#knowing hes claymore brings me joy

[blindecho6]

Wait, he's a Claymore user 👀

The first time I watched the trailer his weapon looked like a bow to me. I thought he was a bow character. Now after rewatching it I clearly see he is not in fact a bow user. But I still think they made his weapon look too much like a bow... stylized bow, but a bow nonetheless. I should pay better attention to trailers lmao

I love him ever more now. Def gonna save my pulls for him :v

Well. I already have enough saved for 2 guarantees, so him and Murata will be mine >:)

Just need to skip Yelan. Which isn't a pain because I have enough hydro characters built.

If I really wanted Yelan I could probably finish all quests and get all the chests, but Sumeru is a pain. Did half of the forest and had enough. And I'm saving Fontaine to the end. I love this region and I want to do it last :d

[tenebriism]

Another year means another birthday; another bittersweet day to be avoided at all costs. She knows full well that for Diluc there is more grief here than joy; a deep rooted ache that has only ever dulled over time rather than faded. Perhaps it’s why Jean chooses to mark the occasion of his birth with a different kind of festivity this year, something calm and lowkey that can serve as a distraction more so than some ruse of a party or grand celebration. 

With coupon in hand, ungloved digits wiggle it before his nose - a cashing in of his own gift just one month prior to mark her own nameday. “I’d like to request your company today, Strawberry.” She thinks it’s what he needs as much as anything, even if he seldom wants it. Just someone to be there to chase away the darkness of his thoughts and help him survive until the sun rises again and heralds a new day. A person that believes in him. That loves, and cherishes him, no matter the turmoil he carries. 

Finally letting the coupon drop, with her free hand she reaches for that of her red haired paramour, tugging him along with a gentle but earnest insistence away from the safe confines of his own sullen isolation. Through Mondstadt’s streets she navigates with idle chatter, a careful but contented babble of whatever had dominated her thoughts that day until she could settle on the steps of the Ordo Favonius. 

Hesitation lingers as she ponders the rationale of her action. Today of all days, it’s a bold move to bring him here. To ask him, in no uncertain terms to trust her, even if not the Ordo itself. Fingers squeeze against his own, warm and encouraging even if uncertain of her own well intentioned plan as she asks for permission before guiding him up those steps and into a building that had been irrevocably tainted so many years ago. 

It isn’t a history lesson she has seeks to give though, as her boots click across polished floors up and guide him upwards through winding staircases to the highest point of the highest tower. High above Mondstadt, her vision becomes that bit clearer, a picnic laid out on the seldom used stone as two pairs of golden binoculars sit alongside it. 

“I know what today means and I know celebrations aren’t exactly…appropriate, but I wanted to do something for you all the same. Something that you’d enjoy; that would bring you peace and maybe even allow a little bit of that adorable Strawberry charm to see the light of day. So this is me, with my very minimal knowledge of bird watching, trying incredibly hard to find the perfect spot to see your feathered friends.”

At her feet there sits a freshly wrapped selection of gifts containing a new Falconry glove; a book of timeless poems translated from Liyuean, a compass to guide him home on his travels, and a single symbolic dandelion. 

Jean smiles; the nervous curve of her lips creeping into the apples of her cheeks as she stretches upwards onto her tiptoes to press a kiss to the silken skin of his cheek. “Happy Birthday Diluc." 

He's ASHAMED at the skepticism he greets her with at the door. The lack of fondness she so very deserves, the lack of affection or acknowledgement of all she has done to keep him on this earth. It's hard--- she knows this, and every year, he prays she does not take offense to the way he closes himself off, even to her. THIS ISN'T HIM... not entirely. It's a PART of him, an extremely UGLY part that rears its hideous head once a year on this very day, but despite how FAR he has come to not let it CONSUME him as heavily as it had in past years, it's the one day he CAN'T win against his own emotions no matter how hard he fights.

Can't swing a claymore at tears... can't set aflame his own bloodshot eyes. Can't rip out his own heart as it aches, relentlessly, within his chest and makes him feel one too-deep breath away from suffocating on the spot.

She's brought the coupon, though. An arts and crafts, signed, sealed, delivered CONTRACT, of sorts, that he'd encouraged her to use to whatever extent she felt necessary. She's nothing if not cunning and strategic, and, really, he should have EXPECTED this, but would it have changed anything even if he had? No... because even beyond the crayon covered contract she waves in front of his face, it's ultimately HER who encourages him to go along with this little plan. It's always the soft look she gives him, the purity, appreciation, AFFECTION so strongly reflected in her gaze... he thinks anyone would bend, just because it's Jean Gunnhildr.

It's when they get to the headquarters that Diluc hesitates. He stops at the very bottom of the stairs, and though the manner in which he tugs her backwards and into his arms is gentle, his grip on her has tightened ever so subtly.

' What are you doing, and why are we here? '

The question burns in his gaze, by no means DEMANDING of an answer, but rather, afraid. This is the last place he wants to be today, of all days; maybe any other day, he can somewhat stomach the smell of these halls and the sight of those vibrant, perfectly hung banners, but not today.

Gods, not today.

It's... Jean, though, and she has never given him a reason NOT to trust her, even since childhood. She has only ever wanted what is BEST for him, even if it meant bearing a pain most unrelenting in the period of time he'd felt it necessary to leave Mondstadt for years and years and years, lest he DROWN in his own anger and grief. No, this is NOT where he wants to be today -- the Headquarters, at least, but he DOES want to be with HER.

So, he surrenders himself to her in full, yet again, and allows himself to be guided up those stairs to wherever she deems fit to take him, and goodness, is the reward plentiful.

As the sun hits his skin and the wind plays in his hair, the tiniest of gasps slips through when eyes fall upon her carefully concocted plan. " You... remembered. " Of course she did--- has he, amidst this annual trauma, forgotten the woman he is so honored to be betrothed to? Jean could likely state, with confidence, the number of freckles on his body, the number of sugars he puts into his coffee in the morning, the specific brand of paints he prefers to buy for the little pockets of time he can dedicate to his own hobbies, WITH his favorite tea he likes to sip... whatever it may be, Jean will remember.

The little kid who used to play Knights of Favonius with a young Kaeya and young Jean shines through in this moment. Nay, he isn't tugging on suspenders and waving around a tiny, wooden stick at an invisible enemy, but there's a certain pep to his step as he excitedly hastens forth that's not often there. " You're just in time, too. Look, right out there--- " Finger extends, following the path of a gorgeous falcon as it soared past the buildings. " Native to Liyue... can't imagine what brought her all the way over here. Change of pace, perhaps... " Though his musings are mostly to himself, he keeps an arm curled 'round her waist. Keeps her close and up against him, where he prefers for her to be, and delights in the kiss she bestows upon him.

If she's looking for bits and pieces of HER Strawberry, it's certainly shining through now, right along rosy tinted cheeks.

" ... thank you for this. " He realizes he hasn't even said that amidst all his excitement, and flushes even REDDER at the onset embarrassment.

" You just... archons, you are perfect. Beautiful in every sense of the word. I just... I love you. I love you so much. Happy Birthday to me, indeed... "

@gunnhildred ;;

[hiraya-rawr]

Execution (sagau)

cw: slight gore, cult themes

Diluc who stabs through you with a burning claymore, searing flesh and bones, and you look up for him to see the stars in your eyes, a glimmer of his own constellation, before it fades away. Suddenly he's 18 again, sobbing over his father's dying body.

Asking Zhongli to deal the final blow would confuse the consultant in him, but he rightfully accepts the task as the geo archon. As the bright skies of Teyvat fade to a gloomy canvas, he's devastated when you whisper, "I'm sorry you had to do this, but as the oldest of all, surely you can endure this mistake."

You tell Xiao to kill you from behind; a rather cowardly execution, especially for an adepti, but he agrees to your final wish. He's swift and merciful in killing you and you're glad that he'll never see the way your eyes glimmer and fade. You closed them tightly, even in death, even under the grave.

Kaeya who quickly does an execution per order of the knights. He's used to orders, he practically functions by them, and as your blood seeps out unto the cobblestone of Mondstadt, the red turns gold. Kaeya would freeze, he'll stand over your form, sword in hand, as the people around him burst into chaos. He isn't aware of anything else but the fact that he was a murder puppet.

When you feel Thoma's arms shake in shock, you tell him it's alright. You make him promise to never tell anyone of what he sees in your fading eyes, never destroy the joy everyone gets from your death. Even in the after party, Thoma is silent as the crowd cheers unknowingly of what they did.

Likewise, Ayato would never bring up what he did when his sister asks what's gotten him so silent. He can't bear to bring her down with him should the truth ever come to light. You kept that in mind in your last words, it'll be a burden only for him to carry.

~

submission: So I just had an sagau imposter au thought.... what if the first time the majority sees your blood/godly features is when you die? Like don't notice the stars in your blood or eyes, they just see it as normal human blood until a killing blow is struck. And by then it's too late. Their Creator is dead. Pure angst, even more so if it was your main (or favorite character) who dealt the final blow. Like "if I have to die, I want them to do it." And then they see the stars glow brightly before fading and they know.

a/n: !!! personally I don't think I'd ever want to grant my favorite characters the guilt of killing me 😭 I'd be heartbroken if they carry the guilt!! but that's a brilliant thought like — let's brainrot a little.

[rhas-writes]

Their Light - Five Yakshas x Reader

Another addition to my Fallen Archon Reader thoughts. Can be read as a standalone.

Spoilers! for Genshin Impact 2.7 Archon Quest (Hidden Dreams in the Depths).

Content? Fluff, angst if you squint. Format? Imagine/Drabbles. Pronouns? You/Your, Reader is referred to as Lady once. Relationship? Platonic/Romantic

Context: Reader is the Light Archon and married to Morax.

Synopsis: A yaksha's life was not meant to be filled with peace. Happiness was not something their race expected. Morax knew this, he chose them for their endless need for bloodshed. So when you're able to bring them a semblance of relief from their karmic debt, he can't help but love you a little more.

---

A squeal runs past your lips as four arms wrap around your midsection. Tiny hairs on the back of your neck dance when the electro yasksha pulls you against his chest. "Gotch ya!" His gruff voice crackles with a wide grin breaking onto his face. You squirm and point at the four yaskshas trying but failing to suppress their laughter, "they made me do it!"

Bosacious has known you far longer than the others, he knows no one can truly make you do anything. You were tickling his nose with an invisible feather and making him sneeze all day out of your own accord. It's only fair he return the favor.

You collapse onto the soft grass when the buff yaksha finally lets you go. He towers above you with a proud smirk as you pant, breathless from ceaseless laughter. The other yakshas find themselves in a similar position to you. Your laughter far too contagious for them to not join in. You wipe a stray tear from your eye, taking a moment to bask in their joy.

-

Bonanus softly hums, her fingertips sending shivers down your spine as she threads through your hair. Her demeanor is calm and soothing, but on the inside she is giddy you allow her to do this. Few give her a chance to express her affection due to her claw-like hands.

Your fingers dance in the air causing light to fracture against the droplets Bonanus has created. A plethora of colors descend and shift across your vision.

"We make a good team, Lady (Name)."

-

Heavy pants can barely be heard above the roaring rain. You stand soaked to the bone, claymore at your side, with a small smile.

"It's time to rest, Alatus."

The yaksha growls. His entire body aches but he forces himself to his feet, sinking into the moist soil. It's been...days and he is yet to land a single blow on you. Rest? He scoffs.

"Demons do not rest, so neither shall I."

The way your brow raises piles a lump of regret in his throat. He has become so enraptured in fighting, he forgot his place. He prepares himself for punishment as you walk towards him. Your hand raises to softly hold his cheek. 'Right,' he reminds himself. He is no longer with his master, hasn't been for decades.

"Do you think yourself a demon, Alatus?"

He hesitantly shakes his head, he is a yaksha.

"Then don't treat yourself as one." You take the spear he's barely able to hold and replace it with your hand, "come now, I'm sure the other's will be happy to see you've grown."

-

Indarias speaks passionately, the flames of the campfire following the wild gestures of her hands. You love watching her tell stories, real or imaginary. The descriptions she gives and the images she creates in the fire engross you. Tonight, she tells a new story. One so special, Rex Lapis has come to view it with you.

The seven of you sit in darkness around an empty fire pit.

"This tale begins long ago, before even our Lord roamed the lands." She pauses for the poorly contained laughs.

"It begins when the sun and moon once bled into the earth." Two giant embers fall and ignite a roaring flame.

"...and thus, the flower never meant to bloom was called Helleborus."

As applause erupts from around Indarias, her violet hues search for yours. She beams seeing the adoring smile on your lips, proud of herself for being the one to put it there.

-

The sun is pleasant against your skin as you sit with Menogias atop one of Liyue's many peaks. You hide a smile behind your book when you catch him adjusting his robe for the umpteenth time. It was his idea to enjoy the day in each other's company, but as you expected, his mind quickly changed. You continue reading while he pretends to do the same, wondering when he'll fess up.

Though you wish to see him squirm a little more, you can't push down the laughs when he starts picking at grass like a child.

"How long have you known?" Menogias points accusingly, though there is a small smile and feint blush on his face.

---

Thoughts? Critiques? Let me know!

