You finally faced your owner in an attempt to study his appearance. He was probably in his late twenties, his hair white with some black locks here and there, a fashion trend you usually didn’t care much for. You couldn’t afford to bother with your hairstyle when you were constantly running for your life after all. The robotic male had sun-kissed brown skin, he was taller than most human men and his lips seemed softer than most robots’. But the biggest mystery laid in his deep dark eyes, they looked scarlet at first but the more you stared, the easier it was to realize the color was actually brown.

 “Are you a cyborg, K-010?” You asked in a small voice out of the blue, breaking the peace and quiet in the air. The android didn’t spare you much attention with his gaze fixed onto the open sky serving as a road, still he opened his mouth slightly to respond. “My name is Kyle, the numbers are just a formality.” He inhaled sharply as if he was reminiscing a bad memory. “And yes, I am biologically human – just with a few practical upgrades.” You had heard of such people before, the ones willing to become an experiment so they could join the high society oppressing their own neighbors, friends and relatives, setting the lands on fire and destroying the dying environment but you had never met one until today. Honestly, you felt betrayed. It was one thing to be some unfeeling machine’s plaything and entirely another to be owned by someone with a functioning heart even though they weren’t too keen on using it properly.

 “Why would you do that?” You couldn’t stop the question from leaving your lips in the next moment. “You should know what humans have to go through just to stay alive. Today hundreds of us were crushed and sold like some animals! Yet you changed yourself to appeal to their disgusting standards.” You raised your voice, the hot tears already spilling down your cheeks yet again, your fists clenched in pure anger at the foolish greedy man. He simply shook his head and leaned back. “I had my reasons, sweetheart. You don’t know anything.” With that the conversation had ended, you could try and argue or even blame him for being a selfish bastard but it wouldn’t have done you any good so you decided against it. It didn’t matter much anymore.

----

 A few months went by slowly even though time meant little to someone in your position. Living with Kyle wasn’t as terrible as you thought it would be – his mansion was big and spacious, luxurious even. You had your own room and you were allowed to explore the house in your free time. You didn’t have many duties to attend to, your work mostly revolved around cooking, cleaning and keeping company with your owner when he was too tired to keep the robotic mask on and just wanted something sweet, something weak, something more human around. He didn’t want much out of you so you tried to do your best and stay on his good side – there was always a warm meal waiting at the table at night, every window was carefully wiped from the previous dust and the glass was now shining brightly, and you would listen for hours on end to the cyborg’s ramblings no matter how dreadful it could be sometimes.

 But it couldn’t be denied that the man had some odd habits, even if you were to overlook him buying a living being instead of simply hiring a maid. For example, you knew how thin the walls actually were because you could hear him cry almost every night. The half-robot would hold you close any time the news were too loud or a bottle of beer had fallen and shattered on the ground. Still you weren’t allowed to leave his home so all the doors leading to the outside world were locked while he was away or at work. And there were these weird long cuts on his shoulders you had managed to take notice of the first time your master had asked you to bathe him. You hadn’t meant to prey upon his naked form, but the task had been so awkward you needed something to focus on to drive the unpleasant thoughts away. The injuries looked deep and the man would close his eyes any time the soap made contact with them. Finally one day you gathered the courage to ask him what had caused the raw scratches. You were messaging his scalp gently, applying jasmine in his roots, trying to soothe his nerves and get to the information.

 “ ’S not important. ” K-010 answered lazily while arching his back into your touch. More often than not the male would melt under your care and you couldn’t help but wonder just how lonely it was to be neither a human nor a machine. “She is dead now.” He whispered darkly, secretly hoping it wouldn’t reach your ear, yet it did. “Who is dead?” You questioned him after a while, stroking his wet locks until you heard him moan. You were getting better and better at provoking a reaction from the cyborg and despite knowing it was manipulative and a little devious, he was still the ruthless owner who held your one and only life in his palms. You needed to be sneaky if you wanted a safe, comfortable life.

