#just kind of an affinity for different elements

[joutsummer]

in the midst of trying to write something else i just got slammed into by the idea of a bending au

[aventurineswife]

Reader is the secret santa for Mortefi, Kaveh, Aventurine, Sunday, Ratio

-Smooch Anon 💋

Secret Gift for Special Someone!

Tags: Mortefi x Reader, Kaveh x Reader, Aventurine x Reader, Sunday x Reader, Ratio x Reader, Fluff, Reader is their Secret Santa, Gift-giving, Romance(?), Sincere gestures, Thoughtful gifts, Lighthearted moments.

As Mortefi’s secret Santa, you understand that he is a man of precision and order. He values elegance in everything, even the smallest gestures. Knowing that he has an obsession with cleanliness and fine detail, you decide to go for something both practical and refined—a handcrafted, perfectly polished leather journal, with fine gold detailing on the edges, and a beautiful pen set made of rare wood and precious metal.

You know that Mortefi can be irritable when it comes to anything imperfect, but you manage to wrap the gift with exceptional care—his eyes will undoubtedly appreciate the craftsmanship. You add a small, personal note tucked inside, a subtle reference to his fondness for classical music. The message reads: “May this journal help you capture the symphonies of your thoughts, every note as sharp as your mind.”

When Mortefi opens it, his brows furrow in silent approval. "Well... this is adequate." he says, not one for overt displays of gratitude. But you can see the spark of appreciation in his eyes, and for a brief moment, his usually tense demeanor softens.

Kaveh’s idealism runs deep, and finding a gift for him is an emotional yet rewarding task. You know that Kaveh values beauty that serves a greater purpose, so you opt for a custom-designed, miniature architectural model of a space that symbolizes hope and kindness—perhaps a small, elegant garden pavilion with elements from Sumeru’s cultural heritage.

The model has intricate details: miniature flowers, a peaceful water feature, and tiny benches where people can rest and reflect. It’s not just a model; it’s a vision of the world Kaveh is always striving to build.

When Kaveh opens the gift, his heart stirs. He pauses before speaking, eyes softening as he looks at the model. "You’ve captured it perfectly." he says quietly, voice thick with gratitude. He places it on his desk as a reminder that despite all the struggles, beauty can still be created in this world.

Aventurine, ever the risk-taker and man of sophistication, would appreciate something a little more personal, yet still tied to his flair for the dramatic. You think of something that embodies both elegance and a sense of mystery—a custom-made deck of playing cards, each card featuring intricate designs that reflect various aspects of his personality. The Joker cards, for example, are styled with roulette wheels and playing cards, while the aces have elements symbolizing different strategic moves or his affinity for risk.

When Aventurine unwraps the gift, a glimmer of recognition lights up his face. "So, this is what you think of me, hmm?" he muses, running his fingers over the smooth edges of the cards. He’s usually all about strategy, but in this moment, you can see the smile that tells you your gift has struck the perfect balance of fun and sophistication.

"Care for a game later?" he asks with a playful glint in his eye, as if he’s always one step ahead. The cards now sit beside his other mementos, each one a reminder of your thoughtful gesture.

Sunday is a man who values balance and harmony above all, so you choose a gift that is both beautiful and meaningful. You know that his ideals often clash with the harsh realities of life, so you decide on something that symbolizes peace and serenity—an exquisitely crafted snow globe featuring a miniature replica of Sweetdream Paradise.

When Sunday opens it, his expression remains composed, but there’s an undeniable softness in his eyes as he examines the globe. The swirling snow inside the globe seems to mirror the tranquil world he often envisions—a place where pain no longer exists, but with the delicate beauty of impermanence.

“Thank you,” he says, his voice steady but warm. “This… this is a reminder of the world I strive for.” He carefully places it on a shelf, and for a moment, you both share a quiet understanding of the kind of world he wishes to create—one that might never come to be, but is worth dreaming about.

Ratio’s brilliance can make him difficult to shop for. He isn’t one for sentimental gifts, but you also know that he values knowledge above all else. So, you decide to combine practicality with intellectual stimulation by gifting him a rare, ancient manuscript—one that he would never have thought to acquire himself. The book is a long-forgotten treatise on the application of logic in art, beautifully preserved in a leather-bound edition with intricate golden lettering.

When Ratio opens the gift, his eyes immediately lock onto the manuscript, and you can see his usual arrogance soften into genuine admiration. “This is… impressive. You actually paid attention,” he mutters, flicking through the pages with a hint of excitement. His usual dismissiveness fades as he delves into the contents. "This will be useful. Thank you."

While he may not express overwhelming emotion, the way he later references passages from the manuscript as if they are his own ideas shows just how much your gift means to him. The small smile he tries to suppress is enough of a thank you.

[kiame-sama]

Are there any senses of competition between different elemental beings? I for one like anything air/wind related and I feel that wouldn't help potential tensions.

The five elementals (pertinent to the HAE story) are Kida (Air Nymph), Epel (Plant/Earth Nymph), Cater (Water Nymph), Rollo (Fire Nymph), and Kalim (Genie/ Magic Nymph).

Cater would naturally be in conflict with Rollo, as Water and Fire don't mix well. Kida and Epel are in conflict as Earth and Air tend to be at odds. Based on their own instincts, they will have issues with one another, but they can also find harmony if put all in one group. Plant/Earth Nymphs are helped by water and take issue with fire. Air nymphs invigorate the flames of Fire Nymphs but had be bogged down by water. Kalim is kind of a unique exception as- though he is a Magic Nymph- Genies are an oddity among Nymphs in how they reproduce and survive. Water Nymphs are reliant on plants in their chosen body of water to camouflage them, so they pair well with Plant Nymphs who thrive off of the water provided.

It also depends on the temper of the Nymphs themselves.

Rollo has issue with all magic, so he would DESPISE Kalim upon meeting him and dislike how clueless Kalim is. Rollo would actually like Cater more due to Rollo having personal hate for Flames despite being an Inferno Nymph because of his past. Rollo strongly dislikes his own magic and element due to childhood trauma, so he would feel better with Cater as a natural coolant for his flames. He would actually enjoy Epel's knowledge on the local flora despite the two types of nymphs typically being at odds due to the destructive nature of fire.

Kida is fairly even tempered and would likely get along with most of the others due to his personality. If anything, he would have issues with Rollo as Kida is a Day Fae and Rollo dislikes Fae of all kinds. Kida would likely get along WONDERFULLY with Kalim due to Kalim's easy going nature and affinity with magic. Kida would likely be rather playful with Cater and be willing to pose with the Water Nymph for pictures.

Epel gets along well enough with Cater, but will absolutely dislike Rollo. He is naturally wary of fire and Fire Nymphs, so they would likely be in conflict. Epel enjoys how upbeat Kalim is but could also feel overwhelmed by Kalim's optimism.

Cater is naturally someone who goes with the flow of things, and tends to be friendly with most. He would likely find Rollo a little odd, but not have issue with the Fire Nymph despite their natural conflicting elements.

Kalim is just a ray of sunshine and wants to make friends with all of the other Nymphs, so he may not understand when Rollo is openly aggressive and unkind to him. He will be friends with them, no matter what! Rollo is balking and fleeing once he realizes he can't chase Kalim off as easily as others. Kalim's optimism keeps him from being deterred by the behavior of others. he can understand when someone is unhappy, and he wants to fix it, but he doesn't understand when others don't want his help.

If they were all put in a group together, they would actually manage to find a natural equilibrium of their elements and thrive. If all five were put on a deserted island, the island would flourish due to the multiple elements of the Nymphs combined. They could- theoretically- combine as a super organism by encasing their cores in their individual elements and merging into one. This is unlikely to happen as they all value their individualism, but it something were to push them enough to consider it, they would become a Grand Elemental due to the combination of the five base natural elements.

[lightweaver-chosen-if]

I LOVE THIS STORY I NEED MORE TIME IN MAGIC SCHOOL WITH MAGIC FRIENDS DOING MY FAVORITE TYPE OF MAGIC (Combat focused elemental manipulation, obviously). Thanks for this. Really. Now I have some lore questions:

I was thrown when they talked about the "theoretical" plane of the gods. I thought they knew their powers came from gods? Unless I misunderstood or assumed something, in which case my bad. What did they mean by that interaction?

MC is a Lateborn, which I assume is made when the gods choose someone directly instead of through bloodlines. What would it have looked like if MC was chosen by other deities? I'm curious since in order to be a Lightweaver, MC needed to get struck by lightning.

What is the people's relationship with the gods? Are they worshipped and prayed to, or just acknowledged as sentient forces of nature? Like an earthquake itself or a person who wills an earthquake? Can one pray for more power?

Has it happened that someone of a weak bloodline became a Lateborn of the same element? Is it possible to weave multiple elements, if so has it ever happened?

Is bloodweaving, lavaweaving, metalweaving, crystalweaving, and energyweaving also possible in this world? Does the Sun and Moon have an impact on weaving ability? Is there a healing technique? If so, with which weave?

Love this story and I'm excited to see more. Have a great one💖.

I'm so glad you're loving it!! A lot of these are going to have answers through the game, but I can try to answer some without too much spoilers? Long post and spoilers ahead!

The "theoretical" plane of the gods

Most weavers believe their power comes from the Aurati or fragment deities. But while religion, reverence, and ancestral traditions are strong, some scholars treat the divine plane as a theoretical construct. A way to explain phenomena they can’t measure yet. The gods are more known than seen. People of the Aurati faith claim to have visions and commune with the divine, but these experiences are personal, not widely observable.

MC is a Lateborn—chosen directly rather than through bloodlines? What if another god had chosen them?

The gods don't choose their champions; the Weave does.