Published: 06 July 2022

[mydearfantasy]

When they’re Insecure Pt2 🖤

Characters: Razor and Albedo

Summary: You’re spending a lot of time with others, and the boys begin to doubt themselves

Genre: Angst to fluff

TW: Injury/death mention

RAZOR

Lupical is most important, nothing comes before Lupical

you were his lupical

you often visited the forest, looking for various materials and supplies, but upon one visit you found yourself being led off path by the sight of a promising patch of berries, only to find yourself in the middle of a hilichurl camp

before a scream could even be let out, the sky darkened, and a flash of grey hair shot past you, destroying the camp and saving you from mortal peril

after that, he always insisted upon guiding you through the dark forest whenever you visited, preventing any harm from coming your way

the two of you spent hours inside the forest, human contact had been limited for razor, but he never found himself on edge around you

your presence was an immense comfort to him, and you allowed him to learn more about human culture

in return, you’d bring food; meals, baked goods, fruits, smoothies, anything for the two of you to enjoy together, sitting side by side, overlooking the forest as you enjoyed your treats

everyday the boy waited for you, anxiously scanning the trees for the familiar sight of your hair amongst them, bursting with excitement to spend another lovely day with you

one day, he spotted not one, but two heads of hair moving throughout the forest.

you brought a friend one day. an outsider. a stranger. the two of you walking the same path you walked with Razor, avoiding all the camps just like he showed you to do.

you-you didn’t need him anymore, did you?

reaching the spot you usually met up with razor, you stood and waited for the man to appear, eager to introduce him to your closest friend

after a short while, you realised he might not be appearing today

disappointed, you told your friend you’d meet your strange companion another day

but that day never came

you went back day after day, only for razor to not appear

concern blossomed in your chest. had he been hurt? was he okay? was he ill?

not knowing pained you, you didn’t exactly know how to contact him, so you did the next best thing

wander straight into a camp of holichutls, hoping that he’ll come save you

a purple flash, the swing of a claymore, he appears, teeth bared and ready to fight

he locks eyes with you, then proceeds to storm away, leaving you to chase after him, but he just keeps going forward, not even giving you notice

“Razor! Razor! Stop I know you can hear me!” grasping onto his arm, you try to pull him back

he gives pause at the contact, unused to the soft touches

“Friend is important. You know forest now. Razor not needed.”

You manoeuvre in front of him, stopping him in his tracks

“Not so fast! What do you mean not needed? I’m still one wrong turn away from being a hilichurls dinner! Of course i need you Razor, you’re... we’re lupical, aren’t we?” You smile, hoping to ease his pain, to show him how much he means to you

Stunned by the affection, not many had had the opportunity to get so close to him, to form such a strong, unbreakable bond. the warmth in his chest felt strange. like there was a fire burning inside

“Yes. Lupical. Yes. But Friend not come back. Razors forest. Friend not allowed back.” The seriousness of how says it sends laugher rippling through you. “Whatever you say Razor. As long as you keep me from wondering into hilichurl camps.”

And so the two of you depart, hand in hand, into a forest that feels like home

BENNETT

The ever unlucky adventurer had finally found himself a reliable partner

the joy and sunshine trapped inside your being seemed to counteract any bad luck that came his way

any injuries, you could heal, any obstacles that appeared suddenly in your way, you dealt with them without even breaking a sweat

how lucky could he be?

when no one else was willing to take commissions with him, you were always there, ready and willing to join him on his quests

the two of you quickly formed a strong bond, relying on each other, placing your lives in each other’s hands

the boy was full of energy, always eager to do his best to help you however he could

not a day went by without the two of you sitting side by side, exhausted after a tiring and challenging day

the days were sweet and mellow

soon, the commissions shared between the two of you slowly dwindled

what became a daily thing, became almost weekly. he saw that you were often away with other groups, groups of people that were stronger, luckier than him

had you had enough of his bad luck? had you grown out of him?

you had never shown any irritation towards him, were you trying to let him down gently?

the thoughts plagued his mind, making it difficult to focus on anything, which only exacerbated his bad luck

he didn’t notice the explosive barrels, he truly didn’t

the huge pyro explosion caused dread to pool in his stomach

“Y/N! Y/N!” he shouted through the smoke, desperate for any sign of life, how could he have messed up this badly?

“I’m fine! Don’t worry!” you shout back cheerily, having protected yourself with a cryo shield

He was by your side in an instant, in disbelief that you were truly okay

but, you were definitely going to hate him now, right?

everyone else did. every other fault that occurred was blamed on his bad luck, others unwilling to even look in his direction

was that going to happen with you?

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he feels tears brimming in his eyes, threatening to fall down his smoke covered face “I know you were fed up with me already, but I don’t want this to end! I-I... you’re the only one who’s stayed so long...” The tears really do fall down, hot and heavy down his cheeks

before he can get rid of them himself, your soft hand rises to his face, delicately wiping them away

“Oh Bennet, I haven’t been very thoughtful recently, have I? I wanted it to be a surprise! And surprises need mora... it’s your birthday coming up soon! That only happens once every 4 years! So I wanted it to be special,” his eyes widen at your words, you-you were doing all this for him?

“I’m not going to spoil the surprise, but I promise you it’ll be worth it!” You grin wide, wanting oh so badly to tell him, but knowing the surprise will blow him away

The grin is infectious, he feels his own face breaking out into a smile

how did he get so lucky?

“You don’t have to...I-I mean, if you want to-ill be there. I ju-just...” suddenly nervous and bashful, could he be so bold as to ask for more of your time?

scrunching his eyes shut, he summons all his courage, voice coming from the depth of his soul, “I want to go on adventures with you! That’s the most important thing to me!” Face as hot as his flames, he doesn’t want to open his eyes, fearful of your reaction

Soft giggles erupt form you at his abrupt confession, how could you ever say no to him?

Taking his hands in yours, you make a promise that is sure to quell his bad luck forever more

[ping-ping-ying]

Xiao with a daughter (headcanon)

Note: Xiao with a little girl brings my heart so much joy. She would be such a daddy's girl and it would make him the happiest boy in the world.

Right off the bat, this little would want for nothing

Even though Xiao wants his child to earn what she wants, he just can't help but to spoil her rotten

Whether it be with love and affection, or agreeing to her crazy requests

Head pats are his way of showing affection

He hugs his child don't get me wrong, but head pats are his to go to

Nothing makes your child happier than to receive a head pat from Xiao

When she was walking with Xiao one day in Qingce, she spotted an Anemo slime

Xiao was ready to destroy the creature, the girl ran towards it squealing about how cute it was

"Come back! What are you doing?!"

She ignored him and plopped herself right on top of the slime

The slime started to float, making her giggle with excitement

Meanwhile Xiao was on the verge of a mental breakdown

"Daddy look I'm flying!"

The slime eventually floated back down, and Xiao grabbed her

He pointed his spear at the slime about to attack but she begged him to stop

The slime bounced his way over to the girl and stayed there

She rubbed the creature, making it purr in delight

"Daddy can we-"

"No."

"But daddy I promise I'll take care of it!"

"No."

"Daddy!"

He saw how the slime was practically glued by her side

And seeing how he didn't sense any ill will in the creature towards the child, Xiao sighed deeply

"Fine, but the minuet it tries to harm you, is the day it's going to die."

"Yay! Thank you so much daddy! I love you so much!"

You thought it was adorable how an anemo slime of all slimes decided to get attached to your child

Mr. Floaty

Sorry but that's the name she gave the slime

She gets bullied in school for being too naive and clumsy, even though she's only five years old

Some even bullied her for her strange looks

She wasn't a vision holder, but she was half adeptus, so it was only natural for her to inherit Xiao's looks

When Xiao saw her crying her eyes out one day with Mr. Floaty, he demanded that she tell him what caused her to be upset

And she did

XIAO IS OUT FOR BLOOD

It took HOURS of convincing him that he can't kill a group of children

He claimed that they must be possessed by an evil spirit, and thats why those children would be so cruel

But you explained that it's the way humans are no matter what age

Of course Xiao wasn't going to kill a couple kids (or would he 😳) but he definitely wanted something to be done

The best you could do was talk to the parents of the children but Xiao wasn't having that

Bed time stories are a rare occurrence, but every now and then Xiao will tell the girl a bedtime story

His favorite story to tell is the day he met you

He would pick her fresh Qixing flowers, and gather crystal cores to make her a flower crown whenever she was upset

Because that little girl is royalty in Xiaos eyes

So why not make sure she knows it?

The crowns are terribly made but he poured his heat and soul into it

Besides she's 5, so she thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world

Secretly keeps all the presents Xiao gives to her 🥺

Rainy days are the best days

Your daughter and Xiao would cuddle by the window, covers draped over them, hot cocoa on the table, and would watch the rain as be played the flute

The little girl prayed to Barbatos everyday to be blessed with vision of anemo like her father

After a couple of months of proving that she is worthy of a vision, of her dying passion, she was blessed with the vision of anemo

Xiao was U N P R E P A R E D

The girl would destroy a lot of things because she didn't know how to control her vision

Which made Xiao agitated

Her choice of weapon would be a claymore because she finds it difficult to handle

Girl loves challenges

Xiao didn't mind play dates with other girls that lived in Liyue Harbor

But when he found out that his child was alone with a boy on a play date-

Xiao.exe has stopped working

You had explained that the boy was her friend from school

But Xiao didn't care about him being her friend

It was the fact that she was ALONE with a boy that was making him furious

But as always, he calmed down once he saw the two of them playing pirates around the harbor with other children

As I stated in my previous Xiao with a kid headcanon, he comes of harsh and cold to his kid without even realizing it

The way her eyes water up, and her lip quivers as she's trying her best not to cry after Xiao yelled at her

BROKE 👏🏽 HIS 👏🏽HEART👏🏽

Would most likely vanish somewhere for a day or two, ashamed at his behavior

His daughter gave him the silent treatment when he returned

It doesn't take much convincing for a five year old to forgive someone but among the many things she inherited from Xiao, his stubbornness was the worst of all

After a week of being ignored, he brought her to the top of Wangshu Inn and placed a Dandelion he picked from Monsdat into her hands as a form of an apology

She has never seen one, so she freaked out and forgave him right then and there

"Close your eyes and make a wish."

"What did you wish for?"

"It won't come true if I tell you!"

PIGGY BACK RIDES ARE A MUST

Xiao finds it annoying, but never turns her down when she asks

Never turns down to take a nap with her, even if he ever falls asleep

"Can I have a baby brother?"

You and Xiao choked on air, and gave the girl a look of shock

"Uhhh-"

"...."

"I want a baby brother so much! Everyone else has a sibling and I don't...."

"That's a big decision, me and your father would have to agree on the decision together."

"Well then agree."

"I-"

"...."

She sneaks out one day with a group of friends to seek out a hilichurl camp

When they find one, all hell breaks loose

Xiao hasn't been training her, but surprisingly she is quite talented with using her vision

She's winging it 100%

A hilichurl ends up giving the girl a cut on her arm, one that caused blood to start pouring out

That didn't stop her from fighting

She got beat up pretty badly, while her friends decided to ditch her

All it took was a scream of his name for him to appear in front of her

YAKSHA MODE AND DAD MODE IS ACTIVATED

Kills every creature in the camp

Then tends to his wounded child

LECTURES THE FUCK OUT OF THE GIRL about how stupid she was for doing something so dangerous

It made her happy that she was able to take out a couple hilichurls

Xiao stopped ranting and froze when he saw the smile on her face

A smile of victory

She ignored Xiao the entire way back, still reflecting how cool she was using her vision

She also gave a little surprise to all the kids who abandoned her (she beat up all their asses)

After that, Xiao followed her everywhere she went while he was staying in town

She knew he was following her, but that still didn't stop her from doing reckless things for fun

Help him please

-ping ping

-10/30/21 1:01pm

[lunaastoir]

fluff/relationships w the liyue crew

characters included: xiao, childe, beidou, and zhongli

ik i forgot ningguang i promise i’ll include her in part 2, i just didn’t have time :(

all x a gn! reader 

my liyue babies :,) ft. ningguang in spirit

an: i was listening to my soft playlist (more like listening to cupid’s chokehold on repeat, no i am not basic 🔪) and i thought some fluff headcanons would be cute w these sweet people

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

xiao

ok so no surprise that he hates liyue harbor

he hates anything w a lot of people in it so he prefers to stay at wangshu inn tyvm

but by contrast, you love liyue harbor sm (it’s gorgeous i mean c’mON)

you go there often to retrieve your commissions in order to stay closer to xiao (liyue harbor is closer than mondstadt he argues but you’re well aware that they’re both equally far away)

so if anyone asked, xiao would absolutely refuse to go to the harbor like i hate people??? why would you even ask???

