#like the time they installed these huge as fuck bushes on all the corners and medians so homelss folks couldnt stand or sit there

[lobothebuilder]

In my town, these businesses often disappear and reappear elsewhere and then when you ask about it they say they had a very well advertised moving sale, and they are a business with a lot of growth and had the opportunity to move to a more ideal location. None of that has ever been true. Oddly enough the businesses that never seem to die (or close?) Or move, is the smoke shops that have been forced to become semi vape shops but literally never cared and only have the business cause it's easy and their kid needed a job but not, like, a real job that they could potentially be fired from. And they have those bright annoying flashing led lights all over the outside.

i love commercial real estate that is essentially zoned exclusively for momentary fad businesses that will go bankrupt. hmm, ok, we are the 8th comic book store in this zip code, and, fuck, uhh, ok nobody is going to any comic book stores anywhere, hmm, ok, vape lounge, old robot style vapes, yep nope ok we don't really sell anything and we're bankrupt. now we're a Vape Store. ok we're the 8th one on this block. ok. they've changed the locks. hmm. what's next. Axe Throwing, Axe Throwing Will Be The Nex-oh, shit, fuck. ok. I got it. We sell fake weed.

[solastia]

Sanctuary | 1

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x F!Reader

Word Count: 2,500

Summary: Your bed & breakfast has a new regular...Jeon Jungkook of BTS

A/N: So, yes it’s going to be a bit cheesy. Yes, it’s cliche. Yes, there’s a typical noona plot that’s a running theme for Jungkook. But this was literally requested and I decided that I wanted to try my hand at it. Let me know what you think. This first chapter is a little dry, imo, but it’s just a building chapter so hopefully you stick with it. Also, yes, they are speaking in Korean. I am not going to write in romanized because I hate that, and I’m not going to type in Korean then post translations at the end because I also hate that. Just imagine they are speaking in Korean to each other lmao. 

There had been no warning that your life was about to change. No unusual weather, no ambiguous fortune in a tasteless cookie, no strange feeling swirling in your gut. You’d gotten up at your usual time, eaten your usual bowl of cereal while catching up on your emails since you didn’t have any guests to cook for, and now you were taking the dog for a walk - all without a speck of difference from the numerous days before. 

This was why you were so unprepared to see huge frightened eyes pleading you for something from behind your enormous mountain lilac shrub once you’d arrived back to your bed & breakfast. So unprepared that you let out an undignified squeal and nearly slipped right onto your ass. 

Your golden retriever, Thor, was surprisingly calm and simply sniffing at the person with his tail wagging slightly. Of course, he was literally trained for this as he was your emotional support animal. He was most likely waiting for the person to give him permission to come closer. 

“What are…” you began to question, only to be interrupted by the strange sound of multiple running feet and the high-pitched screaming of a group of people. 

A terrified whimper came from the violet-flowered shrub when the voices got closer, and you began to see pieces of the puzzle coming together. 

“Guard,” you whispered to Thor, who quickly turned and plopped down in front of the bush, blocking the person from anyone’s sight. 

The group finally rounded the corner and you were shocked to see a huge crowd of mostly females with one or two guys, all wild-eyed and panting from running. One of them, a young girl with a camera looped around her neck and what looked like a BT21 hoodie, spotted you and waved. 

“Excuse me! Have you seen a guy run past here? Tall with brown hair, wearing a black face mask and a black hoodie?” 

You pretend to think. “Oh, him? Yeah, I just saw him get into a cab. Said he was going to Passionfish, I think.” 

The girl’s face lights up. “Oh!! The restaurant! Maybe he’s meeting up with the rest of the guys! Thanks!” 

“No problem. What’s the big deal though? He steal something?” 

She giggles, the shrillness piercing your ears. “As if he would. I guess you’re too old to know, but he’s famous. I’m totally going to get him to see me and I bet he’ll want to talk to me.” 

Ah. One of those. 

“Oh, cool. Good luck with that.” 

The herd runs off, their ringleader now talking on the phone and probably trying to get a ride to the restaurant. You shake your head and head towards the bush, patting Thor on the head for a job well done. 

“I think it’s safe to come out now.” 

It takes a few seconds but you finally hear a rustling as the person works their way out of the branches and…

Oh. 

Oh wow. 

You’d thought your bush dweller to be any number of things. A punk hiding from someone he stole from. Someone getting bullied. Maybe some random famous golfer that stupidly walked too far away from his entourage. 

Instead, you had Jeon Fucking Jungkook standing there looking bashful and ethereally beautiful next to the purple flowers like he’d just walked straight out of one of your dreams. Jeon Jungkook looking down at you with his hair being gently ruffled by the ocean air, his face mask drawn past his chin so you can see him clearly. Jeon Jungkook in front of your house in Pacific Grove of all places. 

You sneakily pinch yourself, hissing as your nails dig into your skin. 

Okay, so you’re not dreaming. 

“Thank you,” he says softly, his voice somehow even higher whenever he speaks English. 

You clear your throat and bust out your admittedly rusty Korean, bowing slightly. 

“You’re welcome. Are you alright?” 

His face lights up and he nods briskly. “Yes. You speak Korean?” 

“Enough. I’m not the most fluent, but I taught English there for three years after college. I know enough to get by.” 