 “My mother.” Kyle added quickly before looking at the blue ceiling, the glossy material copying both of your reflections. The mention of the woman made the sensitive skin of his nape crawl but he kept talking. “The crazy bitch used to beat me every. She even tried to kill me a couple of times.” A slight smile appeared on his full red lips. “It didn’t work out in the end, unfortunately.” So that’s where the cuts were from – he had been violated in his childhood by no other than the person supposed to look after him. You had always hated abusive parents taking advantage of their authority and even now your own imagination made your heart ache at the picture it painted. A small boy being hit over and over until there his whole body was bruised and bloodied. A child with no one to turn to. It didn’t excuse your master’s evil doing but it certainly explained a lot. “Don’t make such a sad face, darling.” He cooed at you, reaching out to pinch your cheek. “I will always be grateful to the Forces since they gave me the power I needed to finally free myself from her grasp. I even buried her myself after everything was said and done.” Kyle grinned from side to side like a little kid waiting to be praised for the picture they had drawn, except now the man was speaking of the way he had murdered his mother. You were at a total loss of words, suddenly too frightened to respond.

 “What’s so special about being a human anyways?” The cyborg grumbled, sounding almost offended of the words you still haven’t said but were definitely thinking deep down. You were staring forward unable to draw away from that one crack in the wall, his words flying above your head. Your confusion was interrupted by the man quickly raising to his knees and catching both of your hands with his strong robotized ones. The cold touch of the metal combined with the camouflage of a soft skin was enough to mess your mind even further into the maze that was his dark gaze. Next thing you knew the male had you pinned on the hard ground, spotlessly clean and reeking of abstergent. You tried to squirm away but the hold of your wrists was too tight and strong to even make your struggling worth the trouble. “Just look at how weak you humans are.” K-010 taunted you, smirking teasingly, cruelly, yet there was something desperate in his eyes, something hidden. “You are so fragile I could probably break you if I were to press harder on your flesh.” He whispered into your ear, breathing down your neck as he dug his icy fingers into your collarbone and made you whimper pathetically at the dull pain. “People are foolish creatures, illogical by nature. They try to fight authority yet the moment they are left with a free choice, they find a way to run from their responsibilities.” The cyborg chuckled maliciously while digging his nails further into your skin.

 “We might be doomed forever because of our emotions but there is something you fail to consider.” You finally spoke out despite your rapid heartbeat and fear so great it could defeat death herself. The predator already had you in his sharp claws and there was no pointing in playing coy anymore. The worst had come to worst. Your words caught the attention of the half-robot and he licked his lips in anticipation to hear what you had to say. “Unlike the androids we can still experience love. And at the end a life without love is a life wasted in the big picture. We might be mortal but you are the ones waiting to die instead of living.” You spat at the man fiercely, ready to face any punishment he would bestow upon your weak tired body for the sheer honesty. Instead he started laughed maniacally, the sound so loud it hit the ceiling and echoed through the house like a pained scream and so violent his shoulders shook to the sides. For the first time his eyes were glowing in a bright red color so saturated and vivid you couldn’t stand to look at them.

 “This is really funny, my little human.” Kyle pronounced carefully, having calmed down. He lowered his head so that his lips were ghosting over yours, just brushing against them. “I belong with neither humans nor robots so why does my chest ache every time I look at you? Tell me, darling, am I in love?” His voice was harsh, husky – as if he was purposely trying to sound evil but the tears in his eyes pointed at another feeling. A raw painful feeling.

 You couldn’t reply not only because you had no idea what to say after the confession but also because you couldn’t breathe properly with his pretty, wicked face so close to yours. Your silence only managed to stir the cyborg up further into his madness and he kissed you roughly, hungrily lapping and biting at your lips until they were sore and bruised, the robotic man more than happy to lick the small drops of blood off. For a moment you considered kicking or shouting for help but there wasn’t anyone willing to in the radius of kilometers. No one of significance cared much about the few remaining mortals. “I could never love you.” You uttered weakly, half – heartedly pushing the man away. You were all alone in this and there wasn’t really a point in fighting someone so much bigger and stronger, yet a sad little part of you hoped that Kyle would leave you alone if you made it clear enough just how much his actions were hurting you.