but,,,he’s so sOFT for you

if you asked??? he would agree in a heartbeat

but since he’s >:( angsty boy, he makes you think that he won’t go even when he’s already decided that he’s coming w you

he puts up the “if you so require, then i guess i will assist you with your travels in liyue harbor” but in reality he would definitely have said yes even without the almond tofu

while he hates the harbor, he thinks that with you anything is bearable :,) simp

you take him to see xinyan to vibe w her music and you can tell he really enjoys it

even tho he’s like 🕴 the entire time, you see the softer look on his face and the very slight smile on his lips as he listens to the music and watches the crowd

so so so cute very soft for him

i do see him as a subtly touchy person in public like brushing the hair off your face, swiping his thumb across your cheek, or gently pulling your hair back when you have a plate of food in your hands 

the type to link your pinkies together - he claims it’s so you don’t get lost but yk better 

after the concert is done you take him to that one waypoint near mt. tianheng and the both of you just watch the city lights and the way they reflect beautifully on the water surrounding the harbor 

personal headcanon that xiao absolutely loves stargazing since he believes the stars are the one true constant in his life especially since he’s experienced so much loss (basically they’ll never leave him god i hate myself why do i make everything SAD)

mini headcanon off of that - he doesn’t stargaze with people,,, like ever 

it’s something he loves to do alone so the fact that he lets you stargaze w him and even allows you to shift your head onto his lap while you watch the sky is a huge deal 

he loves it when you softly whisper abt how your day was or something you saw that made you laugh 

he just loves hearing your voice, it automatically calms the voices in his head 

you absolutely ADORE when he has flowers in his hair especially cecilias (cecillias? ceccillias? idfk) and you make a point whenever you go to mondstadt to pick a fresh batch of cecilias just for xiao while enlisting the help of your favorite bard  

these soft moments on the mountain are usually when you’ll sweetly tuck in a flower or two in his hair while laughing 

he’ll blush fiercely while looking away but will tuck the cecilias in securely as you’re unable to do so due to the position you’re in on his lap

all in all - this was not meant to come out as a date idea but we’re going w it 

this is so cute xiao pls let me put flowers in your hair sweet boy <3

childe

god, loml, my favorite war criminal after eren yeager 

there’s never a dull moment w this man - if you wanted peace and quiet, why the hell are you dating him bestie???

is the type of person to yell out “Y/N, i can’t believe i ran into you here!” if he sees you somewhere even tho you explicitly told him you were going to be here in the morning (ik you have a good memory ajax don’t lie to me 😐)

i don’t see him as being obnoxious w pda unlike someone else kaeya but he would definitely participate (think: handholding, cheek kisses, an arm around your shoulders)

loves it when he comes home and sees you in an apron cooking 

domesticity just makes his heart melt so you can be sure that your face will be peppered w a lot of kisses afterwards <3 

absolutely ADORES it when you trace his scars absentmindedly when you’re lying down or even when you’re having dinner in public  

he’s been far from his family for so long that small acts of mindless affection like this really make his heart happy 

you have him drunk on your love luv haha see what i did there 

he will let you put makeup on him. no i do not take criticism ⛄️

he already has on lowkey thick eyeliner,,, don’t be shy put some more bestie 

he will shamelessly go out in public w whatever you made him wear - doesn’t really give a shit even tho he has a reputation to maintain 

speaking of reputation,,, yk his mask? yeah that one - the red hair accessory that he has on his head

well on the mask, he attached a little charm the both of you got together on your first date during lantern rite 

it’s this adorable fox that we all shamelessly kill for meat and he placed it so it anchored to the side of his mask so when he fights it isn’t a nuisance or anything (does that make sense??? i hope it does) 

his subordinates notice and while they’re stoic around childe, behind closed doors they do whisper abt the mysterious person who’s captured his heart 

not so mysterious anymore when they literally see him cling onto you during his daily patrol around the harbor 💀

it’s ok tho he’s lucky he’s cute 

bestie,,, pls give him a neck massage 

i just KNOW he’s tense there idk something abt the way he carries himself just screams “my neck hurts so bad someone pls help me i would ask but my pride literally will not let me”

so give him a neck massage :) don’t worry tho he’ll definitely return the favor and then some

LOVES TICKLE FIGHTS 

he’s obsessed w them,,, it’s just the faces you make??? he can’t get enough 

he loves seeing the pure joy and the brief fear (he’s kind of a sadist) in your eyes before he attacks you w those damned hands 

it reminds him a lot of simpler times w his siblings and he’s happy he brings you joy and makes you forget your worries - at least for a little while 

all in all, he’s a good boy and no i will not tolerate childe slander 🔪 kaeya slander tho 😏

beidou

you pulled beidou??? wow everyone’s jealous (pulled as in literally from the banner and in this context but no i do not have beidou and no i definitely do not want to talk abt it)

god made beidou and zhongli just so all of us could have a sexuality crisis 

anyways, being w her is hard i will not lie 

not bc she isn’t a capable lover - no, quite the contrary 

she’s an amazing partner but the problem here lies in the fact that she’s almost never on land 

it’s hard working a long distance relationship but y’all love each other so it works out :,) 

when she is physically present however, expect to never be bored 

she’ll quietly fix the wrinkles on your shirt or fiddle with your fingers in her hands while she recounts her adventures out on sea 

she sometimes gets worried she bores you, however the way your eyes light up every time she tells a tale always reassures her otherwise

definitely the type to let you use her claymore if you want to learn 

she’ll provide useful tips as she tucks her hands into your sides gently, positioning you correctly so you don’t hurt yourself 

miss girl is an AMAZING cook 

i just know she cooks the best meals - i mean she’s friends w xiangling after all 

whenever she comes home from a voyage she’ll always insist on making something for you even if she’s abt to pass out 

pls tuck her into bed and promise her that she can make you something in the morning <3 the poor woman needs rest 

brings you back trinkets but they’re actually very practical 

she knows you won’t have much use for a simple charm (not that there’s anything wrong w that) but she believes you’ll like something practical more so she might get you a new engraved knife from the most recent place she’s been to 

definitely the type to surprise you when she docks 

i can imagine her anchoring her ship out a little ways from liyue harbor and rowing to the dock in order to make sure you aren’t alerted of her presence (i’m sorry the mental picture this made in my mind is SENDING ME INTO ORBIT but she means well i love you)

will take you to remote spots she’s found in her travels through liyue 

for example - the little heart shaped island and the island quest (?) that you had to use kaeya the bridge maker for in order to get to im sorry i’ll stop w the kaeya slander

she’ll get you seashell bracelets or necklaces idk why but she gives me those vIBES 

they’re super nice ones too, only the highest quality for you 

yes she’s a bruh girl but i also see her as someone who would enjoy intimate moments like watching the sunset or something 

“yo wanna catch the sunset, i heard it looks sick from the jade chamber” said before ahem it yk fell from the sky

kasdjksfashfjsahf yes ofc i would love to catch the sunset w you pls come home luv

anyways, she is a woman i would give the world for 

zhongli

ok gimme a sec i need to get my gentleman mode on 

this man,,, THIS MAN 

everything w him is so soft like your entire eXISTENCE w him could go in a museum it’s that beautiful 

in the morning when he visits you, he always brings you a cup of your favorite tea and a bouquet of glaze lilies he got from madame ping

holds the door for you, pushes the chair out for you, uses a napkin and brushes sauce off your lips when you’re eating - you name something sweet, he’s done it

secretly loves it when you fuss over him 

he doesn’t like to fight but say he encountered a group of hillichurls he couldn’t avoid and promptly defeated them but ended up tearing a part of his tux(?) (is it a tux? i could not tell you)

not that big of a deal, i mean it’s a scratch, he’s a 6,000 year old god, he’s dealt w much worse 

but seeing the worried crease in your brows as you usher him to sit at the table while quickly grabbing antiseptic to clean his wound

“it’s just a scratch, my dear. do not worry i’ve dealt with much worse.”

you quietly protest abt how “yes zhongli, i understand you’re an archon and have gotten worse injuries but i’m worried about infection just please let me take care of you ok? <3″ 

when you say that he feels weird emotions,,, wdym take care of him? 

he’s always taken care of himself or been expected to take care of others as the former ruling deity of liyue so having someone else genuinely worry abt his wellbeing creates a warm feeling in his chest 

he strikes me as the type to knit you something??? idk maybe it’s the grandpa vibes but i headcanon that he would knit you a scarf for the colder weather, it’s cute 

in the privacy of your home, he really likes picking you up

he loves it when you wrap your legs around his middle while he gets up to go do the dishes or smthg 

domesticity go brrrr

if you’re into making flower crowns, he would totally have you on his lap and wordlessly hand you a glaze lily whenever you expectantly hold your hand out while weaving the flowers together 

he expects you to make the crown for yourself but when you place the crown on his head and it fits perfectly while simultaneously tucking a glaze lily behind your ear, he looks at you dumbstruck 

his mouth parts open in awe and it’s quite literally the cutest thing

you’ve broken him 

thinks it’s the sweetest thing - will keep it on his head for the whole day 

he’ll even put it in water before he sleeps so it won’t wilt and he can wear it the next day <3 

scenic picnics!! scenic picnics!! 

the type to take you to the nicest spots in liyue to chat abt the history of the land w you over a cup of tea and your favorite food (whatever you like, he doesn’t mind)

recounts the people he’s met in his long life before finishing off by saying you’re by far the best person he’s met 

zhongli strangles lovingly come home soon 

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

[rinzis]

what your favourite genshin impact character says about you: no holding back edition

i’m finally allowed to post again!!! great joy

aether/lumine: you’re basic as hell sorry . also stop fighting over who the better twin is they’re literally the same person but different genders. you’re pretty fun to be around ig but i feel like you eat food off the floor. 5 second rule not 5 hour rule ok

amber: ok i’ve actually met a bunch of people whose fav is amber and you guys are actually really sweet but pls learn when to stfu you’re so loud . also you guys go feral whenever someone (everyone else in the fandom) says amber sucks like chill bae

kaeya: jesus fucking christ your horny is off the scale. every kaeya stan i’ve ever met cant keep it in their pants. and we know the only reason you like him is bc of his giga bouncer supreme ultra man rack 3000. stop saying you want him to smother you with his tits. get some help.

lisa: YOU GUYS ARE COOL AS HELL!!!!!! as someone who relates to lisa you’re very cool. most chill people to be around and you’re definitely super smart. not lazy but just reserved. 11/10. oh btw do you use her for climbing?

diluc: do you have daddy issues? you guys definitely have a thing for the tsundere archetype and you probably like zhongli too. just admit you want diluc to do the kabedon thing on you and move on. we know what you’re like. also how does it feel being so short? i swear every diluc stan is small as hell

jean: YOU GUYS are so sweet pls whenever i play co op with a jean main it’s just like wow you’re so strong and nice and thanks for healing my entire team wow........ however although you’re so responsible you probably enjoy cancelling people on twitter for fun . sorry

venti: VENTI STANS. I LOVE YOU. is it partially because i myself am a huge venti stan? yeah no. you probably missed out on his first banner and are saving for his rerun..... same......... anyways you guys give off the best vibes n it’s always so fun to be with you. i love you all

razor: i have one question for you guys . did you either like warrior cats or were you a wolf kid?

albedo: you guys are so smart wtf !!!!!!!!! you’re so rational in co op mode too and if you have albedo you probably use him as a sub dps for your teammates bc you’re so good at reading situations........ then again you also have some weird shit going on like cmon it’s milk after cereal you psychopaths

sucrose: you either kin sucrose or are creepy sorry . ok but she’s so underrated like her passive 3........ WOAH.............. you definitely use her in spiral abyss,,, also are you a burnout successful kid who used to kiss teachers’ asses and middle school was a breeze before getting to college/university and realising that professors don’t give a shit anymore? wow who would have guessed

diona: wannabe catgirls assemble! please move on from your warrior cats phase you’re almost as bad as the razor stans but you’re adorable too. you probably want qiqi or klee but don’t have them so you’re settling for diona

barbara: thanks for healing my team in co op barbara stans !!!! you guys are genuinely so nice omg thank you for being so reliable all the time,,, do you highlight your notes so it’s more art than notes? yeah that’s what i thought

mona: ok if no one else is gonna say it i will,,, no one understands shit about your astrology thing going on. i’m a caprisun? great

bennett: YOURE ALL ADORABLE. thanks for helping us out in co op!!!! you definitely advocate for bennett rights and yes pls do,,,, we all love benny deep down!!!! you either don’t have him or have him at like C218372

fischl: jojo stans

just kidding but you all probably act like fischl irl. also did you have an emo phase

klee: ok if your favourite is klee you definitely don’t have her . waiting patiently for klee’s rerun!!!! shes just so adorable and so are you guys,,,,, so fun to be around !!!!! you probably have diluc and hate him

noelle: you guys....... the rarest of the rare. you love trying to convince people that she’s a great healer dps n everything else...... no bae you probably use her because you like geo and claymores like hmm yes i will now hit things hard with my big sword and rock power

ok onto liyue now sweats nervously

childe: you guys are ALL simps. ALL OF YOU. go n touch some grass bro!!!!! you either think he’s super sexy or you bully him and make the ed sheeran jokes (not funny) . you follow griffin burns on tiktok too dont you

zhongli: you either love him for his gentle demeanour or you want him for his fat giga dumptruck 3000. make up your minds!!!!! you guys are so clueless in co op mode but you’re hilarious. you probably have his energy recharge at like 200% so you can use his ult and hear I WILL HAVE ORDER every 4 seconds

xiao: STOP GROWLING AT PEOPLE. every xiao main is so aggressive not joking . yeah the only reason you saved for him is because you want to stare at him all day n listen to him growling . you guys genuinely scare me . no he would not hold ur hand and do cute things with you,,,,,, if given half the chance he’d probably decapitate you

ningguang: alright jeff bezos, hand over the cash. yeah so you’re either rolling in it or want to be her sugar baby. but you guys have such an intimidating aura like playing with ning mains is just .... you always build her so well she’s an absolute tank!!!!!! thanks for scaring the shit out of me but also protecting me

beidou: YOU GUYS. you’re fun to be around but i also feel like you could probably destroy me in 3 seconds flat !!!!!!!! do you hate diluc too? i love playing with you guys because all i hear is TO ASHES every 2 seconds and she’s just cool as hell so yeah i really like beidou stans. i feel like you all have her so congrats

qiqi: you’re so cute,,,,, best healer !!!! you probably love playing qiqi because her skills look so cool and you prefer playing heal/support,, if you don’t have her you just love her bc she’s so tiny . spoiler alert but do you have a thing against xiao for killing her lol

xiangling: you’re so chaotic help,, you definitely pair her with xinyan too because you give off the most uncontrollable vibes,,,,,,, did you level her to use her in the spiral abyss or do you just think polearms are neat and don’t have xiao or zhongli

xinyan: please reread xiangling paragraph but replace polearm with claymore . you like either bring me the horizon or bubblegum pop there’s no in between

chongyun: you’re all the nicest people ever and you’re so chill . you love chongyun with your whole hearts and i adore you !!!!!! the animation of him eating the popsicle melts your hearts (no pun intended) and you just think he’s really cool :( ily all

xingqiu: chongyun vibes but make it kinda unnerved . burnout successful kids 2.0 ,,,,, are you clever too? you also love xingqiu and believe he’s worthy of being a 5 star with his heal and damage reduce !!!!! he’s so helpful wtf and so are you . please stop going on about his legs though it’s highkey weird asf

keqing: COOL PERSON SYNDROME! i main this gal so i love you all . do you get as mad as i do when people say she doesn’t deserve to be a 5 star? yeah . are you a procrastinator and try and take lessons from keqing but are just so lazy? do you use her teleport because you can’t be bothered to climb mountains? yeah that’s what i thought

ganyu: you’re all the nicest people alive and i adore you all . thanks for being so kind in co op mode . every ganyu main i’ve met is so sweet and you’re all so powerful too woah....... you hate the cocogoat jokes too >:( pls mihoyo give her more attention !!!!!