Most Lateborns are quietly marked by fragment deities, but the kind that MC experienced—that was… different. Let’s just say, in the realm of gods, not all blessings were meant to be. If they were linked to another, it'd be as dramatic as getting struck by lightning ( ´ ▽ ` )

What’s the people's relationship with the gods? Worship? Prayer? Force of nature?

The main followers of the Aurati are pure-bloods. Depending on their patron, they have their own set traditions and practices. Some revere the Aurati out of genuine faith, others follow out of obligation, fear, or tradition.

But to most common folk, they are more like forces of nature—respected, appeased, but not loved. The Aurati are distant, and their blessings often feel reserved for the elite. Followers of the Orivians, however, view their patrons as guiding lights and sources of comfort.

Others... don’t speak their names at all.

People of the Aurati faith are often perceived to have the most powerful blessings. Whether this is because their connection to their weave is deeper, or because their faith attracts stronger blessings, is unclear.

Can someone from a weak bloodline become a Lateborn of the same element?

Not exactly. Lateborns don’t happen to people who already have a weave, no matter how faint. They happen to natural-bloods—people with no elemental affinity at all. It’s rare, and usually seen as miraculous… or dangerous, depending on who’s talking.

Can someone weave more than one element? Has it ever happened?

A multi-weaver is something the Aurati would never allow. Every single human will only have one element, no more, no less.

What about lavaweaving, bloodweaving, metalweaving, etc? Are those real?

Ohoho yes! MC is not the first nor will be the last to receive such unique blessings. They are one of the few. Can't say any more about that

Does the Sun or Moon affect weaving?

Yes, celestial bodies absolutely mess with weaving, and many weavers even plan their training or rituals around them.

Is there a healing technique? If so, with which weave?

OK, so I really love how metalbending was discovered in Avatar, how it’s not just straight-up bending metal, but manipulating the impurities of it? So sick.

I'm a big fan of the idea of combining logic and elements to develop new applications and/or techniques, and I wanted to play around with that here!

In theory, any element could be used to heal or at least temporarily treat injuries, though some are way more effective than others. The one that’s studied and used the most for healing is waterweaving.

Each element has its own unique way it could help with healing: Fire can be used for cauterizing wounds, Air can help regulate circulation, and Earth might help with growth and rejuvenation. But honestly, the risks and unknowns that come with using some of the other elements for healing often outweigh the benefits. It isn't just about healing; it’s all about precision, control, and knowing what the hell you're doing. Water is just less risky and safer.

With that in mind, if MC pushes their limits (probably with some self-experimentation and trial and error), they might be able to harness their weave in a super specific and controlled way. Super risky, and not without consequences…

[heartwrrm]

it's immediately clear that both the creature and victor find some of their greatest comforts in nature and that's one of the key features that connects them and proves they're not so different from each other, but i've also noticed that they tend to admire different TYPES of nature

victor tends to amaze at "the high and snowy mountains [...] immense glaciers [...] the rumbling thunder of the falling avalanche [...] the supreme and magnificent mont blonc" (65), typically finding the most comfort in the "savage and enduring scenes" (64) which tend to be colder and rougher yet unchanging; while the creature found that his "chief delights were the sight of the flowers, the birds, and all the gay apparel of summer" (94). there is probably something to be said about the creature's affinity for spring and summer, the seasons of rebirth, of NATURAL and beautiful life, a direct contrast to his unnatural, coldly scientific, "wretched" rebirth that he abhors so much

i was discussing this idea with a friend, who added that victor finding solace in the frozen and dead beauty of wintery environments, a typically less-favoured season, could reflect how victor often refuses himself the typical joys of life. throughout the novel, he struggles with his self-worth because of the guilt induced by his creation of the creature and the deaths that then followed, and the only reason he even desires peace and comfort is because he knows he needs to present himself that way to his family in order for them to be happy ("i [...] wished that peace would revisit my mind only that i might afford them consolation and happiness" [62]). i built on her idea by noting how the creature acknowledged that he "required kindness and sympathy; but [he] did not believe [him]self unworthy of it" (94), a completely contrasting stance from victor, who finds himself undeserving of the many comforts offered to him by his family

furthermore, it seems that victor finds beauty in glory & majesty ("[the scenery] spoke of a power mighty as Omnipotence--and i ceased to fear, or to bend before any being less almighty than that which had created and ruled the elements" [64]), while the creature finds beauty in warmth & growth. both characters seem to find what they desire(d) in the versions of the natural world that they admire most

to reference what i said in the beginning about the connections between victor and the creature, this observation only contributes to my understanding that victor and the creature are incredibly similar, and many of their identical traits involve a rejection or a reversal of the other; they both ardently wish for each other's destruction, they both ruined each other, they're the reason that the other is simultaneously a victim and a villain in their own sense, they both hate themselves but for reversed reasons (victor hates himself for what he's done rather than what he is, while the creature hates himself for what he is more than what he's done), and now this--they both find solace in nature, just opposing kinds. like father, like son

[flowersforthemachines]

Some thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 9 hours in [no spoilers]

I pre-ordered the game bc I was So Very Excited about it, and since I'm enjoying it a lot I thought I could maybe sway someone into buying it by promoting it a little <3

Steam page

I'm not a video game critic or anything, so it's just a bunch of Personal Thoughts, very much rooted in my past gaming experiences. Please beware.

Graphics

(all screenshots are mine taken with DLSS DLAA and Medium-High settings)

The game is SO pretty it's unreal. I admittedly don't have very high standards in that regard [it's kind of easy to impress me. sorry], but all locations I've seen so far have a distinct visual style and are just a constant joy to look at. The character models are also very beautiful. Sometimes I open the inventory menu just to look at the close-ups of Lune or Maelle <3 (Gustave is there too ig)

Combat

It plays like a mix of a turn-based JRPG with soulslike elements. What it means is that all characters have a variety of skills with elemental affinities that can play off very differently depending on your party composition and which elements an enemy is weak to (so you get your usual JRPG bullshit), but you can also shoot, parry and dodge in real-time (so you also get your usual soulslike bullshit). Oh, and there are some short QTEs that allow you to increase your skill damage.

If you'd like a visual on what that actually looks like, here's a short video taken by me:

I'm enjoying the combat a LOT. I 💙 parrying. And mixing up skills to create efficient set-ups. What if we all held hands so hard we oneshotted enemies. What then!

I also may be addicted to the fire element. Maybe that will change in the future.

Exploration

The game doesn't really have an open world - it plays more like a bunch of locations that unlock in the hub-like main world as you progress the story (the locations feel more like DAVG than DAI, if we were to start comparing things).

Exploration is actually the only area of the game I have complaints about because the game could really use some navigational trackers. The game doesn't have a map, and there's literally no way to tell where you are supposed to go to advance the plot. When you enter a new location, you just kind of go forward and hope for the best.

It's a problem for me bc I Don't want to advance the plot a lot of the time, actually, and explore the optional paths instead. But you literally can't know what path is the optional one except for Hunches.

But if I, an aphantasiac with severe navigational difficulties, can handle the locations fine most of the time, then normal, well-adjusted people also can, probably. I think?

Story

It's just Nice. It's intriguing enough that I'm always excited whenever I know I'm about to see a cutscene, but so far I still don't feel like I've seen enough to actually have an opinion on it. The intrigue keeps me going, but it's more of a "I wonder what's going to happen next" than "Ohh I LOVE what's happening now" kind of feeling.

None of the characters are annoying, and there is a certain charm to everyone you meet, so that's a big plus.

OST

I LOVE THE OST SO MUCH. Hands down my favourite thing about the game. It's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, it's NEVER missed so far for me. There were so many times I ran into enemies specifically because I wanted to catch more of that combat music. It reminds me of Nier: Automata, sort of!

If you want some representative of what's out there, I really liked these songs: Goblu, Lumière

Something like that! Should anyone have any questions lmk.

[m1d-45]

my love, my god

summary: the ‘tomorrow’ you’ve been putting off finally comes, but not how you expect it to

word count: 2.6k

-> warnings: spoilers for baizhu lore/story quest, you have several nosebleeds

-> gn reader (you/yours) and aether as the traveller

taglist (+those that asked for a pt 2): @samarill || @thenyxsky || @valeriele3 || @shizunxie || @boba-is-a-soup || @yuus3n || @esthelily || @turningfrogsgay || @cupandtea24 || @genshin-impacts-me || @chaoticfivesworld || @raaawwwr || @fleurdawn || @extremelytoastybread || @ambermondy || @loyal-to-dottore

<< first part || < masterlist >

living with aether was supposed to be easy.

you’d established a routine, your days simple. you spent your time in his library for plausible deniability, surprised at how expansive his library was. a lot of the books seemed like gifts, with little notes scrawled in the front covers. you honestly spent more of your time reading the notes than the book themselves, tracing over the handwriting.

barbara had given him a copy of a medical handbook, with notes in the margins from both of them for replacement herbs since the book was intended for use within mondstat. you didn’t try to memorize it, just skimming for a few details. some you knew, like wolfhooks or onikabuto helping to close wounds, but some was new. apparently, a diluted solution of cor lapis shavings in water could help heal broken bones, though it was noted that this shouldn’t be used in excess if the receiver didn’t have high enough elemental affinity.

a book of liyue’s local specialties, given from someone with exceptionally sloppy handwriting. there was a whole row dedicated solely to various recipe books, the one from liyue with a few extra pages tucked in.

aether liked to write in his books, you noticed, even the fiction ones. you had yet to encounter a single book that didn’t have at least one note in the margins, each in his sharp, quick writing.

‘cut lavender melon thinner than you think.’

‘who actually talks like this?’