  “It’s fine if you don’t love me by choice.” Your master replied calmly in a cold piercing voice. His hands were wandering through your form stopping at your hips to draw them into his. The pretty dress you used to like so much was now crumpled and reeking of him, torn apart from your shivering body and thrown away. You wished you could cry but all the adrenaline had left you too uneasy to process the pain and fear. Kyle whispered in your ear while stroking your hair gently and it made you feel like a trembling sheep before a starved butcher. “I own you, little human.” He placed a small kiss on your hot sensitive neck. “And I have enough love for both of us.”

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hello, hello!! It's me again!! Here to interrupt your feed with yet another of my random genshin thought of the day! Recently, on one of Zach's (Aether's VA) streams with Poonam (Klee's VA), one of the viewers mentioned something about Klee driving a mini-car affectionately titled the 'dodocar'. This got the gears in my head turning, and I started thinking about the different modes of transport each character would use. These are some scenarios my brain came up with!! I wanted to send them your way because you always have the loveliest ideas, and wanted to know if you had any more thoughts on the matter! As such, Miss Hazel, today I present to you my offering of Genshin boys as different modes of transport! 💕

- 🔎

Diluc would drive a car. No question about this. I've always imagined him to have a sleek, modern-looking car that's maybe a little bit on the pricier side, but not completely outrageous by any means. The man doesn't really seem like the type who would want to show off his wealth, but he also can't deny that he has an eye for much of the finer things in life.

You watch as Diluc mans the car, watching the rolling hills flash by the window. There's something uniquely intoxicating about sitting in a car with someone else for hours on end. It makes you want to open up to them, makes you want to share stories which you perhaps wouldn't have wanted to share otherwise, much like a drunkard who's had one glass too many and is now blabbering on about their whole life story. Ah, but then again, perhaps this is only so because the two of you were drunk on something else entirely? You didn't know the answer to that question, but as you watched the way his sunset-eyes crinkled with mirth at your terrible, terrible Michael Jackson impression, you think you were okay with never knowing the answer to that question so long as the two of you could stay in this moment forever, just as you were.

Albedo doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would really enjoy driving. Instead, I think his preferred mode of transport would be cycling! He wakes up much earlier every morning because he insists on cycling to work instead of driving. Albedo seems like a very practical sort of fellow. Sure, cycling is more time consuming, but it's efficient, more environmentally friendly, and overall better for his health. That makes it a win in his book.

On the weekends though, especially as the weather starts to get warmer and the air is filled with the welcomed promise of spring, Albedo would often take you out for dates in the park on a special tandem-bike. The two of you would cycle around for a while just watching the flowers bloom and the greenery come back to life, before stopping for a quick picnic lunch underneath a grand magnolia tree. You laugh as you move to wipe the little bit of cream from the cake you two just devoured which is still stuck on his upper lip. It's a sweet, saccharine kind of love, one that reminds you of fresh morning-dew and hopeful new beginnings.

Over the summer, you found out that Childe has somehow managed to get his grubby little hands on a jet ski. Uh-oh. He says he wants you to ride it with him. He's saying please. He's giving you the puppy-dog eyes. You cannot say no to that face. You do not know where he got it from or even when he learned how to use a jet ski, but really don't think this is a good idea. Come on, you cannot look at this man and try to convince me that he is not an absolute speed demon. One moment he's showing off cool tricks on the jet-ski and then the next moment he's- oh JESUS CHRIST CHILDE SLOW THE FUCK DOWN, SOMEONE'S GONNA FALL!!

Thankfully, he's a skilled enough driver that everything went relatively smoothly. This time, at least. As he stops the vehicle to give you that dopey little grin and make sure you're still alive, you take a moment to playfully hit him on the shoulder for making your heart race a million miles an hour. He only laughs. Still, it was exhilirating. And you would never admit it to his face, but he does look kind of cool showing off tricks on the water. Maybe this wasn't such a terrible idea after all.

Kaeya is a proud owner of a motorcycle. Specfically, he owns one of those lovely old-school 1980's Honda motorcycles. The people living in your neighbourhood almost went mad the moment they saw him pull up at your door with, complete with dark sunglasses and a leather jacket. You thought he looked rather stupid. Still, you were glad that he brought his bike with him. It made it easier to traverse the city traffic and get to your destination quicker.  Kaeya takes you out on a ride to one of his favourite destinations for a midnight snack: a night market, filled with rows and rows of stalls selling piping hot food. You hop from stall to stall, sharing the food and tasting everything the market has to offer together before heading back with a full heart and a full stomach.