scaramouche: you have rights guys we know you exist. also we know you want him to be playable. we know that you think his hat is neat. we know you love this shawty but please be quiet.

signora: wait you guys exist

hu tao: you prank people for fun like pls stop im so on edge when youre around . plus i feel you laugh at videos of babies falling over n shit,,,,,,, you cant wait for her banner but also please shut the fuck up

dainsleif: please leave me the fuck alone we did 1 (one) quest with him and you’re all obsessed with him . ok second hand dmitri from fire emblem you want a medal for being a fucking simp?

[suna-rinn]

smut- bottom!tartaglia x reader

warnings: um... smut

kinks: orgasm denial, mommy, mild humiliation and dumbification

*note: what have i done*

———————————————————————

it was really starting to aggravate you.

“come on, just fight me, [name]! for all we know, you could beat me. don’t be so uptight.” childe said, for the fifth time this goddamn day.

“tartaglia-“ you said before being rudely interrupted,

“nuh-uh, girlie. we’ve talked about this, call me childe.” he said, LITERALLY placing a finger on your lips to silence you.

you’d had enough.

“you know what, fine. i’ll fight you.” you said, sighing.

then an idea popped into your head.

you turned back around, facing childe, who seemed to be overflowing with joy.

“however,” you smirked. “on one condition.”

he seemed to deflate a little, as if disappointed that it took a TERM to make you fight him.

“fine. what is it, [name]?”

you leaned in close to his ear, whispering, “if i win, i can do anything i want with you.”

his eyes darkened, clouded with an emotion you couldn’t discern.

“alright.”

———————————————————————

so this was the famous golden house. you longed to grab the mora and just leave, but if you won, you could get something much better.

you sighed, looking at childe, who was standing in the middle of the floor.

“you sure you wanna do this, fatui boy?” you asked, grabbing the red and black claymore from your back, your pyro vision gleaming on your hip.

“oh, sweetheart, i’d want nothing more.” he grinned. “i’m sure you’ll be a worthy opponent nonetheless, so...”

he stepped farther back, covering himself in a bubble to activate his ‘delusion.’

you scoffed. “relying on outside powers to beat just me? how pathetic.”

you rushed forward, swinging your claymore with one hand, only to be met with his water blades.

“goodness, you’re fast.” you said. “however...” his face grew into confusion at the singular word you uttered, before you swung your leg around, launching yourself off the ground to gain height and slam your leg down on his shoulder, causing him to crumple.

“you’re not fast enough.” you stood over the crumpled childe, claymore blazing, tip pointed at his neck.

“was that all it took to beat the legendary harbinger? you’re not going to unleash this ‘foul legacy’ i’ve heard of?” you inquired, seemingly bored.

childe smirked, bringing his head closer to the point of the claymore. “nah, i think that’d take too much out of me for whatever my punishment is. you didn’t even use your vision much, either... how disappointing that you’re unwilling to join the fatui.”

“not disappointing, pretty boy, i just don’t want to be under a psychopathic god for the rest of my life, or deal with the tiny so called ‘balladeer’ i’ve been hearing of. now, strip.” you said casually, glancing at him.

he thought he heard you wrong.

“sorry, repeat that last sentence again?” he said, a bit meeker than usual.

“oh? i thought we agreed that you’d do anything if i won? strip.” you sneered at him. “i’d love to see the bothersome brat who’s been annoying me for the last month shake at my feet.”

———————————————————————

this wasn’t what childe expected as a punishment. he was thinking more along the lines of buying you expensive clothing, or running errands.

not being teased by your mouth as he sat naked on the floor of the golden house.

“mnh.... please... please let me cum...” he begged.

you released his cock from your mouth, glancing at him as he groaned in disappointment.

“oh? did i not say that i wanted to see you shake at my feet? this is your punishment for being a nuisance, tartaglia.”

was it wrong that that sentence turned him on more?

you’d been teasing him endlessly for the past hour, always getting him so, so close to cumming but always starting right before. he couldn’t take it anymore.

“well, i suppose if you’re that desperate...” you scoffed. “beg.”

childe whimpered, pride all gone out the window as he squirmed, whispering, “please... mommy, please, please fuck me. let me cum, please, i promise i’ll be good.”

you laughed, finally giving in. while you removed your clothes, you could nearly feel his eyes tracing over your figure. you walked toward him, eventually straddling him.

he sucked in a deep breath as he felt you slide your folds open, ensuring that it was wet enough, finally lowering yourself down onto his cock.

“beg. again. or i won’t move at all.” you leered.

“please, please, please, i’ll do anything, please mommy fuck me hard, make me cum.” he pleaded.

who were you to deny?

you started moving up and down, gradually picking up the pace as you say his eyes rolling into the back of his head, cheeks flushed, blabbering nonsense.

and right as he was about to cum, you stood up, grabbing your clothes and walking away.

“wh- what are you-“

“awww, childe... did you forget the part where i said it was a punishment? meet me at noon for lunch tomorrow yeah? you’re paying.” you sent him a peace sign as you finished putting on your clothes, and ended your sentence with,

“have fun taking of your little problem, sweetheart.”

[kyogre-blue]

Dragonspine lore

Just gathering all this in one place, for my reference.

Information about the Frostbearing Tree, from the Frostbearer catalyst:

When the daughter of the priestess of Vindagnyr was born beneath this white tree, the king in the verdant mountain was filled with joy when she received her blessings. Surely, the blessing of Sal Vindagnyr would be everlasting, just as the undying silver-white tree whose roots pierced the earth.

When the nail that froze the world descended suddenly, and that tree, too, would be shattered by it, that girl took the most complete branch, thinking to breathe new life into the tree that once overshadowed a nation.

But in the end, the grafted life could not flourish. The cutting snowstorm eventually covered the moonlight like a curtain of countless blades...

A long, long time later, yet still long ago - when the deathmatch between the dragons of darkness and wind was decided at last, when corrosive blood stained the ashen valley red, the tree, at last, remembered that it had not died with that entombed city,

And it extended its greedy roots towards the warm ichor that irrigated the land. And as a certain someone poured a crimson essence upon it, the tree that should have long died remembered its past, and bore a single fruit from the gathering of all its might...

Here for those who dwelt in my safe shadow, for the priests who eulogized me, for that lovely maiden who oft painted upon my form, for all the happiness they could not possess - I enjoin them all into this crimson, icy fruit.

To the ones who can render recompense upon this poisonous world shall it go, and may they carry my innocent, bitter fruit as they enact justice.

To summarize: Long before Durin, the Dragonspine was called Sal Vindagnyr. It was a prosperous, verdant kingdom that worshipped a Leyline tree. However, one day the Skyfrost Nail fell from the sky, breaking the tree and engulfing the mountain in perpetual ice. The last princess of the kingdom had preserved a single branch from the tree, which lay dormant until the mountain was tainted by Durin's blood. Absorbing the tainted blood, the former silver Leyline branch sprouted into a crimson Frostbearing Tree...

The Ancient Writings on the tablets:

"...far from snow and strife, and came upon this verdant paradise. A monument was laid down in this place, and it was named Sal Vind[agnyr]..."

"...guided to where the pale white tree stood. That month, the underground waterway..."

"...dreamed of the black dragon that blotted down the sun, and knew it to be an omen of doom. That same month, the outlander..."

"...its soul, and Starsilver its bones. But the one who could wield it, the ice-breaking outlander, Imunlau[kr]..."

"...attempted to heal the Leylines, but the tree had already withered. After burying the princess..."

"...without result or reply, Varuch proceeded on to the summit..."

"...snow whipped across the skies. The pillar that fell from the heavens was riven in three..."

"...ended. There is no more need for records. Yet I regret nothing more than having been unable to watch her finish the fresco within that great hall..."

To summarize: The people of Sal Vindagnyr tried to stop the perpetual snowstorm, including the king (named Varuch) heading to the summit himself. However, only an outlander named Imunlaukr was able to wield the Starsilver weapon they forged for this. He was too late, and the princess had already died. Somewhere along the way, the Skyfrost Nail was split into three pieces, which is how we find it.

From Snow-Tombed Starsilver, the claymore in question:

Tainted black blood dripped from the blade of his greatsword, as he trudged through now-foreign snowy paths.

But when he returned to the great hall of that mountain country, naught but ringing deathly echoes welcomed him.

"So even here, there is nothing left for me to protect... You who dwell in the heavens, you must wish for naught but to watch our ashen suffering here below. In that case, then let me help you pass the time with a song of iron and blood."

The outlander left the Starsilver originally meant to shatter snow and wind alike between the frescoes. Then, he descended the mountain to search for a land full of war and strife - a place he might paint red with blood.

Note that the Imunlaukr clan is also mentioned in the Sacrificial Greatsword description. They were a clan that sought battle in the belief that it would amuse the gods and joined the new Mondstadt that Venti created after Andrius melted the ice across the region. Interesting point: This is also the description that says, "On the cliff facing the eastern sea, the ancestors worshiped the masters of Time and Anemo together." It also again brings up "brave warriors stained black with blood."

Purely speculating, Sal Vindagnyr was probably BEFORE the rebellion in Old Mondstadt (they are mentioned fleeing "snow and strife" to settle in Vindagnyr, which sounds like Mondstadt pre-Andrius unfreezing it and the Archon Wars, respectively). So the founding clan perhaps picked up these traditions of "fight for Celestia's amusement" from this specific dude after he left Dragonspine.

There's also this image of the inner chamber and the frescoes that the princess had been painting, which I saved from a tweet that doesn't seem to exist anymore (not mine):

Completely irrelevant small point: The eight letters outside the great hall which you have to make light up spell "veremini," which wiktionary tells me is second-person plural present active indicative or imperative of "vereor," which means "to revere" or "to dread."

Aside from this, there is a series of Ruin Guard remains which spell out, "For the nation, we can't forgo this skyborne power, but we failed." We know the Ruin Guards were created by Khaenri’ah, so they were probably sent to retrieve the Skyfrost Nail after Sal Vindagnyr had fallen but were unable to make it through the ice and snow. 

Most of this isn't particularly relevant to the main storyline, but there are two points that link back to the ongoing themes:

Even though this was before the Cataclysm, Gold, and Durin, Imunlaukr fought something with "tainted black blood," so the whole business with tainting is OLD. Gold wasn't the origin as such, they just used it. Imunlaukr particularly seems to have thought that going the Abyss (assumed) might have some answers re: the Skyfrost Nail.

Both the Frostbearing Tree and Imunlaukr consider what happened to Sal Vindagnyr to be unjust, and Celestia's fault. Now, this might be just their bitterness at what feels like meaningless suffering, but it could also be that the Skyfrost Nail didn't fall on them accidentally. (AKA Khaenri'ah was not the first or only case of human nations getting slapped down by the divine.)

[hyrule-kingdom-updates]

Can we get some spare Launo headcannons for July?

Launo sucked big time at knight school when he first arrived—he didn’t exactly have any background help given no one in his family was a knight either. He was basically assigned the equivalent of “equipment manager” during the first few months. And when he did get proper actions with a broadsword or a bow, Launo struggled with footwork and precision and all the minute details of a duel so he often got his ass handed to him.

But one the top kids in Launo’s class thought he was cool anyways—that was, one Arcadius Hartell. Pretty, rich, ace with sword, bow, spear, and anything sharp, and pretty much had no flaws or weaknesses. Launo at first thought the guy was just pitying him, the kid who has never won a single sparring match and consistently put on training dummy duty (that is reattaching their heads when they got lopped off)

So it came as a bit of a surprise when Arcadius came to ask something from him.

“How do you do that?”

Launo turned from the training dummy he was working on. “S-Sorry, what?”

“The...the thing you do. With the...thing?” Arcadius pointed to the needle and thread Launo was holding as he was reattaching the dummy’s forearm. “How do you do that?”

Launo scrunched his eyebrows in confuzzlement. “This is, uh, well. It’s just sewing I guess. If this guy were real I guess it would be stitching, haha...” He patted the dummy’s wood shoulder playfully as if joking with a pal—the dummy immediately tipped over, Launo coughed and stepped in front of the mess to ignore it. Arcadius nodded thoughtfully.