‘when cooking for paimon, add slime concentrate to the broth.’

it was endearing. you saw so little of him in the game, most of the dialogue given by paimon. while you’d certainly gotten to know him in your time here… it was different, seeing his notes like this. it cemented the idea that you were really in your game, since what dream of yours would include the fact that ningguang had given him a journal of advice on how to deal with various poisons someone might try to use on him?

despite his expansive collection of books, he had very few historical records. the ones he did were well worn, filled with pages of notes as he tried to decipher the history of teyvat. it was sad to see, his writing becoming more desperate the further through the books you got.

‘ask zhongli for clarification.’

‘kokomi doesn’t recognize the name ‘istaroth.’ ask miko?’

‘dahri = khaenri’ah?’

‘ask zh ask dainslef. where would i even find him?’

‘even if i knew everything, would it make sense?‘

tears pricked at your eyes, and you closed the book in your hands before you smudged the writing. you wiped at your eyes, sniffling as you put it back on the shelf. it was hard not to feel bad, but even if you told him everything you knew about teyvat, would he believe you? would he still be as kind to you as he was? he was your one real anchor here, what with the world in chaos after you stopped playing… you couldn’t even point him in the right direction, since even that would raise suspicion.

maybe that was enough reading for today.

you wiped at your nose, walking for the exit to the library. when you reached for the handle, however, you spotted a smear of glittering blue across the side of your hand.

it took another drop of blood hitting the wooden floor before you realized what was happening, quickly plugging your nose and rushing to the bathroom. you took care to wipe up the drop that landed on the floor, both so it wouldn’t stain and so that nobody saw it.

you weren’t trying to die today. and even if, somehow, aether was fine with your constant lying to him, you didn’t want to ruin what you had.

not today, thank you.

despite it being where you’d first ‘landed,’ you had never been to mondstat. ever since your run in with zhongli, it was the nation you were avoiding going with him most, second only to maybe sumeru. venti, kaeya, and diluc, three of the most perceptive people in game, all in one place… it was a recipe for disaster.

unfortunately, aether was an excellent cook.

he’d decided to take his commissions from mondstat today, and only one required combat. plus, he wanted you to see the city.. and you couldn’t exactly say no to him without reason.

the first was helping wyatt find his key in dadaupa gorge. you’re not sure why he was drinking out there, but you’re not gonna ask too many questions. the gorge was beautiful in person, cranes nearly everywhere you turned… though that might just be because you were there. the wildlife had been getting more daring lately.

the second was delivering connor some mist flower corollas, carefully moved from aether’s inventory to a thick, special made bag. you got a strange look or two from the maids, but within a few minutes aether was teleporting you to the city, tunner‘s prescription in hand. mondstat was much more lively than in the game, though you supposed that was for convenience. having hundreds of npcs roaming the city, each holding their own conversations, would likely hit performance.

paimon told you all about the city, though all of it was things you already know. there’s the adventurer’s guild, there’s bennett—you both waved—and there’s ellin! that’s the statue of barbatos, boasting a height of…

paimon scratched at her head, looking up at the statue. “how tall is the statue?”

aether shrugged, holding one hand to block the sun as he tried to guess. “nobody ever said. do you think one of the sisters would know?”

“hm, paimon thinks our best bet is venti! he sits up there all the time, doesnt he?”

you looked over the statue, taking in all the details not present on it’s in-game model. even from ground level you swear you could see individual feathers carved into the rock. “you said he flies, right? i think we should ask the knights, they-” copper landed on your tongue, and you put a finger to your top lip. it came away blue.

shit.

you covered your nose quickly, the other two thankfully getting the message without you needing to talk. a napkin was pressed to your hand, and you were careful not to let any of the blue show as you switched your hand over it.

two nosebleeds with barely two weeks between them. were you sick? were the foreign bacteria finally showing face? you didn’t feel sick—if anything you’d been feeling much better physically, since coming to teyvat—but what if you were? what if it was some illness that only targeted outlanders- no, aether would have told you about that, he was too kind not to. but then why…?

you were sat in one of the pews of the cathedral, paimon sitting by your side. your eyes tracked aether to one of the nuns, but were quickly distracted by the beautiful stained glass set in the windows. shades of blue and green decorated the walls, coloring the inside of the cathedral. you couldn’t quite make out the scenes depicted, but it gave the room so much more *life* than its model. it was lived in, not just another location on a map.

“my my, traveller, you look different than i remember.”

you’re given little warning before kaeya speaks, his steps having not made a single sound. both you and paimon turned, her hands lifting in a wave while yours tightened around your stained napkins.

“hey kaeya! what are you doing at the cathedral? paimon doesn’t remember there being a service today…”

“just going for a walk.” his eyes shift to you, and you look away, in the direction aether left. the nun was back, but he was nowhere to be found. he wouldn’t leave to the winery already, would he? “who’s this?”

“a friend.”

a hand sets on your shoulder, and you jump. was it some unspoken rule not to let your steps be heard in a cathedral, or did it come with the territory?

aether passes you a small vial of a clear blue liquid, moving to stand between you and kaeya. “i talked to barbara about your nosebleed, this should stop it. a small sip will do.”

you don’t ask why he did that, instead just doing as he said. kaeya gave you an odd look but you were quick to follow paimon out of the cathedral, leaving them to it. soon enough aether joined you, and you all went back to the teapot for lunch.

it was a fluke. it had to be.

it wasn’t.

you were sitting at a table at wanmin, listening to xingqiu talk about his latest idea for a novel. paimon had helped you order, picking you out a minty drink that was as refreshing as it was delicious. you took a sip, sharing a look with aether over the rim right as a drop slid down your top lip. thankfully, the blue streak was explained by the tint of the drink, though chongyun did give you a few more odd glances than you preferred.

running into the arataki gang in inazuma city, itto excitedly showing you and aether the new beetles he found earlier. he stuck by your side, holding your hand in his as they switched to talking about tcg. they patted their pockets, searching for the cards they’d won today. a cough into your elbow was all it took for blue to mark the inside of your sleeve, and shinobu was quick to pass you a napkin coated with onikabuto dust. it felt funny against your fingers, but apparently the gang used them to patch wounds all the time when a friendly wrestle went too far.

the more people were around, the worse they were. your nose was near constantly itchy, like the world was channeling every irritant in a mile radius right into your face. any minor bump would cause at least a drop to spill down your lip, leaving you overcautious and aether forever worried. the bottle barbara gave you ran out quick, and though she ended up giving you the recipe, it was clear that something more serious was going on.

you laid on the couch, pinching a napkin around your nose while you waited for aether to finish your medicine. he’d gone outside to get the rest of the ingredients with paimon, leaving you to your thoughts.

you hated teyvat for doing this to you. you’d bet good mora that simply showing him the color of the stains on your napkins would solve whatever phantom illness ailed you, but you didn’t want to. you were happy with the life you had! you didn’t need a shining palace or the worship of the world, you just needed aether. him and paimon and your teapot, with the small herbs growing in the windowsill and crystalflies fluttering outside. why was the world so determined to get you to spill your secret? it wasn’t like he’d hate you for keeping it—at most he’d be surprised, or maybe even a bit apologetic himself.

it was stupid. shouldn’t you be the one to decide whether this was shared or not?

you sighed, the sound of the door pushing that train of thought aside. aether tapped your shoulder and you sat up, accepting the medicine thankfully.

“sorry about the delay, baizhu was dealing with another patient.”

“you went to the pharmacy?” you hand him back the bottle, looking away as you wipe off your nose.

“yep! when we got there he was mixing up a nasty smelling poultice for some other lady—paimon swears she can still smell it, even after all this time!”

“really?” you look up, satisfied you got it all off, but freeze. aether is standing beside you, and paimon’s sitting on the arm of the couch, but behind them is baizhu, changsheng loosely coiled around his shoulders.

oh no.

“one of the ingredients in barbara’s medicine is qingxin,” aether explains, “i only had so many, so i started buying them from the pharmacy. he got curious and asked about you… i hope you don’t mind?”

you barely hear him, focused on the lift of changsheng’s head as she whispers something into baizhu’s ear. he looks surprised, mostly, but also confused, and you know exactly why.

after all if he can sense god remains, he can surely sense the god.

“is there a problem, doctor?” you ask, and wait until both aether and paimon turned to him to raise a finger to your lips.

keep quiet. don’t tell him. i don’t want to lose this yet.

he looks between you and aether, clearly conflicted.

please.

after a moment, he sighs, shaking his head as he adjusts his glasses. “nothing is wrong, my apologies. changsheng, if you will..”

he begins to search through his inventory while changsheng slithers past paimon, curling around your wrist. baizhu takes out a notepad, pulling over a chair.

“aether, you’ve been coming to the pharmacy for qingxin for a little over 3 months. is that a good estimate for the length of time this has occurred?”

he glanced at you, and you nodded.

that was a lie, technically.. but it was for the greater good. baizhu would mark you some anomaly, recommend you just keep taking barbara’s medicine, and everything would be okay. you’d be fine. no stresses of godhood, no giving up your peaceful life in the realm within, nothing.

changsheng uncoils from your hand, climbing onto aether’s shoulders to get to baizhu. he doesn’t so much as blink, letting her wind back into place. what did she go to you for, then? ���do any other symptoms come with them, such as nausea or headaches?”

“no, not really.”

“have you noticed anything strange about the blood? clots, maybe, or discoloration?”

you meet his pointed look, ignoring how your heart picks up. call it selfishness. “nothing.”

baizhu sighs. “are you certain? if you want this to go away, you need to be honest.”

at least you were right on one front. to get back the life you had, you’d need to give it up. while you knew neither aether or paimon would resent you—they’d dealt with gods disguising themselves before, surely they couldn’t hate you—their attitude toward you would certainly change.

your silence is clearly worrying, and you shake your head before anybody asks questions. “i’m certain, there’s nothing.”

he again looks conflicted, and paimon looks between the two of you, frowning. “uh, is paimon missing something…?”