There's a sense of youthful freedom that comes with taking late-night rides with your beau like this. Your arms around his waist, the wind billowing past your face, the moonlight reflecting the stars in his eyes... It makes you feel young again, makes you feel as though you were seventeen once more, discovering the thrills of love for the very first time. You've missed this. You've missed him. Sighing contentedly against his shoulder, you silently watch the blinking city lights fade in and out of view as you drive through the city that never sleeps.

Zhongli... Has no vehicle of his own. He's broke, your honour. Sorry Zhongli, I don't make the rules here. Thankfully, he lives in a city with a great public transport system, so he has no issues getting around if he needs to. The lack of personal vehicles also means he gets to spend more time walking with you, an activity which he has grown to really enjoy, so I suppose there is a silver lining after all. The two of you often work rather late, so the streets were usually barren by the time you leave the office. You and Zhongli would often walk to the train station together after your shifts have ended, basking in the stillness of the night and the almost alien glow of fluorescent lights.

He loves chatting with you during these walks. He would ask you questions about your day, about your work, about plans for the weekend. Sometimes he would point out the different types of plants and rocks he noticed on your walk to the station. In the train, the two of you would sit silently together, content to just enjoy each other's presence. Sometimes, on particularly rough days, you find yourself falling asleep on his shoulder while waiting for your destination. He finds this incredibly endearing, and would always take it as a cue to give you a quick peck on the cheek before tucking you closer to his side.

Sometime later, you two are awoken by the train staff. The both of you had fallen asleep on the train and had missed your stop. Whoops.

i love these! 

I really vibe with the Albedo one too - he’s very practical and pretty frugal, waste isn’t something he seems to enjoy creating so everything eco-friendly would be his go to ( we can be eco-friendly together my dear )

lol Zhongli!

plus you made these cute little interactions T.T adorable to the max!!

[malleux]

☆ Day 1 - Prince Zhongli ☆

-> zhongli x fem!reader | royalty!au

-> fluff, conflict

-> warnings: mild cursing, fighting and blood, talk of human selling

-> “pick a prince” masterlist

a/n: day one! how’s everyone feeling about mr. zhongli? personally, i’m rather intrigued 👀 i hope you enjoy! sorry this is posted a little late at night, i didn’t realize how busy this week would be when i scheduled my event!

The library was somewhat of a safe space for you. It was where you ran when the burden of an entire country rested heavily upon your shoulders, giving you an outlet to simply live.

After the slightly traumatizing dinner your father had hosted with your seven suitors, you ran to the library. You knew your mother, who was also rather uneasy about the entire arrangement, was there and that provided yet another layer of comfort that you so desperately needed.

Your mother read stories to you that night- uplifting tales that did at least a little bit to lighten the mood you were in. She read book after book, not once stumbling over her words despite your tears staining the paper and making the words smear across. It was as if your mother had read these books to herself numerous times before, trying to comfort her own mind when she was put through a situation similar to your own.

She didn’t put down her books until you had cried yourself to sleep. Then, your mother gently laid you against the plush velvet of the couch, draped a light blanket over your form, and kissed your forehead, bidding you goodnight and wishing for a better tomorrow.

☆ ☆ ☆

“Um, excuse me?”

You scrunched up your nose and huffed, pulling your blanket closer.

“Princess? It’s well past morning. You may need to get up.”

Who the hell was talking to you?

Albeit reluctantly, you yawned and opened your eyes, sitting up to stretch. Suddenly, you were looking into a pair of amber eyes. They seemed to glow in the dim light of the library, looking at you with slight concern.

“Wh- who’s there?” You mumbled, scooting back on your seat to shy away from the man’s gaze.

“It’s- it’s Zhongli. Just Zhongli. We didn’t see you at breakfast, your father is a little upset.”

“Shit- I missed breakfast?” You were wide awake in an instant.