“So, do you have a special technique or something?”

“I mean, not really, it’s just regular old sewing...”

“But I assume you’ve spent years training on the art.”

“I...uh...I guess? My mom taught me.”

“Oh! So it’s like...an apprenticeship...?”

“...Are you under the impression that sewing is some sacred gift that gets passed down to the worthy or something?”

“.........no....”

The two boys just stood awkwardly for a moment longer, Launo studying Arcadius’ face.

“You don’t even know what sewing is do you?”

“O-Of course I do! It’s the...thing.” He made a sword motion with his fingers, as if wielding a tiny blade. “You stab the stuff and it repairs. With the...” Arcadius squinted as he thought for a moment, “...stool...”

“Spool?”

“Yeah! That! So, look, you’re pretty skilled at everything—“

“I am??” Launo took a step back in shock.

“Yeah! You always fix the equipment, and somehow haul around all those weapons, and make us cool lunches—“

“I don’t know, I made Rubeo vomit last week cause I forgot he hates blueberries...”

Arcadius shook his hands. “N-Not the point. And he sort of deserves it. The fact is you’re obviously leagues ahead of the game—“

“I—Actually I wouldn’t say—“

“—so you just gotta teach me everything you know!” Arcadius pumped a fist and closed his eyes. “How could I ever call myself a knight if I don’t even learn the basics of equipment management! Who will mend the wounded holes in my soldier’s pride if I can’t even fix the tears in my uniform! A mountain’s peak is equivalent to the shallow shore if you have no bearing of the heights you soar.”

Launo blinked. “Are you...okay?”

Arcadius scratched his head. “Aha...sorry. That’s a quote from Aria Nori’s newest volume. Guess I was too into the moment there.”

“Oh! The Zora poet! I’ve read her stuff! I haven’t read her latest volume, but my dad often binds her books—“

“Really?!” Arcadius’ eyes were suddenly star struck. “That’s so cool! This is all the more reason you gotta teach me this stuff.” He waved again at the collapsed training dummy. “Maybe start with the beetle and thread.”

“Needle. D-Do you not know what a needle is?”

Arcadius’ eyes glazed over. “...no...oh my gods that’s not gonna be on the test is it?? I’m so screwed—“

“Nonono it’s not, I’m just...” Launo bit his tongue. Now that he thought about it, he never really saw anyone else in his class do mundane house chore stuff. They were far too busy sharpening swords and bragging about their parents or grandparents or great uncles or cousins that totally were war heroes and high ranking political figures. Sewing could just be a Hateno thing, could it..?

“Can’t you just hire someone to teach you?” Launo started. “I mean, I’m super flattered! Just that, I’m not exactly a master at this, so I’m sure there are adults out there that are more accomplished.”

Arcadius hung his head. “I don’t think my dad would let me...Pretty much everything not sword related he just hires someone to do for me. And he’s super picky about what training I focus on.”

“Well it’s not really official training, it could just be a hobby.”

The boy raised an eyebrow, sounding out the word. “H...Hob...?”

“O-OK, just forget that. H-How about...” Launo didn’t meet his eyes as he absentmindedly kicked the dirt. “Y-You like poetry, right? You can come over to my house and look at my dad’s collection. And when we’re there, I can let my mom...” He scrunched his eyes, trying to nail down the words, “...apprentice you? On the...art, of sewing?”

Arcadius’ eyes were wide enough to reflect the heavens themselves. “R-Really?? You’d do that??”

“I don’t see why not. It’ll be after call and,” Launo’s eyes suddenly sparked, “...You can just tell your dad that you’re training me! Say that you were asked to help your fellow classmates cause you’re already so far ahead from everyone else.”

Which isn’t exactly a lie, Launo thought, bitterly.

“Hmm...” Arcadius tapped his chin, before shrugging. “Might have to tweak the explanation to ‘getting extra credit for top grades by tutoring’ cause I don’t know how he’ll feel about me helping the competition.” He articulated the last word with a mocking, adulting tone. Then he held out a hand. “But I think it sounds like a deal! I’ll give you some pointers, and you introduce me to your mentor.”

“My mom.”

“Yeah, that.”

Launo shook his hand, still a bit timidly, given he now noticed that a few other boys in the training yard were watching the prodigy student interact with the glorified janitor boy.

So they both tutored each other: Larc, in the art of knowing what sewing magic was (Larc bringing the most expensive and ornate needle Launo had ever seen, even though Larc claimed he just found it in his father’s closet) and brewing delicious broths (“Wait, you have to stand around this pot for hours and cook this stuff?? I thought you just made soup in a bowl! You know, like how servants take off the silver cover on the tray and the soup is already there?” “We...dont have waiters or anything...so our method of cooking different.”) Meanwhile, Launo was able to make some progress with knight training—keyword, “some.”

“Don’t make your stance so wide.” Arcadius shoved Launo’s back foot with his boot. “Keep your feet closer together, you only want enough distance so that your front foot can hover an inch off the ground while your back foot stays planted. Any further, and you’ll topple too easily.”

Launo adjusted his stance as instructed, and readied the rapier again. He set his jaw. “OK. Come at me!”

Arcadius nodded. He picked up the wooden sword and swung (a bit slowly and wide) at Launo’s side.

Launo immediately shoved his rapier point left to counter his attack, but instead moved with such force and vigor that he practically fell onto Arcadius’ blade.

Arcadius chuckled, dropping the sword and helping Launo up again. “You don’t need to use to much force when you swing. In fact it’s better to work with simple quick movements with any rapier or piercing sword, since the damage is done by the tip, not the weight.”

“S-Sorry...” Launo mumbled as he got up again.

“Don’t be! Oh hey!” Arcadius suddenly went back around towards the pile of weapons and pulled out a claymore. “Actually, maybe a sword like this will work better for you! You won’t have to worry as much about holding back, or being finesse. All the power is in that downward swing—!” Arcadius swung the sword into a nearby log to demonstrate, nearly cutting it asunder.

He offered it to Launo. “And don’t let the size fool you, it’s not actually that heavy. Large weapons still need to let soldiers be quick enough to parry and block attacks.”

Launo turned the claymore around in his hands, studying the blade and handle.

Arcadius gestured to the log. “Well, go on! It’s similar to the grip I taught you with the broadsword, but this time you use your other hand in the bottom to support the weight as it turns on an axis. Try that downward swing I showed you!”

Launo paused for a moment, thinking. Then, he planted his foot down, and swung the claymore down with all his might, aiming for another soon-to-be piece of firewood.

The claymore whistled as it fell, and it cut into the log deep—about halfway. Yet, still not nearly as deep as how Arcadius had done it.

Nonetheless, he was hopping with joy for Launo. “That was awesome!! You did great!!”

He sighed as he left the claymore in the log. “No I didn’t...”

“What are you talking about? That was probably the best blow you’ve done all night!”

“Yeah! And it’s not even a quarter of the damage that you did with your swing!”

“Well, it still took me a while to—“

Launo gestured to the other log. “It’s been how many weeks?? And I’m not even CLOSE to being as good as you, much less being a top student...” He plopped into the dirt and laid himself out like a starfish.

Larc stood over him, confused. “Why would you want to be a top student?”

“BECAUSE I SUCK ASS, DUDE!” Launo held up his arms, exasperated. Larc, on instinct, stepped back and held his hands close to his chest as he fiddled with his thumbs and mumbled an apology. Launo immediately sighed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound like I’m mad at you. You’re really great, Link. You’re so nice to me and you’re talented and I’m so grateful, but I’m just...” He shifted in the dirt again. “I don’t think I could ever be like you. I’d even dare to say it’s impossible.”

Larc stilled, playing with his thumbs, before daring to step closer and sit in the dirt beside him.

“Can I tell you a secret, Launo?”

He was quiet, but he nodded a yes.

“I think my brother’s a stronger fighter than me.”

Launo furrowed his eyebrows confused, but he continued.

“He just never takes his knight training seriously, because of my father. But I bet if he really tried, he’d be great at it.”

Ah. So that’s what he meant.

“But I AM trying.” Launo whined. “I guess compared to you it doesn’t seem like much but—!”

“Nono! Sorry that’s not what I meant!” Larc quickly cut in. “I just...” He trailed off.

“...There’s a reason I have to be the best.” Larc finally said. He was looking out into the woods, but Launo felt that he wasn’t really looking at anything in particular, maybe deep in thought. “There’s a reason I can’t settle, I can’t rest. It’s really important that I get this all right. And I guess that makes me admirable to most people but...”

He looked down at Launo, still spread out in the dirt. “I didn’t really choose to be a knight, unlike you. I didn’t actually choose to be the best, and I don’t get why so many people do train to be at the top out of their own violation. It really...sucks ass.” He articulated the last part in Launo’s tone, and they both giggled.

“So...I guess that I’m trying to say here is that...” He thought one his words a moment longer. “I think so many people are afraid of trying new things, because they fear not being the best at it, not being at the top. And I suppose ambition is good but...” He tilted his head and shrugged at Launo. “As someone who’s supposedly at the top, I would say I envy anybody that can make progress that their proud of. You choose to be a knight, and you’re training for it out of your own strength and courage. That’s more than I’ll ever have, so you should probably get off the ground and realize that soon.”

Launo’s eyes widened, a bit unnerved by how uncharacteristically blunt Larc was being.

“In my opinion, anyone that aims to be better than everyone is stupid—maybe that’s just me, but...I would think that if I was you, I’d be proud of any progress I made. If I was more skilled than I was yesterday, that’s really all I would care about. Why would I care about being the top of my class? I would kill to just be satisfied with being a better me.”

There was silence as the boys took in Larc’s words. Then he suddenly stood up. “G-Goddess Hylia, sorry I’ve been talking for so long, I didn’t realize how late it was getting.” He went to collect his things. “You can keep the claymore, I think you’d be great at it, just...”

Larc packed his swords and backpack, before turning back to the flopped out Launo. “...I think you’re really cool, Launo. So don’t tap out for my sake—I’m not the person that matters in your training, am I? So don’t give up for any silly reasons like that.”

Launo perked his head up to meet his gaze. While Arcadius was usually serious and controlled during training at school, Larc always seemed to have genuine excitement about swords when it came to him. The bright smile on his face caused his cheeks to warm and he immediately flipped his head back to hide it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Launo!” Larc ran off into the night, a cobblestone streets in the distance swallowing his figure.

“See you...” Launo whispered.

He lay in the dirt a moment longer—his mother would probably berated him for the stains again—when he finally got up and looked at the claymore in the log. He walked up to it and observed it further, it was another a sixth of the way deep. He glanced at Larc’s log, which was nearly split in two, and sighed. Then he glanced back at his own work.

“Well, it’s better than when I first started I guess...” Launo mumbled.

No one responded.

The boy let out a huff, and gripped the sword again in his hands.

“But I can do better.”

By the time Launo was 16 he was finally beating his classmates with ease, specializing in longswords, axes, and hammers. And while he definitely still “sucked ass” in things like archery and lance work—to which some boys still teased him for—he found overtime that he no longer cared about what they thought. They had their strengths, and he had his. And to top it off, absolutely no one in the academy could make a lemon cookie like him. So at least he had the best in show for that angle.

Even years later, after certain incidents transpired concerning House Hartell, Launo always welcomed Larc to his house for “training.” Although after a while, it would be hard to still call it that when a large chunk of time is really just spent running their fingers through each other’s hair.

“But we’re friends, right?”

“Yeah.”

And even years after graduating as part of the top ten in his class and working as a knight, some of his old classmates would tease him for being the “rich boy’s lap dog,” Launo would find that he still really didn’t care—after a punch or two was thrown, of course. He found that his new lack of anxiety and concern heavily stemmed from that night, when Larc had told him about his envy for choice and satisfaction. Thinking back at the memory of his handling with a sword and his happy little smile once made Launo blush so hard his father teased him about it for the rest of his life—his mother claimed he went so red he would fit right in with the tomato stew. One of these days, Launo would pay Larc back for the endless teasing he got from his parents. And pay Larc back he would, indeed.

I mean, he already had the ring.

[porta-decumana]

A submission for the Soft Starters from @salaka-chan!

“No, sorry, you laughed. I … I never saw it before. It’s — pretty.”

Ope, it started soft but it ventures towards spicy territory.

---

            Kaida was quite certain Tataru was going to have both of their heads if she walked in seeing them duel like this. Deathbringer had been brought out in its blaze of cyan glory and Gaius had thought it appropriate to match her personal blade with his own.  The clang of the claymore against Heirsbane rang through the iced cavern.  They danced a dangerous dance, footwork impeccable, practiced.  How many days had they met here in the solitude of only themselves to exchange blows? She had lost track by now.  Each time their weight was brought against each other, it was cathartic.  Time did not exist outside of their space.  There were no worries.  Only each other and their swords and the sound of their fight.

           Their blades clashed and Kaida saw the opportunity to go for a leg strike. She lashed out with her foot, trying to hook it behind his left knee.  His eyes snapped wide for a moment from the strike, which hobbled him for a moment but did not quite fell him.  Kaida went to bring her sword to his nape but he countered it, knocking the claymore from her hands.  As Deathbringer clattered to the ground, she lunged.  One foot went to his leg.  The other to his scarf, which dislodged at once from his neck.  A bundle curses flew from her mouth as she began to plummet.