“i’m sorry,” baizhu says finally, “but it’s for your own health.”

before you can protest, he reaches up towards changsheng. she shifts, revealing the napkin you used earlier hidden between her body and his, clearly marked with blue.

when did she-?

baizhu flicks out the napkin and paimon gasps. “i can tell they’re getting worse, and while i understand it’s your choice, i value your life more.”

aether turns to you, and you can’t read the expression on his face. “is that really yours?”

“…yeah. i put it together that teyvat wants me to tell someone, but i didn’t want to lose what we had.”

he smiles, holding out his hand. when you took it, he pulled you up off the couch and into a hug.

“you’ll never lose me,” he promised, “not even if you’re a god. not even if you’re my god.”

[songoftrillium]

What are your thoughts on the non-werewolf shapeshifters, do you use them often in your Werewolf games?

I love the changing breeds, with some caveats. When I began Storytelling, I had to set boundaries with players because there are some incredibly good fera out there, but also ones that can straight up break the game or are extremely incompatible with the Garou or chronicle. This isn't an issue when running an exclusively all-fera game, but it's not common that I or other STs typically run an all-fera game. The second point on compatibility is where one should audit a changing breed for use in their game:

Does this changing breed demographically make sense to be here?

Does their presence serve a narrative purpose?

Do their mechanics mesh well with Garou? Can they be made to mesh well?

Do they have the agency to cooperate with the Garou and vice versa?

If the answer to all four questions is 'yes,' then the fera can absolutely work, and work well in your setting (with caveats.) W:tE features many fera such as the Balam, which on the surface wouldn't fit in the Pacific Northwest. However, there are many large Latine populations that can be found here, both in terms of those living close to cities permanently and migrant workers. Where things concern those populations, then it makes total sense for there to be the occasional two-heart among them alongside their culture, Kin and Killi alike.

For reasons like the above, you're gonna find several Fera in Werewolf: the Essentials from the get-go, forming part of the Dawn Tribes representing all of the Indigenous shapeshifters that persisted in the Americas since the Impergium:

Balam

Corax

Gurahl

Mokolé

Nuwisha

Pumonca

Qualmi

There are some game elements I'm not fond of that are changing. For simplicity, cases of fera are gonna be represented as singular entities. There's just one kind of Gurahl, one kind of Mokolé, and the Bastet are represented singularly now. They are basically placed hierarchically as extensions of Dawn Tribe culture, in which they see each other as all spirit cousins under Gaia. Historical precedent has forced them to work with each other for the first time since the War of Rage and find themselves better protected by each other than on their own. This goes as far as to alter the game language, adopting the term 'Killi' from the Bastet book to refer to (all shapeshifters), rather than merely 'Fera', which speaks of the changing breeds as an entity separate from (or less than) the Garou.

I did away with the second War of Rage because it narratively makes very little sense (and the elements that can be considered critical can just be rolled into the first.) The handling of gifts is more generalized now through implementing spirit affinities, and grouping gifts under the spirits that teach them. This significantly reduces page count (no more than 9 different kinds of Hare's Leap.) Renown tracks are being made more fluid on the character sheet so you can play any changing breed on the same sheet, and other small world changes can be made that create a narratively compelling reason for multiple Killi to exist in the game.

In short, they can work, but it takes nuance to do well. And I encourage just that; write your chronicles with nuance. The Changing breeds, if used smartly, can add a ton of narrative color to a Chronicle and are worth exploring, particularly when representing cultural diversity in a setting.

[kardia-library-official]

Gods, Godhood, etc.

Just compiling some thoughts! Which are just one person's ideas, and feel free to correct me if it seems like I missed something, because there was a LOT of information to take in, not all of it was particularly well-explained, and I want it all for my internal Pepe Sylvia boards! And also to hear other people's thoughts and headcanons in general, because those are always interesting.

(This post is long and rambling and contains spoilers for the post-game, so I'll just stick it under here.)

First of all, I think the type of Godhood that exists among the Gods we get to know in Azuma is uniquely systematic and formalized. Which makes sense, since we learn that it was a creation of Viatrea/Mihoshi Habaki. Who I think reverse-engineered and streamlined whatever is going with the Native Dragons (because it follows that it's what she'd know best), and found a way to apply that same sort of transferable divinity to basically whoever.

I still think the primordial form of divinity is some kind of automatically coalescing Rune entity, which can kind of be lichened likened to how a fruiting body springs up from mycellium. (I stand by Lucas being one of these!) But it's a phenomenon that can be poured into a lot of containers, if that makes sense. Going back to the Native Dragons, I think they're one example of a naturally-occurring system that evolved and refined over time (to use another biology metaphor, it's kind of like endosymbiosis), and there are probably others.

Regardless of how their divinity is attained, I think there are different "flavors" of Gods, which can lead to things like elemental affinity/being the God of something specific, but isn't inherently deterministic. A headcanon I have that demonstrates this is that I think Lucas ("bringer of light") and Kanata are absolutely the same Type of Thing. They both have powers that involve finding/revealing information and a tendency toward memory issues/poor central coherence, which I think are absolutely two sides of the same coin (permeable mental barriers, basically).

A big elephant in the room that I've never seen anyone else mention is that the game is called Guardians of Azuma. Basically, what I think happened is that Western magicians independently stumbled upon a method for creating Azuma-style deities, but didn't really know that was what they were doing or discover the whole picture (and possibly couldn't even apply it properly due to being mortals who had to work with these forces indirectly). So the Guardians in RF4 underwent an incomplete apotheosis that linked them to the energies of the Earth but obliterated their sense of self in the process, and their selfhood couldn't be retrieved without severing their divinity.

...I know I'm always talking about TLT, but this is just like TLT! Holy shit. This'll sound like nonsense if you haven't read those books (and maybe skip this paragraph if you haven't and want to, there's spoilers), but if you have, think of how there's what's taken for granted as the complete Lyctor Process, which requires the Cav to be absorbed. But then you learn that this isn't the complete process, and encounter two types of fully realized Lyctor in the forms of John/Alecto and Paul. And for that matter, I think John's original ascension is also comparable to how Godhood works under Mihoshi Habaki ("I picked you to change" and all). And for that matter, there's an example of self-organizing deities in the form of the planetary souls. (Holy shit, I just realized that The Hound can probably be likened to a Resurrection Beast.)

On the subject of picking who to change... I can't be the only one who noticed that Mihoshi's comment about choosing Gods from the human population directly contradicts Fubuki's backstory. And I think that's because she was describing how it usually worked. But I think this latest generation of Gods was an experiment of sorts, in whether pulling from different forms of life would result in better long-term balance. Which I think was partially kind of a disaster (it created Kamurosaki), but the world did hold on long enough for the protag to save it/buy it more time, so who even knows!

Matsuri and Kanata were probably human (I like to think Matsuri was from a diaspora group that shares lineage with Leon's people, because just look at her). Kai is a half-oni, and I think his first-hand experience of duality is part of why he was selected. I fall on the side of Kurama having been an actual Tengu, who was chosen to represent Monsters/civilized non-humanoids. Fubuki and Kamurosaki represent animals, and either one handled the transition better than the other, or they started as one being that couldn't handle it at all and split. Ulalaka is the spirit of her tree, and represents plants (her and Fubuki are probably especially close because they both have pre-linguistic roots and can understand each other well, if that makes sense).

...Another thing I think about Kanata is that she was selected as a child, and Sorano is a manifestation of who she was the last time she was human. Basically, her divinity grew along with her, so she's very powerful, but there were... Other effects, which exacerbated and were exacerbated by the type of being she is.

I don't think the Gods remember their pre-divinity lives all that well? Like, I don't think they're fully amnesic, or that it was intentional, but think of how you remember your early childhood (even if you have a very good memory). And then think about how that would look after several centuries and a sudden apotheosis. But again, as with human memory, there's some exceptions. Fubuki's body seems to remember How it Was even if it's hazy in his mind, at least part of Kanata is frozen at the point of transformation, etc. (Full disclosure I have a dose of developmental trauma and find this idea very poignant.)

One thing I've completely rethought is like... The type of invulnerability a God would have. My original headcanon was that their physical bodies can be damaged (and then heal very quickly), but they aren't subject to routine ailments. But apparently that isn't so! Kurama gets migraines, and Matsuri is basically a fainting goat when she's freaked out. So I've come around to "psychosomatic/stress-related ailments only." Basically, a God's mental state can affect their environment, and their body is part of that environment, so it's fair game. But how exactly it works depends on who they are, just like how different people experience their emotions differently in the real world. Basically, the same thing is happening when Kurama works himself up into a migraine and when Lucas is so happy that he starts leaking miracles everywhere. (As for Kai's hangovers, that either counts as an injury, or is sort of a him problem, since Ulalaka and Kanata always seem fine. Once again, it all seems to depend on the God! And since the divinity of Azuma's Gods can wax and wane, I imagine that just introduces more variables to literally everything.)

And... I think that's all I've thought about so far!

[alexanderwales]

One of my favorite worldbuilding things is combinatrics. Let's say you have one physical affinity, like Power or Speed or whatever, and one elemental affinity, and you mix them together, and even with short initial lists you get a lot of interesting things.