“Such language is rather unbecoming of a princess, don’t you think?” Zhongli’s smirk gave away his playful comment, and you couldn’t help but laugh a little as well. “Anyways, as far as your father is concerned, I saw you earlier this morning. You weren’t looking too well so I sent you to take a long bath to relax. After breakfast, you showed me the library, which leads us here.”

You sighed in relief, thankful that Zhongli had practically saved your ass from a long lecture. He outstretched his hand and you took it, allowing him to help you stand up fully.

“Why don’t we take a walk through the market? You can tell me more about yourself and spend some time away from the stressful castle life.” Zhongli offers.

“Gods, yes, please.” You agreed, and allowed the polite prince to whisk you out of the castle.

The market was bustling at this time of day. It was early enough for the sun to warm the faces of your citizens, but cool enough to not scorch those who may venture away from the shaded roofs of the market stalls. You held tightly onto Zhongli’s arm as he browsed the goods your kingdom had to offer.

“This is a beautiful necklace, Princess.” He held up a dainty neck piece, the emblem of your kingdom hanging delicately off of a small golden chain.

“Buy it then.” You mused. Zhongli had been window shopping for a while now, and yet you hadn’t seen him buy a single thing he claimed to like.

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible.”

“Uh, why?” You quirked an eyebrow. With how Zhongli acted and dressed, you were sure he’d be able to afford everything in the market twice.

“I, um, seem to lack the funds.”

Maybe not.

“Aren’t you a prince? Shouldn’t you have money?”

“I suppose- anyhow, look at the gems over in this stall. Do you believe they’re real, or are your citizens being scammed by a merchant?”

He was avoiding the question.

You didn’t understand. If he was a prince, then his financial situation should be rather promising, right? What was there to hide? Unless, he wasn’t actually a prince?

No, you shook your head. Your father wouldn’t have invited him to the castle if his background was even slightly sketchy.

Where did he go?

Zhongli had disappeared from the gem stall he was at previously. You looked around the area, trying to scout him out. He should have been easy to find, standing out amongst the rather bland clothes of your citizens, but you saw nothing.

You began getting a little worried. You were dressed down, wearing a cloak and a hood that shadowed your face from most people’s views, but you were still a beautiful young woman. Even your lovely kingdom wasn’t a stranger to crimes.

Pushing forward, you started to make your way through the crowd. You considered just going back to the castle, but Zhongli didn’t know his way back. You had to find him. The only way he could’ve gone without you noticing was forward. Your forcefulness while moving through the market streets didn’t go unnoticed as people began giving you glares, whispering harsh comments as you shoved past. You couldn’t care less, you were on a mission to find Zhongli and go home-

“Shit!”

You cursed as arm shot out and grabbed your bicep, yanking you between two stalls and into a narrow alleyway. Even more hands grabbed at your clothes and mouth, trying to keep you from yelling out.

“You look like you’ve got it real good.” A harsh voice spoke against your ear. You shuddered. A cold object rubbed against your cheek and you felt a contrasting warmth trickle down to your chin. Whether it was blood or the tears you were trying to hold back, you couldn’t tell.

“What’s in that nice little sachel you’ve got there?” Another hand grabbed at the bag around your torso. “I bet you’d be just fine without it.”

He pulled it off of you and threw it to the ground, letting a third man rummage through it. You stayed quiet, afraid to let out even a whimper as the first man pulled the hood of your cloak back. You heard his breath hitch a little bit.

“Now this is a sight.” You could hear the smirk in his words. “The little princess, all alone, with no knight in shining armor to help her. Forget the bag, she’ll go for a pretty penny worth way more than anything in that shitty old thing. C’mon, Princess, let’s get movin’.”

“You’ll have to get through me, first.”

Tears of relief fell from your eyes now at the sight of the very man who had inadvertently gotten you into this situation in the first place. He stood in the entrance of the alleyway, the sun shining behind him as if he were some god, appearing for the first time to come save you. Some broke, secretive, oddly polite god.

The first man sneered. “Yeah? What are you gonna do? Can’t get that dandy little suit of yours dirty.”

Zhongli practically scoffed. “I could deal with you lot without even wrinkling it.”

He rolled his sleeves up. “Let’s see about that.”