           Gaius reached out and grabbed her arm before she could hit the ground. They stared at each other for a moment, Kaida wide-eyed and Gaius failing to hide an amused smirk.  She questioned what was so funny to him.  The fact she had failed?  Or the fact she had almost busted her tail in front of him? Her emerald eyes became slits as she lashed out at his leg again and he collapsed on top of her.  It was not particularly a comfortable landing but she relished in the fact she had downed him.  Even if he was crushing her to death.

           His face was nestled into her collarbone and his entire body shook.  For a moment, she was worried, tilting her head down to try to get a look at him.  And then Gaius picked himself up slightly, a mirthful laugh resonating from him. It was an unfamiliar sound but pleasant to listen to.  Deep as the ocean with the lightness of a cottonball.  

           Yet it soon died away, its remnants lasting in a lingering smile on his lips. He tilted his head slightly in inquiry at her stare.  But it took her a moment to realize it, captivated by the sight of him and the pure joy in his gold eyes.  

           “Is something amiss?” he asked.

           “No, sorry, you laughed.  I… I never saw it before.  It’s pretty,” Kaida said and the smile dropped off of Gaius’s face instantly.  

           “Pretty…?” Gaius questioned, looking somewhere between mortified and distraught at the notion.

           “And now you’re frowning and I hate it,” Kaida replied with a huff.

           “You do not,” Gaius retorted, reaching up to her chin.  His thumb coursed under her lower lip then dragged softly across her jaw.  “I frown all the time and I still see you swoon.”

           “I never swoon,” Kaida protested.

           His lips caressed against hers without warning.  Tender, yearning to work her mouth open.  She fell for it, melting into him.  How could she not?  Each touch of his was well-coordinated, a plan to push every button he knew she liked.  As soon as her lips parted, his tongue slid inside.  The touch of it against her tongue sparked a thousand nerves.  She pressed into him, the weight of her own head heavy in his palm.  Gently, he guided her to the ground.  When he pulled his mouth away, she longed for it to come back.  

           “I am hardly an expert on the matter, Lady Asagiri,” Gaius began with a small smirk about him.  “But I do believe I noted a swoon just now.”

           “Unbelievable,” Kaida commented dryly

           With deviousness alight in his eyes, Gaiu rubbed his scruff against her white scales, the feeling of it sending sparks of electricity through her.  It tickled her and she bit back pained laughter. The Raen squirmed under him, trying to wriggle free but his hands quickly pinned her at her wrists.  No escape.  Only this cruel torture.

           “Get offa me!” wail-laughed Kaida.

           “I think not.  I like you like this,” he replied but eventually pulled away to give her a look over.

           She panted, breath still fringed with laughter.  “Tell me something I don’t already know.”

           “You are beautiful.”

           “You say that every day.”

           “And I mean it every day.”

           He reached out and brushed a twig of hair from her eyes.  As soon as her hand was free, she reached out to try to knock him off of her, a grin flashing across her face.  He teetered to his right, almost knocked off balance.  She went to follow through and he grabbed her, pulling her into him as they rolled over onto his back, the Raen landing atop of him.  She struggled to break free as he struggled to pin her there, biting at her lower lip and wriggling.  His arm went around her waist, securing her body against his.  This was how he liked to win, Kaida knew.  With a struggle but always coming out on top.  Proverbially or literally speaking.

           “A commendable effort,” Gaius remarked, nuzzling atop her head.  “But you are mine.”

           She squirmed for a bit then gave up when she realized he had overpowered her.

           “Tataru is going to have an entire herd of cows if she sees us like this,” Kaida began.  “We’re supposed to be training.”

           “I care not to continue.  I just want this,” Gaius grumbled as he buried his nose into her hair.  

           “Are you pouting?” Kaida asked incredulously.

           “No,” Gaius lied.

           She sighed at him but could not deny a smile.  “You know… we could take this back to your room, if you want.  The ground there is less cold, I’m sure.”

           “Temptress,” he commented as he snuggled into her more and more.  “That would involve me letting go of you.  And I care not to do that.”

           “Then do you really mean to lay here all day?” Kaida asked with a chuckle. “What if someone walks in?”

           “Then they can marvel at how I have pinned you and feel all the more jealous that they do not have the Warrior of Light at their mercy,” Gaius replied simply, words half-muffled as he kissed the top of her head.  “To the victor, the spoils.”

           “Am I your spoils?” Kaida asked with a small wriggle.  He permitted her to roll over so they were face-to-face.  

           “Mm. I suppose you would be.  I wonder what that entails...?” His hand gave her hip a slight squeeze, a devilish smile twisting onto his lips.  

           “H-here!?” she looked around the training grounds.  “You can’t be serious.”

           “But I won,” Gaius replied, that smile widening into a wolfish grin.

           “And yet I am on top,” Kaida remarked.

           “That you are…” he considered, his arms firmly pinning her to his front. “But not in charge.”

           “I beg to differ,” she retorted.

           “Is that so?” Gaius asked, nuzzling her nape and giving her a small bite—only hard enough to make her squirm.  “Mm. My back is getting cold from this. Perhaps there’s wisdom to relocating to my quarters.  Are you opposed?”

           “I am not,” Kaida replied with a small smirk.  “But we’d be cutting the sparring short.  Is that all right?”

           “I daresay we will still be sparring, though in a different sort,” he replied.

           That made her laugh but she tried to smother it with a hand, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you.”

           “What?” he inquired innocently.  “From the noises you made the last time, I would say you were enjoying yourself far more with that kind of ‘sparring’ than when our blades clash…”

           Flushed at his comment, Kaida buried his face into his nape.

           “Still the blushing maid, I see,” he remarked, stroking the back of her head. “I told you—there is no shame in enjoying physical pleasures.”

           That was not what her parents had told her as a child but she supposed they had told her a lot of things back then.

           “I am not ashamed of you,” she said, looking at him and tracing his jawline with her finger.  “It is just old reservations.  Things better left forgotten.  Now… your bedroom?  Is that where you wanted to take this sparring match?”

           “If you are so inclined,” he said, taking her hand into his and kissing her fingers gently.

           She smiled at him and he let her off of him.  When Gaius made it to his feet, her hand snatched his eagerly.  He looked slightly taken aback by this, glancing from where their fingers intertwined to her broadening grin.

           “I still think your laugh is pretty, by the way,” the Raen said and they were soon off to his quarters.

[fuckit-hero-of-trains]

Like Rock, Paper, Scissors but Not Really Ch 1

 ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25599367/chapters/62131759

Summary: 

Rock beats Scissors. Scissors beats Paper. Paper beats Rock.

The same could be said of Water, Fire, Earth, and Air.

Water puts out Fire. Fire burns Earth. Earth smothers Air. Air dictates Water.

It seems as though their very existence should necessitate a battle. Smashing, slicing, smothering one another into nothing.

And yet, that could not be farther from the truth.

They are far stronger together than they ever are apart.

Blue has a headache.

Which normally wouldn't be a big fucking whoop. He always has a headache. He lives with three headaches. Hell, his entire existence could be characterized as one headache after another.

Not enough sleep? Headache. Too much sleep? Headache. Not enough sugar? Headache. Too much sugar? Headache. One of Green’s Puns™? Headache. Vio being a smartass? Headache. Red being Red? Headache.

Day after day after day after day like clockwork, like the tide, Blue is tormented by headaches, both metaphorical and literal in nature.

Right now, however, Blue has a literal headache. A very, very literal headache which is quickly becoming a very, very literal migraine .

He can practically feel it coming, too. Can practically feel as the low grade pounding turns from manageable– a four out of ten at most– into the actual goddess Hylia descending from on high to telepathically scream Fuck You, Blue!!!! directly into his skull; the pain all too familiar and all too fucking annoying.

Blue can feel it coming in the way the dim light of their shop begins to strain his eyes, each flicker of their too few lanterns sending clouds of fuzz and crackling stars dancing in his peripheries. Can feel it in the way the skin of his face and neck begin to prickle with needles of feverish heat.  Can feel it in the way his ears begin to clog, sound dulled as cotton stuffs itself too tightly against his eardrums, tickling uncomfortably at his brain.

Blue can absolutely feel as pressure continues to build up within his skull. Can feel as what was once a light pounding behind his eyes grows. Growing, growing, growing, ramping up in both speed and power until the blue wearing smithy feels wave after wave of pain slamming against his sinuses, rattling his senses.

He can feel how it makes his jaw clench, his teeth grind, his hands itch to reach up and tear at the roots of his hair to just get some fucking relief.

Normally, Blue would be able to deal with this type of pain in a slightly less destructive way.

Normally, he would just go upstairs, slam the door to their shared room shut so the others knew not to bug him, throw the curtains across the window so the room is cast in goddess blessed darkness, and then climb into the cool sheets of his bed, pulling the blankets over his head so he could sit and wait and wallow in his own woe is me bullshit until the world stopped trying to fucking kill him.

But alas, the world is apparently going to get a shot at his head today.

Because unfortunately, Blue can’t do any of those things right now.

Because in addition to a literal headache, Blue also has a metaphorical headache on his hands.

A metaphorical headache in the form of a man who appears to be the biggest idiot this side of Mt. Crenel.

And Blue knows Green, so that's saying something.

The absolute buffoon has been in the shop for about three hours now, just meandering from wall to wall to wall to wall, goggling blankly at the array of weapons like he can’t tell a longsword from a claymore or that the stabby bit goes in the other person.

Normally, if Blue had one of his headaches while he was manning the shop, he would just grab one of the other morons he shares a house with to cover for him. They were accommodating enough, knowing by now that a Blue with a migraine was a Blue who was one step closer to actually following through on all the threats he made.

But apparently, today the stars had aligned to make Blue's day truly terrible, really, Hylia, you've outdone yourself.

Because Green was at the castle, hanging out with Zelda. Because Vio was out in the Minish Woods, doing whatever bullshit research he was currently obsessed with. Because Red was in town, grabbing groceries.

Meaning, Blue had no escape from his headache or the increasing pain and frustration this idiot was inflicting upon him with his very existence.

Every circuit of the room, the guy brings something up to the counter, asks a question about it, and upon receiving his increasingly clipped answer, just– just fucking leaves it!!! At the counter!!! Apparently none the wiser that he’s only supplying more weapons for Blue to skewer him with.

Around and around and around the shop the guy goes, getting his grubby fingerprints all over the polished Zora spears– Hylia, was the guy eating peanut butter with his bare hands before coming in???– messing up the shelving order of the Goron digging tools, and dropping several of the Gerudo style daggers.

Blue had tried to cut this whole escapade short hours ago, had plastered a smile he had hoped looked as bright and cheerful as Red’s–all the while knowing that it had probably looked as emotionally constipated as one of Vio’s attempts at friendly– and had asked the man if there was anything I can help you find today?

But the man had just waved him off, smiling in that ditzy way that Blue swore he was going to see in his nightmares, saying Oh, no need! I’m just window shopping!

Window shopping.

Window shopping!  For. Three. Hours. Straight.

“Can I have a word with the smith?” the idiot asks, pulling Blue from his increasingly murderous thoughts, placing yet another weapon on the counter beside the countless others he had already brought forward and subsequently discarded. “I think there might be something wrong with this sword. I mean, it's kinda messed up, isn’t it?”

Blue blinks slowly at the man, trying to stow the pain and frustration for the sake of making a sale, and then glances down at the blade in question.

It’s a beautiful, flame-bladed rapier. One Red had worked on, actually.

Blue remembers the other agonizing over the undulating curves of the blade, his more emotional brother heating and reshaping, heating and reshaping, heating and reshaping, the slightly smaller smithy covered in sweat and ash as he worked, determined to get the wave of metal just right.

Even Blue, one of the harshest critics of his and the others’ works, had to admit that Red had succeeded in that area. The sword is beautifully balanced even in spite of the curves, each metal wave uniform and masterfully shaped, rounded and yet sharpened to deadly perfection.

Blue peels his eyes up from the sword to look into the eyes of the man, hoping this might be some kind of sick joke.

It isn’t. The older looks back at him expectantly, brows raised, eyes wide, waiting for a response.

Right. Blue really shouldn't have underestimated the depths of this guy's stupidity. Not after having had an unwilling front row seat to it for three fucking hours.

He resists the urge to roll his eyes. Not because he’s trying to be polite. But because Blue can feel his headache increasing, the waves of pain becoming stronger as they grate against his skull, making the lantern light in their shop bright and piercing and too much.

He's pretty sure if he rolls his eyes, he might actually collapse due to the strain.

“Sir,” he grits instead, words hissed out from between his teeth, customer service smile too thin lipped, too full of bite to be anything considered remotely nice or polite, “Like it says on the display case, that is a flame-bladed sword. Also known as a wave-blade. It's supposed to look like that.”

“Are you sure?” the guy asks, grabbing the hilt and waving the sword this way and that for an inspection, forcing Blue to whip his head back lest he risk an untimely hair cut or perhaps being fucking decapitated.

“I mean, a sword like this is pretty useless, right?” The mouth-breather says, suddenly shifting his grip on the pommel, turning to skim an evaluative eye down the face of the blade, obliviously stabbing the air where Blue’s head would have been had he not had the presence of mind to duck behind the counter.

“And no embellishments on the pommel either,” the idiot continues with a furrowed brow, a wrinkled nose, a down turned lip as he shakes his head at the lovingly wrapped grip, completely oblivious of the smithy he almost just killed.

The same crouching smithy who can feel the skin of his face getting hotter and hotter with every word as pain and anger dance and twine in his head, his chest, until the two are indistinguishable from one another, now a single scalding geyser building pressure, about to explode.