Like what does it mean for a person to be Power-aligned and Leaf-aligned? Here you're sitting down for a session of interpretation of your own elements and how they mesh together, and I find this easy to use as a starting point for getting creative with it. Maybe combining "Leaf" and "Power" means a single honking big leaf, the kind that you would wield like a buster sword. For me, that's the kind of idea that immediately feels like it has something to it. And then you move on to the next one!

The big problems with the combinatorial explosion is that you sometimes get stuck in the process, and you have a nice 5x5 set of 23 ... and then two others that don't quite fit together. This is something that you sometimes end up learning very late in the design process, that for this one little corner of the matrix, there are just two things that don't fit together, or that you don't have a good idea for. Sometimes this comes from one of the things on your list not being like the others, which is a problem you need to catch early, but having one of the things on the list not being like the others is also something that I find cool, because I love having an odd one out.

And sometimes this comes from not wanting to repeat yourself. If the Power+Leaf example is using a giant leaf for ... I don't know, combat, or you fly around on the leaf or something, then you also have to do four more Power skills/abilities/class/systems, and four more for Leaf, and each of those concepts needs to be "big enough" to handle variants. You don't want two different combinations to feel like palette swaps of each other.

The big benefit, aside from helping to boost the creative process and to foreshadow some elements of worldbuilding (or just leave them implicit), is that you can then do some compare and contrast. Two Power guys with different elements can play off each other, and you can see the differences along the one axis where they're no the same.

(Obviously a matrix of "attribute" and "element" is not all that thrilling, and it's also extremely obvious, but this method of mixing also works well with different cultures, professions, nations, philosophies, and other less rigid "lists" you're pulling from.)

[windvexer]

hii. I'm kinda new to all these witchcraft stuff. I've been told to do magick in a different way like i guess i have more affinity towards earth/nature and i have felt that way too so do you have any tips on how can i practice earth/nature magick? I can feel energy through tarot and when I'm regularly meditating and grounding myself through walking in nature, my whole energy becomes different after being grounded by walking in nature (i hope you wont judge me that much like i said I'm new to this)

I'm sort of clueless like where to start and what to do. The place I'm living in rn is a concrete jungle with no garden/nature. So any tips or advice is really appreciated

Urban witches: the tl;dr of this post is that I can't help anon. Do you have any 'connecting with nature in the middle of a city' tips?

Hey sorry for sitting on this. I can't figure out how to answer it. I don't judge you at all! I think your questions are valid and a good starting place.

I'm just a little confused as to what paradigm you're coming from that's labeling earth and nature-based magic as "different". If someone is telling you that you are supposed to do magic "differently" then I would hope they are a teacher or mentor within an established tradition and are able to provide you with resources themselves (even if you were told this by a god or spirit!).

Although there are many kinds of witchcraft, I think as a whole most strains of witchcraft are largely nature-based and people who don't work with the earth or nature at all are probably the exception, not the rule.

My best guess is that you were told you likely have an elemental/wellspring affinity to Nature and Elemental Earth, and you agree and want to explore that connection more.

I think that's a perfectly lovely place to start, but just having an elemental affinity (which most all of us do to some degree or another) doesn't mean that you can't do other kinds of magic using other energies and powers.

So I hope you're not worried that you won't be able to do magic unless it includes these specific powers!

A second problem is that I've never lived in a concrete jungle, as you say. I can maybe give tips on connecting with nature in the suburbs, but I've also lived on the edge of town near quite a lot of nature for over 7 years. I'm just not the best person to give advice on urban magic!

Shortly after you sent your ask I came across this post which might be helpful for you.

If anyone reading has useful tips on connecting with nature in an urban environment, especially working with elemental Earth, please feel free to comment or link resources.

[multiheadcanons]

REQUEST: BURNWARD— KEEP TEUFORT WEIRD

yapper x yapper and nobody is actually listening. literally keep them away from the library. they cannot go lower than a 7 separately, volume wise.

they’re talking at each other and responding every once in a while with “oh for sure” to confirm to the other that at least the words are hitting their ears and being registered in some sense in the brain

it is always a Confirmed Time with these two in the same room. what kind of time? who knows! party time! tea time! game time! arson/murder time! grave robbing time! looting time! fuck it! they’re happy together and that’s all that matters to them! these two have never had a bad time together!

the sweetest part about these two is that they’re both undeniably, unarguably, irrefutably Odd, in some of the worst ways imaginable. they will skip into battle; and medic is very generous with his praise for pyro on the field. it bothers the other team that they will be massacred, and the last words they’re hearing is “what are we thinking for lunch? i hear there’s a new restaurant open—” it is very much behind every evil gay person is a more evil gayer person. and together, tact is dead. they are fully confessing to crimes in the middle of the restaurant. how an officer of the law just never seems to be within 50 feet of these two to hear some of the things leaving their mouths is astounding.

i think that pyro and the doctor are foils of each other. and i mean foil like in the old, outdated jeweler term where you back the gem in a ring with foil to make it shine brighter. these are two oddballs whose unabashed fascination of each other seems to make the other shine with the glow of normality. they don’t think about the other’s extensive legal rap sheets and open cases, or the blood often actively dripping from their hands, because to each other, they are the epitome of Normal. they want to be each other when they grow up. whether they’re chatting on the operating table, rushing into battle, sitting next to each other in their downtime, they just bask in the feeling of normality they give each other.

this has never been a thing i’ve ever actually considered with the mercs but i also have never thought about these two together as much as i currently have and in a modern au they are a firefighter/paramedic duo. generally found slumped over each other asleep on the base if they aren’t speeding through the streets. they find the chaotic structure just what they need for themselves, and when they met they clicked in a way nobody expected them to! i feel like the red medic would definitely want to be a paramedic more than he would want to be in the hospital doing active surgeries. he likes to get his hands dirtier than any hospital would allow him to. but active trauma cases are wonderful ways to try some… different techniques. he can’t stand the paperwork either way. and pyro became a firefighter because their social worker told them to maybe channel their… elemental affinity into something that could be good not just for themselves, but for society as well. she needs a raise and a nobel peace prize, because she created a prolific firefighter. pyro can assess a fire and figure out exactly where they can enter and exit and how much time they have to get in and out. everyone says thanks miss pauling.

they like to look at each other! for their own separate reasons. but neither one of them can help it. if the doctor is rambling, pyro is staring. probably with a hidden smile on their face. it’s just so cute to watch the doctor light up as he’s talking about all his different experiments and what he has on his books for future dates. and the doctor stares at pyro like they’re the chocolate factory and he just won the last golden ticket. he can’t help but wonder what’s under the mask. if there is anything under the mask at all.

it’s a tense, nerve wracking moment when pyro does decide to take off the mask for medic. pyro didn’t give any warnings, nor did they really know why they felt a need to do this. they just walked into the infirmary for a physical with it off, but still clenched in their fist, in case the result was unfavorable. it shocked the doctor, at least momentarily. he didn’t know what he expected under the mask. and truthfully, he didn’t even know it was pyro. he thought maybe they were getting a new class. it wasn’t until pyro actually spoke up (so strange to hear unmuffled) “doc. it’s me. pyro.” that medic put two and two together. and when he did, he was… marginally flustered. he felt silly he didn’t recognize someone he called a friend. but the eye contact; the real, genuine eye contact. it was refreshing. they didn’t even get to the physical, they just sat and chatted, for an hour to two. it hit pyro suddenly that they’ve been unmasked for a while. it hit them harder that they were actually quite comfortable this way. they started fiddling with the mask to get it back on, a single gloved hand gently rested on top of theirs.

“this was nice. it was nice to… get to know you like this. we should do it more often!” the smile the doctor offered was gentle, and uncertain. and if it were anyone else, pyro would’ve said no. but for the doctor…

they’ll do anything for him, really.

“yeah… yeah! yeah, we should!”

[ari-zonia]

Naoto and Kanji

Decided to start throwing together the Yasogami uniforms for Channel 3. There's certain vibes I didn't want to get rid of, like Chie's iconic jacket (she needs to be allowed to turtle), but still lean into how the original Arcana wore their uniforms.

So, starting off we have our new Fool, Chie Satonaka, and her resident Magician, Rise Kujikawa. (Full write-ups below, we're ignoring Game Balance here, folks and going with what feels right.)

Chie - Still an Inaba native, but she and her family had moved out of town when she was ten. Even then, the town was on the decline and they wanted better opportunities for Chie for high school. Several years later she insisted on going back to Inaba, if only just for one year to see what all had changed. And, if she still liked it, she could maybe graduate from Yasogami.

She still has a plucky and somewhat tomboyish personality, she just is a little more in the background of conversations. Though, Chie isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box either when the Inaba Murders start cropping up. This lends her to listening intently and being able to relay what she's picked up, and she probably doesn't understand half of it, but someone else will.

As the new Wild Card, a lot of Chie's Social Links (outside the team, as well as Dojima and Nanako) don't always overlap with Yu's. She still gets Kou and Daisuke as her Strength, but her personality and history with the town lends her to SL-ing different folks. Those "left behind" now that Junes is gone and much of the town is disappearing. She ends up with people like old man Daidara, the lady in white, and possibly Rise's grandmother instead.

Fighting wise, Chie still ends up very physically based, but with more emphasis on mixed-martial arts rather than just kung-fu. Her kicks are still her strongest, but she's got a mean punch too.

Rise - Bright and peppy, Rise herself is an aspiring songstress who hasn't quite managed to land into show business yet. The Kujikawas are currently in charge of watching Chie now that she's back in town, her grandmother having been close friends with the Satonakas in the past. Chie and Rise were friends back then too, but they've drifted a bit apart in the last several years, especially since Rise was always a year younger than her.