He charged at Zhongli, swinging his fist wildly at the prince’s face. Zhongli dodged the punch, stretching his leg out and sweeping the man’s legs out from under him. He fell to the cobblestone beneath him and Zhongli stepped on his chest, pressing his weight onto his body until he was gripping his ankle, begging for a break.

The second man came next, leaving the third, scrawniest man to try and hold you back. While Zhongli was dealing with him, you snapped your head back and smashed into his nose. The guy let go and grabbed onto the definitely-broken cartilage, practically helpless as you swung at his face again.

You backed up from him and ran into someone’s chest, jumping when their arms wrapped around your shoulders once more.

“Easy, Princess.” Zhongli’s deep voice immediately soothed your guard. “I apologize for losing you.”

You turned around. “I lost you.”

“No, no,” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small bag, handing it to you. “I thought you were occupied looking at the gems, so I snuck away to get this. I didn’t realize you’d go all over looking for me.”

Zhongli placed the bag in your hands and you opened it up. In it, the necklace he had shown you earlier. You smiled at him and held it out to him, turning around so that he could put it on. The feeling of Zhongli’s fingers against your bare neck sent a small shiver up your spine- one you wouldn’t mind feeling again.

“Thank you, Zhongli.” You smiled at him, “But, if you didn’t have any money, how did you get this?”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” The prince replied. “Come, you’ve had an eventful day. I think tea and a nap is in order.”

He held his arm out for you once more and you took it, leading the way back to the castle. You couldn’t help but gaze at the man through the side of your eye, grateful for the sweet gift.

You quit wondering how he bought it when you noticed that he was only wearing one expensive earring, as opposed to the two he had started out his day with.

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[carbootsoul]

anyway no one asked but: yue joins the gaang instead of becoming the moon at the end of season 1 hcs!!

- instead of giving up her life to replace tui as the moon spirit, she gives up tui’s blessing to give them the final burst of strength to escape from zhao. basically yue gives up her blue eyes, pale hair, and waterbending. she never (?) waterbends on the show, and the loss of her bending isn’t too devestating to her.

- also sokka gets a friend who can’t bend either... he deserves it.

- when the gaang leaves after the battle is over, yue decides to come with them and it’s a HUGE thing with her father and begins her main character arc, which is about whether her responsibility to her tribe and the preservation of their culture is more important than her paving her own way and also how those two things can coexist!

- she leaves her betrothal necklace on her bedside table and the last shot of the episode is just of it, lying there. 

- this got rly long so there’s more under the cut

- her traveling clothes are a thing shawl and a tunic similar to sokka’s with pants. she keeps her usual haircut but it’s tied with leather instead of the fancy hair things she used as princess. also she uses a hunting knife as a weapon

- she and sokka continue their weird not-dating-but-kind-of-dating dance for a lot of episodes and it’s generally awkward and easy comic relief. also more shots of yue blushing because she’s just so cuteeee

- there’s a scene of them stargazing where yue tells sokka the story of a pair of lovers who died and then remained best friends in all their future lives (because avatar friendships enduring through lifetimes and also friendship being just as important as romantic relationships)

- yue becomes friends with EVERYONE they meet IMMEDIATELY and everyone falls in love with her because she’s sweet and pretty and has a nice laugh.

- there’s a filler episode that’s just sokka and yue going shopping together and trying on lots of jewlery but the running gag is that yue keeps getting distracted with talking to other people and definitely flirting with every girl she runs into and sokka is always distracted with a pair of earrings or a set of rings and doesn’t notice. finally some random guy is like ‘man your girlfriend has been flirting with my sister this whole time... are you aware.” and sokka is immeditaly like ShE’s NoT mY GiRLfRiEnD and then like wait what

- so maybe yue is a lesbian. sokka is very distressed that he’s been trying to court someone who’s not interested so he talks with katara while she’s sewing or something and he’s like is yue gay?? and katara is like oh i don’t know. lots of people we know are queer. sokka: WHO??? katara: well, zuko. suki. sokka: ZUKO??? SUKI??? and this is when katara realizes her brother’s gaydar is nonexistent. 

- yue tries being a vegetarian (to be nice to aang) but thinks nuts are gross so she and sokka go on hunting trips together. she’s Very Good at archery.