“A pretty sad excuse for a decorative sword in my opinion,” the deadman says with a dismissive sniff. “Not only worthless but ugly to boot.”

The man’s words slice through Blue’s head, cutting through the pounding pounding pounding of his migrain, through the searing searing searing frustration, and for the briefest of seconds, Blue feels a stillness fall over him.

For the briefest of seconds, the geyser calms, becoming an untouched pond, crystal clear and unmoving.

And behind his eyes, Blue can see Red’s smile, exhausted and soot streaked but bright and proud as he holds out that very same sword to be inspected by Blue and Green and Vio. Blue can see the relief and joy spread over Red’s face, the other practically glowing as bright as the embers of the forge as he receives compliment after compliment from his brothers; a punch on the shoulder from Blue, a fond side-hug from Green, a warm ruffling of hair from Vio.

Blue can see Red, bright and happy and proud.

And Blue can see Red, downcast and sad and ashamed if he were ever to hear the words the man had just spoken.

And then all he sees is red.

The geyser erupts inside, scalding his face, burning his eyes, Blue’s migraine somehow going from bad to brain melting in the span of a millisecond, but he could care less.

No. The blue-wearing smith is more focused on the boiling in his blood, the steaming tide of anger in his veins that buoys him up despite the stabbing pain in his skull, that causes him to slam his fists down on the counter in front of him, forcing the absolute, good for nothing, Hylia damned, FUCKFACE to cringe away from the sudden noise as he finally notices Blue once more.

“Get. Out,” Blue breathes, the searing words slipping past his lips like steam.

The man blinks twice, confused by the sudden outburst.

“W-wh–?”

“I said,” Blue repeats, sweeping Red’s sword into his left hand while hoisting himself up onto the counter with his right, drawing himself up to his full height as he levels the flame-bladed rapier with the man’s forehead, “Get the fuck out of my store before I show you just how decorative this sword can be!”

The man takes a few shaky steps back, hands up in surrender. “I-I don't–”

“Get the fuck OUT!” Blue screams with finality, voice shaking with fury and pain.

And if nothing else, at least the guy has some sense of self preservation, because with a little squeak of fear not unlike a mouse’s, he turns tail and flees, escaping out the door before Blue even finishes yelling.

Not a moment too soon either.

Because the anger, the shouting, the change in position; the heat of it all rushes to Blue’s head. The fuzziness that had been clouding at the edge of his vision increases four-fold, the twinkling monochrome stars widening into black holes that eat at Blue’s eyesight as the tidal wave of pain in his skull collides with the magma of his fury, filling his head with rocks and steam, heavy heavy heavy and yet light light light, throwing off his sense of balance.

Distantly, Blue feels his knees buckle.

And idly, as the black consumes his vision, as the sword tumbles from his grasp so he can bring his hands up to support the growing weight of the stones in his skull, as he feels himself tilt forward, Blue wonders if the dive he’s currently taking off the counter will make him as stupid as the man who caused it.

Blue falls forward.

“Blue!”

But he doesn't land.

He doesn't crash headfirst into the floor, braining himself on their hardwood. He doesnt smash his face into the ground, breaking his nose again. He doesn't experience the added pain a fall like this should have on his already agony-addled skull.

No.

Blue falls but he doesn't exactly land because something soft and warm interrupts his dive, shielding his head and shoulders from the impact with the ground even as the rest of him bangs it’s way to the floor.

And for a second, Blue just lays there, taking stock of himself.

His head still throbs with pain, still pounds out a rhythm that sends agony from his forehead all the way to the tips of his ears. He still feels lightheaded, like the world is tilting even though he can tell for a fact that he is no longer falling. His knees ache from where they took the brunt of his fall.

But his face is pleasantly warm from where it’s pressed against fabric. Fabric that shifts gently against his cheek, up down up down up down with someone else’s slightly ragged breaths, as though they had run just before ending up in this position.

Wait, breaths?

Blue peels his eyes open, pained confusion forcing him into action despite the too bright lights still clawing at his vision, the pain digging nails into his brain.

Blue opens his eyes and all he sees is red.

A red tunic against his cheek, soft and warm. A pair of amber, red eyes gazing down at him with a mix of concern and admiration.

Blue sees Red, breathing a little heavily and sprawled out on the floor underneath him but grinning like he just won the swordsmanship contest at the Picori Festival. Blue sees Red and his battered brain puts two and two together to make Four.

Red was the thing that cushioned his fall.

Red… saved him?

“Whew. You almost took a nasty tumble there,” Red says with a relieved sigh and a smile once he sees Blue looking at him. “That could have been bad!”

“Red?” Blue asks a little dumbly because really, give him a break. He just took a fucking nose dive off a counter because his blood pressure was no doubt spiking as high as the Palace of Winds while his brain was busy melting out of his ears. Excuse him if this wasn’t exactly the outcome he was anticipating.

Red, meanwhile, doesn't even skip a beat.

“Nope! It’s Vio.” He relaxes his face, expression falling from sunny relief to ambivalence, his voice becoming smoother, a bit dryer, as he imitates their more taciturn brother. “Could you not tell?”

Blue shoves him away with a scoff and immediately regrets it when his head rebels against him, sending a wave of pain from his forehead to the back of his scalp, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut against the sudden onslaught of hurt.

“Careful!” Red chides him with his regular voice, having no doubt seen Blue’s wince of pain.

Hands, gentle but insistent, lock onto Blue’s shoulders and guide him up and back until he sits with his spine against the very counter he had just fallen from, his head hanging limply between his knees.

Once situated, the hands release his shoulders. One goes away entirely while the other reaches over the top of Blue’s hunched shoulders, pulling the fabric of his hood out from behind his neck and over his head, casting some much needed darkness around Blue’s face.

It’s not quite enough to keep him from squinting when he opens his eyes– the dim lantern light still throws sunspots and blackholes in his vision– but it's better than before, giving him a modicum of relief.

They sit in silence for a bit, Blue breathing through the pain in his head, Red sitting near, a hand on Blue’s knee, comforting.

“So your headache is pretty bad, huh?” Red whispers, careful to not send Blue into another throe of pain.

“What tipped you off?” Blue whispers back irritably, pulling the hood down lower with one hand as he massages his temple with the other.

Red doesn't even flinch at the words, which tells Blue that he must look even more like shit than he thought.

They go back to silence, Red rubbing soothing circles into Blue’s knee as the waves of pain slamming forward backward forward backward in his skull slowly begin to dissipate. Not into nothing, oh no,  that would be too merciful, but they lessen, like storm aided waves slowly losing steam.

“Didn't think you would be back for a while,” Blue says lowly.

“Shopping went a bit quicker than I thought it would. Not a lot of people out today. Must be the rain.”

Another beat of silence as Blue chooses his words, fishing them from the tide of his mind.

“How much of that did you hear?” Blue asks eventually, finally gaining the strength to peek out from under his hood without his brain punching him in the brain.

Red wilts a little at the question but his soothing circles don't let up for a moment.

“Enough,” the smaller smith says softly. “I was just finishing up putting everything away and thought I would stop in to let you know I was gonna be starting dinner when I, uh, heard.”

And then, with a little laugh. “He really didn’t like my sword, huh?”

“Yeah well, that guy was a moron,” Blue says with as much venom, as much scalding conviction as he can manage, some of that familiar boiling heat from before tingeing his words as he spits them out. “He wouldn't know a well made sword if he was being fucking stabbed with one.”

That startles a little snort of laughter from Red.

Blue won't admit that it makes him feel just a bit better.

“Yeah, I know,” Red says, his words a sigh, wistful yet sort of sad. Like he’s trying to convince himself that they’re true. And then, with a little smile as he leans down a bit in order to peek under Blue’s hood more fully, “Thanks.”

“Whatever,” Blue grumbles flippantly, straightening his spine and slowly, slowly , pushing himself to his feet, his hands braced on the counter for support as his vision swims. “Asshole had it coming.”

A hand sets itself gently on Blue’s elbow, ready to help guide him if need be.

“Think you can make it upstairs?” Red asks.

Blue nods and shrugs off the hand, more from habit than anything else.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” Blue grumbles, shuffling his way behind the counter, hood still firmly in place over his head. “I can walk up a few stairs without braining myself, thanks.”

“Okay, sure you can, Mr. Tough Guy,” Red agrees easily enough with a bright grin, though Blue notes how he still follows behind as they step through the back room toward the stairs. Still notes how he can feel the other’s eyes locked on his back as he slowly makes his way up to their room.

“Have a good nap!” Red calls from the bottom of the stairs. “I’ll grab you when dinner’s ready!”

Blue gives hima wave of acknowledgement, slips into the bedroom, and promptly buries himself under the covers of their bed, allowing the cool sheets, the darkness, and the faint sound of rain lull him to sleep.

…

When Blue wakes hours later to a night-darkened room, a cool compress on his head, an iced peppermint tea with two lemon slices on the bedside table, and three other bodies in the bed with him, he knows Red lied to him about waking him up for dinner.

But as he takes a sip of the tea, as he feels it cool his throat, his stomach, as the sound of rain outside patters softly at their window, and as Red curls up a bit closer to his side, Blue finds that he doesn't really care.

His headache is gone and he really wasn't all that hungry anyway.

Blue settles back into bed, pulling the blanket back over his shoulder from where it had fallen when he sat up, throwing his arm across Red’s side as he does. He closes his eyes, settling into the warmth of his brothers, the waters of his mind stilling into tranquility.

He’ll just demand some cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow.

Yeah. Then they’ll be even.

[hazzoranstories]

THE WHITE SUN AT MIDNIGHT | J.BLACK Ch. 36

*Polson, Montana*

"Here for your daily pleading?" Kaimbe accused the wolf stumbling through the door.

"I've grown out of that," Paige mumbled, and Kaimbe glanced up from his newspaper with a rather unamused sneer.

"Took you long enough," the Alpha sighed.

"I was just wondering something," - Paige bit her lip in anticipation while Kaimbe raised an eyebrow - "well, you see, Bella and Edward are getting married back in Forks and --"

"-- and let me guess. You want to go?" the chief interrupted, and Paige stuttered out her next reply.

"Yeah, kinda. I mean, she's my sister," Paige knew her answer, but she wanted to ask anyway. What she didn't expect was for Kaimbe to start chuckling. The werewolf became nervous at how calm the Alpha was being.

Kaimbe stood up from his armchair, causing Paige to step back. "Did you expect something different? You stupid little girl," he hissed and pushed past her to head to the kitchen.

"Please, Kaimbe. Just for one day. Then I promise on my life that I'll come back. I just want to see my family --"

"Your family is either dead or hundreds of miles away, Paige," Kaimbe stated with a whine of annoyance in his tone.

"I know, but --"

The girl was cut off when Kaimbe slammed her into the kitchen island. Paige's eyes widened, and she let out a small whimper. "I haven't snapped at you in a while, Eva. Don't clean up your attitude, and my next snap will be much worse than a broken wrist," the Anderson spat.

"What --" Kaimbe grabbed onto Paige's wrist and popped a bone out of place. The girl yelped as the Alpha stepped away and went to the fridge. She held her wrist, which was shaking madly, along with her other hand and took a long breath.

"Your curfew is five the next morning," Kaimbe said and walked out with an energy drink in his hands. Being too quick for Paige to thank him.

~:*:~

*Forks, Washington*

"Bella, how are you so sure she'll even come?" Edward questioned.

"Because she's my sister, she has to be there. She's going to be there," Bella kept nodding to herself to try and help the fact that Paige was somewhere in Montana, possibly dead.

Edward sighed and put the wedding invitation in the mailbox for the mailman to pick up and bring to Polson, Montana. Jake had also gone missing soon after Paige was taken, and Bella's been asking the pack about him every chance she has, but no news has come through. The best man and maid of honor were absent only a few days before the wedding, and Alice was panicking more than anyone. She was going to be there. Bella kept repeating that over and over until she believed her own lie.

~:*:~

Paige stared at the Cullens, putting the finishing touches on the aisle and reception, and couldn't hold back the smile. All vampires felt a wolf's presence, but they knew who it was, which only boosted their spirits. Once she unphased and put some clothes on, she stepped out of the shadows.

The eyes of Emmett caught her eyes, and a wide grin spread across his face. Carlisle and Esme noticed their son's face and followed his vision to fall on Paige. Both vampires joined Emmett's expression. "She's upstairs," Esme whispered, which Paige heard with her heightened ears.

The Claymore raced inside the house, and her thunderous footsteps thump up the stairs until she stopped in a hallway. Her eyes searched for her sister until she heard Bella's voice gasp, "Paige."

The werewolf snapped around and saw Bella, Rosalie, Alice, Charlie, and Renée all admiring Bella's beauty. The two parents looked around as Bella ran forward and tackled Paige in a hug. "Oh my god, Paige. Ho-how are you here? I thought --"

"My chief, let me come," Paige answered, and Bella broke the hug with tears rimming her eyes. "Don't ruin your makeup, Bells. Alice would murder me," both girls giggled, and Bella whipped her eyes. The Swan girl moved aside to reveal Charlie.

Paige whistled at his suit, and he rolled his eyes, wrapping her in a hug. "I missed you, Paige."

"Missed you too, Charlie," Paige squeezed him tighter before letting go and looking over to Renée. Her jaw tightened, and her shoulderblades ground together. "Mom," she choked out.

Renée was dumbfounded at how gorgeous her daughter was. She was almost a replica of her father, and it made her joy skyrocket. "Hi, Paige," she exhaled. The Claymore forced a smile on her face.