As one of the few kids that lived in the shopping district, Rise obviously had tried to befriend the Konishis, latching onto Saki in Chie's absence. Even though she's generally always optimistic, her bubbly personality was just a bit too much as everything weighed down in the coming days until Junes' abrupt closure and the economic downturn of Inaba. Saki's death hits her hard, having thought they were best friends (possibly being told otherwise by "Saki's Shadow"), she swears to not let any more of her friends end up like Saki. She believes that love and kindness is the answer to most of life's problems, after all.

Generally, Rise is basically Chie's wing-woman to meeting half of her peers, being the social push to get some links going.

In the TV, Rise uses staff-like weapons, befitting of her "magical girl" idea of a hero, and is heavily support-based, learning all levels of healing spells, as well as Spirit Drain later on. She doesn't really have any elemental affinities, though, leaving her weirdly with only a physical weakness. This does mean she can learn the Megido spells later on, but never really gets anything particularly powerful.

[rosaemoux]

I've been thinking of a Magic Batman Au in which there are three main types of magic each person can choose to practice:

Spacial, or physical magic, which is the magic that affects physical spaces, it can go anywhere from elemental to gravitational control of some kind.

Time, or chronological magic, it is the power to reverse, advance or stop time in a specific area for a specific amount of time

And

Ilusory, or psychic magic, it is the magic of the mind, the power to create hallucinations to deceive the mind, to feel other's emotions and manipulate them or to even control other's mind.

Magic is mostly used in everyday life like a convenient tool, but those who practice it and harness it to perfection are called Mages. It's treated no different to a science, however the knowledge behind becoming a mage is very much gatekept by governments all around the world to avoid the use of those powers outside their control.

There are also people ways to steal other people's magic by killing them, making yourself very powerful but also corrupting parts of your soul, making you a Death Mage. Those who choose not to are Life Mages.

Bruce Wayne comes from a long line of spacial mages of the Wayne family. He, however was born like the Kane side of his family, and had a natural affinity for Ilusory magic. After travelling and learning a lot from many different masters, including the Death Mages of Family Al Ghul, he returns to his Victorian Fantasy Gotham, using his power and wealth to make the city a better place and researching magic.

Then, Dick comes into his life, a young boy affected so early by death, like him. To avoid that the boy going out on his own and kills someone, he takes him under his wing. Dick became a spacial mage like his parents before him, also with some of the spells and techniques of the Waynes. I think he's really good at gravitational magic and controlling wind on his favor.

Barbara was mostly self trained, but had some techniques that her dad taught her for self defense, before Bruce also decided to train her. I think that she would have a natural affinity for psychic magic, before switching to time magic once she completes her mage journey and becomes Oracle post her paralysis (Clocktower symbolism, Oracle symbolism, it's perfect). Both her and Dick are very respected in their respective fields, and people start to see them and Bruce like the Wayne and the Kane; a clan, a powerful but small clan of Life Mages. Who also currently can't stand each other.

Then there's Jason Todd. A boy full of raw talent and an affinity for time magic like no other person that Bruce had ever met. When Bruce adopts him, he teaches him what he can. Things were mostly good, even if Dick wasn't very happy with the surprise adoption of a new boy and Barbara wasn't very present. However, when he figures out that Catherine Todd wasn't his biological mother, he and Bruce try to find his possible other living parent.

It goes mostly like in canon. They meet Shiva, ask her about it, she laughs it off, but their meeting makes Shiva a bit reflective about old business. After all, that little girl should be around that boy's age, shouldn't she ? She wonders how that experiment is going... and she feels, conflicted ? Huh, wonder where that came from.

When Jason finds Sheila and she ends up selling him out, they both end up tied in different rooms of a abandoned house, with a ticking timebomb.

Jason uses every single bit of his training to slow down, rewind and stop time, stalling for when Bruce comes for him. He eventually gets himself out of the ropes, but instead of trying to find his way out, he goes to find Sheila. He finds her, and Bruce finally found where they were, but it was just too late.

Ironically enough Jason Todd runs out of time.

Bruce looses a part of himself. His grief overcomes the entire city. He swears that he'll never take in another child, he closes his heart to all of those around him.

However, the mages of House Al Ghul are no strangers to the ways of death, and necromancy is just another way to get what they want. And if a piece or two of a soul gets lost along the way ? Well, you can always steal someone else's.

Part two is about the actual point in which the story would start;

[scaredpigeons]

Sunrise, Crystallize II: of sunsets and tears.

Masterlist // Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Zhongli x Fem!reader

SFW (there will be nsfw chapters and allusions to slight nsfw, but I will keep it separate so everyone may enjoy.)

Word Count: 3.9k

After feeling stuck for so long, who knew your life could evolve to have so much movement? Zhongli seems to make a very good teacher, and your small group of people you’re comfortable interacting with seems to be growing and growing by the day! Though you never thought you would have someone who considered you as a ‘dear friend’… you don’t think too hard about why his presence feels so comforting.

CW: reader has anxiety and low self esteem. Some self deprecating thoughts in this one, as well as a sliver of slightly suggestive thoughts. Its nothing crazy though. (Who hasn’t thought about Zhongli’s hands every now and then, eh?) reader starts training with a Polearm (author has no idea the proper techniques and forms for wielding a spear, so please forgive her.) reader cries like a blubbering little baby in this one and thats so real. I cry so hard when people show me kindness.

Authors Note: I find it really interesting and fun to try and incorporate game mechanics into fics. If its too much, doesn’t make any sense or you just don’t like it, then ignore it. We’ll only get a little bit more in the next chapter of Zhongli helping reader develop her skill and burst, but then i think that’ll be it. What’s endgame here? I have no clue. They’ll kiss, at some point, totally. Any ideas? Lol

——————————————————————

“When thinking about the uses of your vision, the possibilities are vast— confined only to the capabilities of the element and your own personal imagination. For example, plenty of Hydro users have implemented healing abilities into their vision usage, due to hydro’s innate ability to heal. But there are plenty of those who use hydro solely as an offensive element as well. 

On a similar note, Pyro is an element that is primarily used for offensive purposes, but there are plenty of those who choose to mold the element to suit supportive, defensive, or even healing purposes, despite its obvious affinity for destruction.” 

You twiddle with a pebble on the ground, unable to meet his eyes but soaking in his words all the same. 

“Geo has a natural affinity for defense usage, right? Due to its resilience against the other elements.” 

Zhongli makes an affirmative sound, which makes you look up at him from your spot on the ground. His smile is warm, making your cheeks flush and your eyes dart to the side. 

“Correct, very well said.” His praise made you even more flustered, and you ducked your head, playing with an invisible loose threat on your pants. 

“We are fortunate that you received a Geo vision, as I am very well acquainted with the element, and can help you answer any questions or concerns you may have.” There was a tone of amusement in his voice that you didn’t really understand, perhaps an inside joke? You knew he was a geo user, you’d seen his vision dangling from that decorative chain on his coat. 

It looked a little different than yours, but that was perhaps because it was older? You didn’t really pay close attention to visions before now, so you really had no idea. 

“What kind of role were you thinking you’d like to take on with your new power? Have you perhaps considered a weapon?” he asked. 

You really hadn’t thought about any of this. After Zhongli had given you the customary Liyue Vision holder, you’d simply tucked it in your pocket, not really wanting to advertise that you now had one. 

“What kind of weapon do you use?” You looked at his shoes, then glanced up to his eyes for a moment. 

He simply stepped back, and summoned a beautiful Polearm, almost pulling it from thin air. 

“Woah— will I be able to do that now?” You exclaimed, sitting up a bit straighter. 

He chuckled, a warm and deep thing that made your heart flutter with the desire to hear more of it. 

“Of course, would you like to try?” He asked, handing you the spear. 

You eyed the polearm warily. It looked to be worth more than your entire shop could make in a year, and incredibly dangerous. 

“Are you sure?” You said, standing up. 

Zhongli nodded, placing the polearm delicately in your waiting palms. It felt heavy, a little too imbalanced on the bladed side. You gripped it tightly, feeling a bit awkward. 

“How do I…?”

He smiled, placing a hand over his mouth as if to cover how wide it stretched, but you could still see it in the crinkle of his eyes. Did he find how you look holding such a massive weapon amusing? Well, you probably did look pretty silly. He cleared his throat before he continued. 

“Simply will it away, and it will listen. When you wish to bring it back, call it forth, and it shall come.” 

You quirked your brow, finding that explanation to be a bit too far fetched. You thrust your hand to the side, scrunching your face and concentrating very hard. 

“And… go away!” You said. The polearm disappeared from your grip, vaporizing into a little show of sparkles. Your eyes blew wide, and you looked around to see if it was some kind of trick. With no polearm in sight, you gaped at Zhongli, grinning wide at how simple it actually was. 

With his arms crossed, he nodded expectantly at you, and you took that as your instruction to bring it back. 

You shot your hand out beside you once more, closing your eyes and squeaking out a “Come back!” And suddenly its weight materialized into your palm once more, making you lean a bit at the sudden heft. 

“Holy Archons!” You cried out. “That's so cool!”  

Zhongli tilted his head, clearly quite entertained by your amazement, but you’d grown comfortable enough around him that you didn't really feel like he was picking on you anymore. 

“That is just one of many things you are capable of. Would you like to learn more?” 

You nodded enthusiastically, so in awe of this new world brought to you by such a tiny little orb. 

———————————————

After deliberating for some time about your choice of weaponry, (you chose the polearm, solely because Zhongli seemed to have a plethora of them, and offered to lend you a much smaller, less ornamental one) Zhongli started to go into detail about the uses of your vision.

”Obviously the possibilities are nearly endless, as I said before— but to better conserve your strength, it is best to choose two signature styles of use that you can practice and hone into something of an artform.