- also the episode where they watch toph wrestle?? she and sokka are SO on her side. it made me angry in the show that sokka wasn’t on her side but yue would convince him very quickly and they are very loud together.

- she also stays to talk to toph on the estate because she doesn’t look as suspect as the rest of the gaang so the guards don’t kick her out immediately (read: she’s good at conforming to elitist ideas of how people r meant to act and passes the rich kid test). she and toph sit in the garden and watch the moon (because the moon symbolizes yue’s perceived failure to sacrifice herself to save her tribe) and talk about how sometimes to live as yourself you have to skirt your responsibilities to your family. yue leaves a few hours later firmly friends with toph.

- she continues to be the one firmly on toph’s side in the toph/katara disputes that are in the first few episodes with toph. katara can’t hold it against her though because literally who could hold a grudge against yue she’s so incredible

- (ok we’re skipping a lot of time here bc i frankly do not remember everything that happened in book 2) her ba sing se tale is her uhhh going to the market to buy herself an iced tea because she’s gay and just having a good time being a no one. a girl she runs into at the cafe asks her to go on a walk around the city with her and it’s very sweet but yue does Not know this is a date so when the girl gives her a kiss she gets blushy and says something dumb

- also at the end of another episode we have a short scene of yue on the roof of their house in the upper ring, staring at the moon and touching the place on her neck where her betrothal necklace isn’t. then the camera switches to zuko, on the other side of the city, looking at the same moon and absently running his fingers through his hair where his topknot used to be

- yue and jet hate each other but yue still advocates for him because she sees how he’s been hurt and thinks that he deserves a second chance. i don’t know the funeral traditions for any of the nations but she does a quick northern water tribe blessing over his body before they run away.

- yue and mai are like.. yes we r gay..... yes we do flirt with each other while fighting sometimes.... yes we r the two knife fighters.. yes we are ALSO narrative foils

- yue looks SO GOOD in fire nation clothes but she keeps her usual hairdo because she deserves it. the fire nation propaganda makes her very angry, as does the institutionalized homophobia. she starts arguing with some guy over it and katara is ready to back her up and start fucking screaming and get arrested and sokka is like.. now. now is when i should talk to her. 

- he drags her away and she’s like fuck dude i can fight my own battles and he’s like no i just.. what you were talking about.... i have something i need to tell you..... and she’s like you’re bi!! good for you, sokka, thank you for telling me. and he’s like :bi shock: no?? you’re a lesbian. anyway yes she is a lesbian they are wlw mlm solidarity. 

- there’s a filler episode where toph and yue rob a bunch of fire nation soldiers and when they get caught (after a While of these robberies) they get out of it by playing the ‘dumb rich kids’ card and run away with jewelry like.. dripping off their hands. katara makes them sell all of it except a choker necklace yue keeps that looks like a betrothal necklace but instead has an etching of a bird flying away.

- skipping again bc this is getting rly long. when zuko joins the gaang he and yue have a tentative conversation about their relationships to their nations and he’s like.. idk sounds like you needed to leave? that wasn’t an environment that you can thrive in. and she’s like but i can change it! i need to be there to change it, and i left. and he’s like well no. some things are just toxic. i went back to my nation and it was terrible. and she’s like i have a responsibility to my PEOPLE and gets mad at him and she and katara r like angry at zuko team. 

- yue’s life changing field trip with zuko is just them leaving on appa to go to a market and be normal teenagers. they both viewed each other as Fire Prince and Water Tribe Princess, but this lets them open up and realize concretely that that’s not all that they are. 

- zuko apologizes for implying that the nwt was irreparable and explains that the fire palace wasn’t something he could fix and that trying just hurt him more. yue says that part of the reason she was angry with him was because he was right and that she felt so much more herself when she was away from her home. they finally reach the conclusion together that they have to become themselves before they can hope to change their cultures for the better.

- yue comes along to boiling rock but is v much background to zukka bromance. she hangs out with suki some (lots more yue blushing oc bc suki is BUFF) and does some dumb gay fighting with mai but they’re both bad at it because yue is busy mooning over suki and mai is busy protecting ty lee.

- ember island players still say she turned into the moon >:(