"We need to get you dressed! You couldn't tame your hair on the way here?" Alice cut in and dragged Paige over to the vanity where Bella previously sat. Paige knew she would be attacked with foundations and powders she didn't even know the names of, which already made her groan.

[sonicringbond]

Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey - Scene 47

Well, I’m going to keep this intro short today. There isn’t really a lot of ways I can set up leading into today’s scene. So, please jump straight into...

    “Hee-hee! It’s really you!” Rosy giggled and could not keep herself still. She fidgeted all about and her tail was wagging with more energy than usual. Then, in an explosion of joy she flung herself at who she was speaking with. “TAILS!”

    “Ha-ha!” Tails laughed and struggled to keep himself balanced as Rosy embraced him in a huge diving hug. “It’s good to see you too Rosy! Woah!”

    Spun about by the force of Rosy’s embrace, Tails put his namesake twin tails to use and flew up with Rosy joyously hanging on to him. The sight was almost too much for Draw and Blister.

    “My, he’s an interesting one, isn’t he?”

    “Is he… I mean… how exactly…,” Draw stammered in comparison to Blister’s smooth handling of her surprise. Though that could have been partly due to her being a pirate and a merchant, or just the deliberate and sleepy sounding way she spoke.

    To calm Draw down, Sonic gently rapped his knuckles against his head. Clutching his head, the koala angrily turned onto Sonic. “What was that for!”

    “Just lending a hand,” Sonic laughed as he really did mean Draw no harm. As Draw was blunter than Blister and was not familiar with Tails like Mighty and Gill, Sonic did have to take a moment to be a little more serious. “And you can help him out by not making a fuss about them. Until you’re used to them enough to consider them normal, and by then you shouldn’t have a reason to.”

    “I get it, just don’t hit me!” Draw complained, even though he knew Sonic meant him no harm. Still, he had to get the last word in. And Sonic let him, though his smug smile told Draw it was not his victory. There was no time to keep at it though as everyone fully disembarked from Blister’s airship and moved to greet Tails.

    ~I’m so happy to have caught up with Tails, and of course he’s being as amazing as ever!

    ~Picking up his Ring Radio was a total surprise as Blister was simply trying to make sure hers was properly integrated with her ship. It’s something we can ask Tails to double check on later, but he’s been pretty busy. Being amazing of course~♥

    ~The last we knew, Tails was looking for another pit of radio signal boosting crystals like the ones at Radio Point. What he found instead was a whole medieval castle town, and not a normal one! This one was built entirely upside down on the underside of a giant land bridge. Maybe…~

    “It’s pretty wild Sonic,” Tails happily explained to Sonic as he gave the whole group a tour of where he had been researching. Despite having been separated for so long, it was impossible to tell with how naturally he talked about his findings. “It looks like the city was built upside down, but what purpose would that serve. If my research is right, then it was actually put here by a Ring Shift.”

    “So, what about the people who lived here?”

    Looking around as Tails led the group across the underside of a bridge, Sonic was not wrong to ask. The castle town itself looked like it could have easily supported quite a large population, however, there was no sign of anyone. Tails was more than glad to share his latest hypothesis though.

    “That’s the thing Sonic, there’s no way they should have tried living here, but it looks like they did and probably moved out on their own when it got to be too much.”

    “How is that possible Tails?” Rosy asked, genuinely curious.

    “You want to find out?”

    “Yeah!”

    “You two aren’t about to cause us a lot of trouble, are you?” Sonic asked, scratching inside his ear.

    “It’ll be fun, I’m sure!” Rosy threw all her faith into Tails. “Tails wouldn’t tease it if it wasn’t.”

    “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Draw asked and received a comforting hand on his shoulder from Mighty.

    “I would say it’s because it’s what those two do. Keeping them out of trouble is as hard as keeping the wind out of a storm.”

    “That’s impossible,” Draw stared at Mighty disbelieving as he replied.

    Mighty’s smile and lone bead of sweat down his cheek did nothing to alleviate his concern, and Gill spoke up to make matters worse.

    “That should give you an idea lad. Last time I accompanied them things just kept getting worse. And I still don’t see how they’ve gotten better.”

    “If you’re so worried about being in danger, you could always leave,” Blister suggested and earned a scowl from Gill.

    Rosy was too distracted to keep the mouse and frog off each other as she took Tails’ offered hand as the fox took off. Flying up towards the deserted city street above, Rosy suddenly felt gravity shift and would have fallen into Tails if he were unprepared.

    “W-O-W~!” Rosy squealed with delight. “This is amazing Tails! But what’s going on?”

    Looking up past the now gravitationally righted Tails, Rosy saw Sonic and the other’s standing on the underside of the bridge above her, and the cloudy sky beyond.

    “It’s some type of anomalous gravity field,” Tails explained. “But it doesn’t affect the entire city equally. And you can tell people tried living here for a while after the shift due to the various twisting roads and bridges throughout the city.”

    “If they were building things–”

    “Then they must have lived here for a while,” Tails finished Rosy’s thought. “But that isn’t the only thing that could have driven them out. Do you remember where the others are standing?”

    “Yeah,” Rosy answered confused and looked back towards Sonic and the others. She missed Tails’ smile and thus was shocked when she turned back forward to see Tails flying straight for a brick wall. “Kya~! Tails watch out! We’re going to crash!”

    ~The crash never came. Ooh~! I’m so mad at Tails for giving me such a scare, even if it turned out to be fun as we flew at the wall but almost crashed into Sonic and the others.

    ~According to Tails, the whole city is full of these weird little ‘dimensional disturbances’. He figures its part of what has been interfering with Ring Radio signals in the lands under Yolk since they transmit across dimensions. It isn’t what he was looking for when he headed out from Radio Point, but it was a great find for him.

    ~I’m so happy for Tails, and I know that he could study this stuff forever, but now that we’ve met back up… Well, it means we have to find Zooey and Fang and get back to working on going home. Though we may need to figure out the Gear Star Ring in my eye first. Hee-hee! It hasn’t replaced my left iris at all since finding Tails, so I nearly forgot about it. Really, seeing Tails again after so long, I nearly forgot about everything.

    ~Reality is such a bully though!~

    “So, that’s your ship Ms. Blister?” Tails asked as they made their way back around the undersides of bridges and roof eaves to where the half avocado shaped airship was effectively moored.

    “It is,” Blister nodded proudly. “It’s my pride and joy! The Avocado Green I call it!”

    “That name is certainly… flavorful,” Tails nervously attempted to be kind about the strange name. Not having the courage to look the mouse who captained it in the eye, Tails looked at the ship and found a topic of conversation to switch to.

    “And it looks like you have quite the crew. I can hardly believe your ship can hold them all.”

    “What are you talking about?” Blister asked and turned her eyes onto her ship. “Oh dear, it looks like I’m being raided actually.”

    “Raided!”

    Tails shout drew everyone’s attention and in no time, they were all aware of the variety of autogolems crawling all over Blister’s vessel.

   It was not Draw’s first time seeing autogolems that looked like they were crafted to resemble the armor of medieval knights, and he knew there was troubling waiting for them and reached for his bow. “Those aren’t yours, right?”

    “No, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t wreck my ship. Ms. Rosy has told me about your penchant for explosives.”

    “I guess that’s your cue, Sonic,” Mighty offered Sonic a smile and received a confident smirk in return.

    “Why not. Bashing bots is kind of my thing.”

    “Can I join you!” Rosy clasped her hands together and asked with excited eyes and wagging trail.

    “Sorry kid,” Sonic denied her request and ruffled her bangs. “In this terrain we can only risk Tails having to catch one of us.”

    “Ooh~! Well, you better put on a show then!”

    “Heh,” Sonic laughed and pointed a thumb at himself. “You know you don’t have to worry about that. Just who do you think I am?”

    “Sonic the Hedgehog of course!” Rosy cheered and thrust her balled up hands into the air. Opening her eyes and bringing her arms down, she cheered Sonic on. “Go get them!”

    “No problem!”

    With an instinct that bordered on supernatural, Sonic took off for the airship at a pace none could match. And not because they didn’t have his speed, but no one could use it like Sonic. Surely the auto golems would soon be helpless scrap before the coming streak of blue. Except…

    “Ho!”

    It was the first time any of them were seeing Claymore the Purple in person, and the towering purple autogolem at his full three meters did not disappoint as he stopped Sonic in mid-air.

    “What in the–?” Sonic questioned as a force pressed him tighter into his curled form and kept him rotating.

    “Impressive to see a Ring Mage choose to enter a melee,” Claymore remarked, as his outstretched hand kept Sonic held in a slowly shrinking ring of purple light. “But no matter. I’ve come for the medium. Well, having interrupted your Ring Radio transmission. Ho! How fortuitous I am this day!”

    With a flick of his wrist, Claymore launched Sonic deep into the castle town and turned his glowing purple eyes on Rosy.

    “Ho! Forgive my rudeness Lady Medium. I am Claymore the Purple, Knight of the Order of the Swords. Now be so kind as to come along peacefully.”

Scene 47 · CLEARED Reunion Knight, to be continued

----

I find myself wanting to laugh just like Rosy did at the start of this. Obviously by the end it wasn’t too cheerful anymore, not with Sonic being yeeted off to who knows where. But, Tails is finally here again. It’s actually kind of wild writing with him involved as he really feels like the glue of the AU. His smarts and enthusiasm for his research; it’s just amazing to write really. Hopefully in the future it will be just as easy and he’ll help tie everything together nicely with that Sonic feel I sometimes feel like I’m missing.

Thank for reading everyone! I hope you’ll be back for the next scene!

-----

Special Thanks to Cutegirlmayra Story by @JoshTarwater/SonicFanJ Inspiring Song – Blue Skies – Tsutomu Narita – Granblue Fantasy Story Music Tracks

Fair Use Disclaimer

Sonic the Hedgehog and all affiliated characters and logos are the express property and Copyright© of SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS used without permission under Title 17 U.S.C Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 in which allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. “Fair use” is use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be considered copyright infringement. The Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey alternate universe (AU) consumer written work of fiction is a non-profit transformative work primarily for personal use and can and will be taken down without warning or prior notice at the request of the copyright holder(s) should it not be recognized under “fair use”.

*Sonic Ring Bond logo created by DEE Art – twitter.com/daryliscute.

Sonic Ring Bond AU and Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey are the creation of Joshua David Tarwater/ynymbus/sonicfanj/@Joshtarwater and is to be, including all contents herein considered for all legal purposes the property of the Sonic the Hedgehog intellectual property (IP) and copyright owners, SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS. All story contributors via prompt, suggestion, written scene, art, and all and every other contribution acknowledge that all contributed material is forfeit for legal purposes to SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS upon official request from SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS.

[anklesalltheway]

"Has Margaret asked Davy Jones if he's a pirate or not? What did he say?"

"Would you believe I had actually asked that very question to Captain Jones on the day we first met?"

Margaret grins recollecting that day, a day that brings her such joys and laughs, like the break of sun after a long dark storm.

Story time!

"And would you believe that I had asked him this while he was dangling upside down from a palm tree!" she snickers, very vividly recalling the sight "After aiding him out of the shipyard... you know, when I had found him in one of the barrels and had to distract the sailors in order for him to discreetly escape before the barrel lid was hammered shut and he was transported into the hold of a ship... the very angry Mr. Osbert - goodness what a sight! - when he caught sight of Davy again and the chase was afoot once more.

At that time I was not yet dragged into the whole mess, so simply spectated with piqued curiosity... and then continued on my merry way in the other direction. Coincidentally, that direction led to Davy and my paths crossing again as I came to a luscious greenery of palm trees for a moment of respite. It was quite peaceful... while it lasted.

It was then I heard someone whispering some noises - which nearly startled me - and searching around, there was no one in sight! ...until I heard my name called and looked up... and up there, hiding in the palm tree leaves was none other than Captain Jones himself!

How he had managed to get up there by himself with what appeared to be only some rope was utterly beyond me.

And if that sight wasn't enough of a surprise, imagine then seeing Captain Jones tumbling out of that palm tree like an acrobat, only to be caught by the leg by said rope tangled in the palm leaves and helplessly dangle there upside down!

... He was helpless in my presence.

And, until it was decided that I would be handed his claymore sword and cut the rope, we just stood there... ah, I did the standing, he did the dangling... and we talked.

It was an opportune moment to inquire some important questions. He did not appear to me as a pirate, only a very eccentric sailor who surely hadn't been to shore for at least a decade - I'd know, coming from a family of sailors, so it wasn't entirely out of the ordinary to me.

That said, seeing whatever had occurred between Davy and Mr. Osbert and the group of soldiers, I wanted to ensure I wasn't going to get myself tangled into anything... little did I know.

So it was in that conversation I quite plainly asked him, 'Are you a pirate?' and he answered me plainly that he was not a pirate.

And there you have it.

He continued on how he was formerly a merchant sailor, and now a traveler of sorts across the seven seas, et cetera, which validated the stories of his travels he was telling me earlier, so evidently he wasn't lying.

Of course, there was more to those words as I would inevitably discover that day...

This wasn't any Captain Jones, but Davy Jones himself."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Indeed there was more to Jones than that. Who he is and his past is as far as the seas he rules itself. She may be in a little denial. She may be optimistically hopeful for his redemption arc. She may have to face her inescapable destiny of piracy entwining her life after all. Who knows?

"Perhaps I shall inquire him of it again. For you, grey-faced seagull."