Your vision's power comes from within you, so if you blast it all away at once with a showy and overpowered move, you’re left with virtually no strength to continue on, which will leave most people in a rather precarious position.

This is why, in battle, most wielders will choose two signature moves, an elemental skill, and an elemental burst.”

Zhongli moved to stand further away from you, more towards the lake in the center of Mt. Aocang. You’d been a little worried about traveling up here, but he’d assured you that the Adepti of Jueyun Karst would not bother the two of you, and you had no reason to argue otherwise, so you followed dutifully. 

“An elemental skill—“ He crosses his arms, and a giant pillar of rock that radiates geo energy comes shooting out of the ground, nearly causing you to stumble back. “Is a move that should consume a minimal amount of your energy for maximum potential. You want to hone it to its best usage, and perfect it to benefit you in any situation.”

You regard the pillar with awe, feeling the geo energy sweeping a few feet outwards from where it protrudes from the ground. Taking a closer look, you run your hands along its surface, admiring the beautiful structure and the energy tingling beneath your fingertips. You think you see Zhongli shift a bit where he stands beside you, but when you turn to look, he is simply observing you with a neutral expression. 

“These will cause crystallize reactions to any element within their area of effect, creating micro shields for myself and any team members I may be traveling with. But because I have been honing this skill for a very long time, I have learned to alter it to better suit my needs.” 

Suddenly the tower of rock disappears, and Zhongli is encased in a swirling column of geo, glowing and pulsing around him. 

“Wow…” you say, stepping forward. “You’ve learned to create a shield without the use of a crystallize reaction?” 

“Not a difficult feat in itself, but the strength of the shield took me many years to hone.” He says, watching you with amused eyes. It truly seemed as though he found your hunger for knowledge and wonder at the world of visions very entertaining, and for once you didn’t feel ashamed to be expressing yourself so openly. 

“Can I… can I touch it?” You asked hesitantly. 

His eyes seemed to glimmer in the afternoon sunshine as he nodded, chuckling a bit. 

“You can take that polearm I gave you and test how it feels to strike at an opponent, if you’re so inclined.” 

Without really thinking, you circled him, running your fingertips along the wall of impenetrable energy surrounding him. 

You could feel the crackling geo resonating through your fingertips, meeting your own elemental energy in a tentative spark that shot shivers up your arms and down your spine. You’d never really focused on elemental energies before, but it was like now you could see it in everything, feel it course through your body like the blood in your veins. 

Even without interacting with any other vision users like this, you could instantly tell that Zhongli was incredibly powerful. The elemental energy surrounding him was almost blinding, and the crackle of his shield under your fingertips was like a gust of pure power being blown through your nervous system. 

“Is every person with a vision like this?” You murmured, knocking your knuckles against the shield and meeting pure resistance. 

“Like what?” You weren’t expecting him to answer you, you hadn’t even really realized you were speaking out loud. 

You stepped back, your face heating up. “Ah, I mean… your energy, it’s really— it’s really intense.” 

You looked up at him to watch him quirk a brow down at your words, which made you stammer and run your hands over your face in exasperation at yourself. 

“What I mean— I mean your Elemental energy. I’ve never… I’ve never really paid attention before, or maybe never saw it before I got my vision— but focusing on you now, it’s really… powerful.” You watched as the shield rotated around him in awe, the energy swirling and glowing in the sunlight. “It’s really beautiful.” 

The words left your mouth before you even thought to hold them back, and you felt the heat in your face travel up to your ears. 

“Beautiful?” Zhongli said, a hint of teasing in that smooth voice of his. 

You spluttered, and without thinking summoned your polearm, gripping the pole tightly in your hands, holding it in front of you defensively.

“That offer to whack it is still on the table, yes?” You stammered.

“Perhaps we should further discuss how you visualize the Elemental energy around us, yes? I’m very Intrigued about your—“ his tone really was teasing now, and you couldn’t handle another second of it or you’d explode. 

”AHBAHBAP—“ you blurted out, taking a step back to charge at him in your fluster. “Less talking, more whacking!” 

—————————————

Over the last few months, you seemed to be developing and adapting to new routines very quickly, whereas your life before Liyue felt so sedimentary, so stale and monotonous. 

Your new daily routines were busy, schedule packed and lively, forcing more social interaction on yourself than you’d had in years past. 

You would wake, make your way to the terrace to do your morning prayers, have tea with Madame Ping, wave good morning to Zhongli and Hu Tao as they opened up the funeral parlor before heading home to open the store. 

You weren’t sure about hiring some help with the shop, but Madame Ping had asked for a favor, so now one of her disciples, a little girl by the name of Yaoyao came by three times a week to help you tend to the greenhouse and greet customers. It was supposedly part of her training, though you weren’t really sure what she was training for. 

Her assistance did come in very handy though, and you weren’t complaining. the customers loved her, the plants loved her, and business was doing well enough that you could send her home with a decent little bag of mora at the end of the week, even though she would always try to refuse. It had taken you saying that you would be very upset to see her go unrewarded for all her hard work, and of course she didn’t want to do anything to make you sad. 

During those three day intervals, you would close up the storefront in the early evenings, entrusting the care of the greenhouse chores to little Yaoyao, even going as far as to get her a little key cut for the side entrance so she could lock up when she was finished. 

The reason? Zhongli had personally offered to train you more, help you hone your new power into usable skill. 

After his impromptu lesson in the mountains, you surely thought he would be done with you, only showing you the basics out of the goodness of his heart, so you didn’t make a fool of yourself or injure anyone around you. 

But no— he was taking three evenings out of his week to spar with you, and help you learn how to wield the power of geo. 

This week he chose Yaoguang Shoal as your location, most likely because last week you said it might be nice to train by the sea sometime. You hadn’t really thought he’d take much consideration into your words, seeing as he favored the more mountainous regions, but there you were anyway— the spray of salt and wind battering your skin as you laughed and kicked up sand under Zhongli’s watchful eye.  

After a few weeks of this, you were starting to gain a little more confidence, and you could tell that Zhongli was slowly increasing the pressure on you during sparring, each day his posture slightly more tense, his moves just a little faster than before. 

You parried his strike with a move you’d been trying to perfect since last week. You were successful, but you winced as an ache wracked through your elbow, sliding back and lowering your weapon to signal that you weren’t continuing. 

“Good!” Zhongli said as you parried the strike, but his gaze landed heavily on you as you rubbed your sore arm. “Though you’re still taking in too much force with your elbows and wrists, you’ll injure yourself if you keep that form.” 

You huffed, standing in position again, going through the motions of the move slowly like he taught you, but you could tell you were still screwing it up. 

Zhongli made his way closer as he watched your increasing frustration. He circled around you and watched you from behind for a moment. You weren’t exactly paying attention to him until you felt his presence extremely close— the heat radiating from him making the hairs on the back of your neck prickle.

”Here, my apologies, but may I touch you for a moment?” His voice rumbled behind you, making your cheeks flush. It was Zhongli— it was Zhongli. The question, no matter how suggestive your stupid brain wanted to perceive it, was nothing but innocent. It was Zhongli. It was innocent. 

“Yes.” You said, the word sounding a bit warbled in your fluster, but he leaned in anyways. 

“You're taking the force of each blow here—“ his hands reached around, touching your wrists gently where you held the spear in a loose defensive stance, diagonal in front of you. He moved his fingers slowly to cup his hands under your elbows, murmuring, “And here.” You could feel the warmth of his chest pressing against your back. 

He’s helping you visualize the faults in your form, nothing more. 

“Let the full strength of your arms catch the blows,” his index fingers tapped from the crook of the inside of your arm and dragged up for biceps to your shoulders. “Let it come here, and steady it—“ his hands suddenly left your shoulders and you nearly jumped as one hand placed firmly over your abdomen, the other pressing against your back in the same position. “Steady it here, in your core.” 

You felt your abdomen tighten on reflex, only half heartedly acknowledging the fact that his hands were so big that they nearly spanned the entirety of your stomach, from just below your breastband to what would most likely stretch past your navel if he spread his fingers wider. 

“Good, just like that.” He said as he felt your abdomen tense. 

He’s just helping you visualize the correct form, nothing more. Get your mind out of the gutter, you disgusting excuse for a human being. 

“You already carry your stance very well, your legs are always steady but you retain the fluidity to pivot and move without being too stiff, which is wonderful.”

His hands left you as he circled back in front of your gaze, and you found yourself missing their warmth for only a moment before you saw him ready his spear, taking an offensive stance. 

“We will do this as many times as you need to feel satisfied, so please do not push yourself. Breathe with the motions, focus on where the impact is going.” 

Your guts twisted up at his words, and if you could run into the ocean and disappear without looking like an idiot, you probably would. 

Shaking off your degenerate thoughts, you nodded, readying yourself as you prepared to try and use the advice he’d just so thoughtfully given you while you were off in celestia fantasizing about his hands. 

He moved, and so did you. He was kind enough to come at you with the same motions as before, so you could easily move with the same rhythm to focus on the parry itself. 

Both hands, firm grip. Watch the swing of the blade, brace— shoulders, biceps, core— push, follow through, and back!

You stepped back, eyes wide as you felt a pleasant ache in your muscles from being used, but no pain or stinging in your elbows or wrists. 

Zhongli smiled, twirling his pole arm around and readying himself once more. “Incredible, now again!” 

The next thirty minutes flew by in a flurry of clanging metal and heavy breaths, mostly your own. He certainly kept you on your toes, coming on the offensive before suddenly prompting you to attack, taking each of your clunky blows with practiced ease and barely a flutter of his lashes. 

It was during one of these switch ups, where you were on the offensive, when you worked up the nerve to ask a question that’d been eating at you for many weeks now. 

“Zhongli,” you said, striking at his pole arm and taking the reverb of his parry with a back step. “Why did you decide to train me?” 

“I’ve not formally trained someone in a very long time,” he said, gracefully side stepping a strike. “I rather enjoy it.”

”No,” you said, taking a cheap swipe at his feet, only to watch him anticipate the move in its entirety, jumping back and smiling at you like you’d just brought him a cup of tea. “Why did you decide to train me, of all people?” 

“I enjoy spending time with you.” He said simply, eyes glittering as you stumbled, stopping in your tracks before even attempting to strike again. 

You gaped at him, completely unbelieving. 

“What, is it so obscene to imagine I enjoy spending time with a dear friend?” 

“I didn’t t-think,” you sputtered, holding your spear in front of you. “I didn’t think that you…”

He gave you a teasing sort of frown, as if a little saddened by your words, and crossed his arms over his chest, letting his pole arm disappear in a little flutter of sparkles. 

“Come now, you think after sharing that many late night pots of tea with you, that I wouldn’t consider you a friend?” He clicked his tongue against his teeth, shaking his head. Reprimanding, teasing, in that poise way that he did, in that way that made you take it a little easier than if others were to do the same. “Should I be offended that you think so lowly of me?”

Your heart lurched, and you gasped out a quick “no, wait!’ As you let your spear disappear as well, running up to stand in front of him. 

“It’s.. it’s not anything that you did, it's just…” you look up at him, only meeting that gentle gaze that makes you feel so comfortable, it's so familiar, though you’ve spent so much time around him now that it shouldn’t seem odd, but his mere presence made you feel safe somehow, like you could tell him anything. 

You cringed, deciding to just come out and say it. 

“I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I have a— I have a habit of not thinking very highly of myself.” You looked down at your feet, kicking up the sand glimmering in the evening sunset, turning the pale grains a brilliant shade of orange in its glory. 

”I think a part of me always believed I was unworthy of being someone important to you— of being your friend.” 

You felt a gentle pressure at your chin, and raised your head to see Zhongli’s hand outstretched, tilting your gaze up to meet his own. 

It reminded you of the first time you ever saw him, how the sunrise brightened the warm hues of his entire being, making his eyes blaze like pools of liquid gold. 

The pink and purpling sunset over the ocean had the same effect, and the molten amber bore down on you with the weight of something untold— his gaze was so heavy. 

You found yourself thinking once more that he looked like royalty, like a deity, blessing the ground where he stood. He radiated power, that much you knew by now. 

“If anything, I feel as though I am unworthy of being someone so important to you,” he says, and your heart nearly topples out of your chest and into your shaking hands. 

“I know I cannot erase everything that troubles you, but please, never doubt yourself when it comes to me. I do nothing that I do not wish to do, spend my days with no one I do not wish to spend them with.”

You felt pressure behind your eyes, his face starting to blur and warp in the beautiful colors illuminating him. 

“In my core, I am a very selfish man, one might even say rather spoiled, stubborn as stone. No one will ever have the ability to force me to do anything I do not wholeheartedly wish to do. That is how I spend my days. Not out of charity, or pity, or bribery. Simply because I want to.” 

You’re sure you’re nearly vibrating now, eyes welling up with unshed tears as you soak in his words. The heat from his fingers still holding your chin. 

“Even if you still doubt yourself, I shall never give you a reason to doubt me. Do you understand?” 

You nodded, blinking away the fat tears and cringing as they rolled down your face. He clicked his tongue again, making a cooing sort of sound that one might make when consoling a crying child. Despite the way it made your cheeks burn, it was comforting nonetheless.

His hand left your face, and your shoulders slumped as you cried, too overwhelmed to be embarrassed any further. 

“Now, may I hold such a dear friend to comfort her?” 

You nodded again, wrapping your arms around his waist as he pulled you close, holding you tightly to his chest. A whisper of his lips pressed against the top of your head as he hushed you, his warm hands running across your back in soothing motions as he murmured encouragement and soothing little nothings. 

He smelled like the mountains even still, like amber and tea and safety. His embrace was so familiar, so warm, it soothed your worried heart and allowed you to just breathe in relief. He never wavered, never moved to let go, just let you take comfort from him until you were ready to be without it. 

You didn’t think you’d ever be ready. 

——————————————————

Authors Note: send me asks with things you’d like to see from this series? I’m kinda forming the story as I go but I’d love to hear your thoughts :))))

[slaaverin]

As you have also read bluemoonpunch's last reading of jk's past life there's something i wanna ask about it, it's a small thing but i just need to clarify. So let's say hypothetical the certain someone in the reading is jimin who he's supposed to be together in this life, there's a paragraph in there which I'm quoting below.

"In this, these two exchange Water and Fire between the Cups and the Wands. On their own, Temperance carries more Water, more fluidity, more feminine receptivity, while Jungkook carries more Fire, externalized action, masculine projection."

So here they mentioned that the"Temperance" carries more water and jungkook and this temperance will exchange fire and water, as we know in this life atleast jk has lots of fire in him as like fire element, so i remember asking one of the jm biased person who also knows reading like they have studied it that what is jm's element as how jk is more of fire, tae is more of water so what is jm's and they said jimin is "Air" element something. Now i don't understand these terms at all so idk if all humans have these elements but one of the element will be in more quantity than the other or smth. So i wanna clarify what does this Temperance and jungkook exchanging water and fire means and if jm has that water element in him (hypothetical asking as IF we consider this person as jimin).

Thank you 🙏

Hey anon this is an interesting question thank you 💜

Each one of us carries the 4 elements within us. It is what makes up our soul.

Usually not all 4 elements are completely balanced within us. We may use or project one more than the other.

I understand why your friend might say Jimin main element is Air. Libra's element is indeed Air. But the sun sign only is not a good indicator to know how a person uses his elements. We must take the whole birth chart into consideration.

For example I am a fire sign - Sagittarius. But in my birth chart I have A LOT of Capricorn energy, so a lot of earth energy. I in fact have way more earth energy than fire energy.

Since I personally don't know Jimin's full birth chart, it's hard to make assumptions.

And the birth chart is what it is, a BIRTH chart. It's the potential of everything you have at birth, but things can evolve. And you do not use only one element during your life.

If yes we say potentially his main element is Air, it doesn't mean he doesn't have water, and maybe he uses his water in the context of the relationship.

Which means that if they are counterparts, they need to exchange some kind of energy to function in harmony.

For the divine feminine, Jimin, he is more in fluidity, more receptive, so it makes sense he uses his water to balance the fire of Jungkook, the masculine energy.

It may as well be to keep the balance between them.

As I said he has the 4 elements but used in different contexts and for different uses.

We may have affinities with an element more than another, even if we have all 4, so sometimes we focus on specific elements to "master them".

So maybe Jimin is using water this time for a specific reason (could be many) that serves him in this lifetime. He might use another one more at another moment for a different purpose.

I hope you see what I mean and that it brings a little more clarity?

I think he uses water for the purpose of balancing his relationship with Jungkook, a way to be his "mirror".

On another note I will take the opportunity of your ask to share other little snippets of the reading that stood out to me:

It’s like they were signaling or trying to slyly put themselves out there, but people refused or maybe even denied the connection in terms of their companies or management refusing a public relationship. On some level people are refusing them while accepting others and it’s very frustrating and confusing, specifically to Jungkook. It seems like, from that higher perspective, Temperance understands it, does not like it but understands it and is more compliant with the idea of needing to sneak or keep things hidden. There actually does seem to be a lot of frustration in this set now that I’m lingering on this one — “No, you’re not MISSING anything, it’s right here!” In reverse, Jungkook is really like, “I can see this person clear as day, they’re right here, they’re right next to me, why are you acting like you can’t see them? Why are you acting like you can’t see us?”

This really breaks my heart man. Like all the frustration Jungkook has been having, it just makes a lot of sense. It has been simmering for a long time. And when she said Temperance understands they must operate within a certain parameter, I feel like AYS was just that. A contained way to show their relationship. But we all know that Jungkook wants more than this. Just, it shows. But they can't. Damn :(

The current state of their connection being represented by The Chariot is really nice as it showcases that they are in fact on the same path now. With soul counterparts, the parallel paths eventually merge into one higher path that affirms and supports soul purpose, or in their case soul mission. This is not an intersecting path, meaning this seems to be a potentially one and done deal unless they choose to separate on a conscious level. In other words, if it was purely up to their souls to decide, they are together now and will be together until their lifetimes here are over. When one dies, they will stay with the one who is still living until they pass.

This is very fucking nice. I think for Jungkook from what we've seen even consciously it's a done deal. We shall see if Jimin can overcome the whole "Devil perspective" thing and help it move it forward. But I have high hopes honestly.

Alongside the reminder of this significant connection, he also has two Heart Chakra cards with Love and Play, which really just felt like a marker of affirmation, his higher soul coming through and saying, “yes, you’ll know when it’s right because THIS is what it feels like.” It’s pure love, genuine love that comes very naturally, instinctually, and a vibrancy that brings him back to, or keeps him in a healthy state of playful youth, always ready to move and jump and yell and just really let himself be with this other person. The same feeling would be there for the other as well. It would be very natural, casual, simple, but potent and undeniable.

I REPEAT THE LAST LINE:

"It would be very natural, casual, simple, but potent and undeniable."

This is Jimin & Jungkook. This is what they are, there is no doubt in my mind. This is it.

No words needed.

I think this is the most interesting reading she's done in a long time. Very insightful. Very deep.

And very validated and encouraging about everything we knew about jikook.

Damn I just wish them the best 😭😭😭

Let's see how it goes,

Thanks for your ask anon and take care 💜