The long breath he releases speaks of soul-deep relief, as though you’d just personally taken away all of his worries. 

“Can I use your phone? I lost mine when I was running and I got lost and couldn’t figure out where the fuck to go...I mean. Sorry.” 

You smile reassuringly, “It’s cool. I totally understand. I would have freaked too if I was being chased down by a bunch of crazies and couldn’t speak the language needed to get help. Where’s your security?” 

He scratches his head sheepishly, grinning a little. “Ah, I guess you know who I am if you’re asking about that.” 

You shrug and pet Thor, since he kept rubbing against you and whining. 

“Yeah, I saw you around while I was living there and you guys are literally everywhere now so it’s a little difficult not to know. Don’t worry, I’m not nuts and I don’t plan on telling anyone where you are or that you were even here.” 

He nods in thanks, “Sometimes they let me go out without security to just sight see and stuff, you know. Take some pictures and eat some food without a bunch of people watching me. I didn’t expect so many to recognize me here.” 

“I’m a little surprised too, to be honest. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” 

He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but you can see that he’s still reeling. 

“Anyway, come inside and you can hide out and call whoever you need to call. My name is Y/N, by the way. And yes, I’m older than you. You can call me noona if that makes you comfortable.” 

You walk towards the house, suddenly curious what he thinks of it. You probably shouldn’t care if he likes it or not, but you’ve put your everything into this place. You were proud of all the work you’ve done - most of it by your own hand, even. You’d painted the walls ivory, set the stone walkway, painted and installed the sky blue shutters. Even every flower in the now blooming garden was carefully planted and grown by you. 

“Welcome to Sanctuary,” you grin and open the front door for him, waving him ahead of you. He steps inside and Thor rushes past you both to head towards the backyard, probably to see if the bone he was working on earlier was still there. You shake your head and close the door behind you, slipping out of your sandals in the entryway.

You smile to yourself as you watch him kick off his shoes and set them off to the side, something you’d gotten used to doing yourself in Korea, but no other guest here has ever bothered. 

You observe him as he looks around curiously, judging his every expression. So far, so good. He’s probably gotten used to high-class digs these days, but you knew your place was nice enough. It was made for comfort. 

He sniffs as he looks around, his nose wiggling in a way makes you want to call him a bunny. But you don’t want to get punched so soon after meeting him, so you restrain yourself. 

“Smells nice in here.” 

“Thanks. It’s my own blend that I put together for this place. A bit of the ocean, a few homey baking scents...it’s an odd combo but works for the area.” 

You don’t mention that you like the way he smells. A little fruity, a little powdery...it was nice. 

“Oh, uh, here’s my phone. I unlocked it for you. Just relax here in the front parlor and I’ll get you something to drink. You want water, coke? Beer? I dunno...whisky?” 

He giggles and accepts the phone. “Coke is fine. Thanks.” 

“No problem.” 

You head to the kitchen and leave him to his business, wondering if you should bring him snacks too. If you busted out your supply of banana milk and banana kicks it would probably reveal that you knew way too much about him. You settle on bringing him a plate of cookies that you’d made the night before. 

You hum to yourself as you walk back to the parlor, catching him just as he’s saying goodbye to whoever he was talking to. He accepts the coke with a nod and grins as soon as he sees the plate of cookies, his impossibly wide eyes growing even larger as he looks them over. He grabs one and takes a huge bite, munching happily. 

“By the way, I fixed your wallpaper.” 

You startle and glance at him curiously, trying to remember what it had been. Oh…

“Yugyeom, really?” 

He shakes his head at you teasingly and tosses you the phone. He’s changed the wallpaper to himself. A selfie, actually, with your window that faced the ocean sitting in the background. 

“Hey, he’s adorable, okay?” 

Jungkook snorts and grabs another cookie, settling into the grey couch with a sigh. 

“My manager will be here in a little while to pick me up. Thanks again.” 

“It’s really no problem.” 

“So, you work here by yourself or…?” 

“I own the place, actually. I saved up most of my pay when I was abroad and put it together with some loans and what I managed to save up over the years. Poured pretty much everything into this place. It’s modest compared to what else you can find around here, but I love it.” 

He nods, “It’s nice. It feels safe here.” 

You smile happily, “That’s what I’m going for. Hence the name.” 

“Where did you live in Korea?” 

“Busan, actually.” 

He excitedly blurts out, “That’s where I’m from!” 

You snort, “I know. I actually taught at Baekyang middle school. Every class liked to remind me that “Jungkook went here, did you know that.” Drove me crazy.” 

He laughs, shaking his shaggy hair. “What’s your favorite place there?” 

You thought for a moment. “Probably Dadaepo beach. I liked to go make a whole day of it and go bird-watching, have a picnic on the beach, just relax. I liked that it wasn’t as packed as the other places. Reminded me of my favorite place here at home, actually, so I’d usually go whenever I felt a little homesick.” 

He nods, “I know the place. I like to go there and draw, sometimes. Not that I’m home much, anymore.” 

“Can I ask what you’re doing here, of all places?” 

He shrugs, “We were doing some work with an artist that lives around here. I can’t say what. I had some free time today, so I went exploring. I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium because I heard they have sharks, but they didn’t. I was told I could get some good shots of the ocean here, though.” 

“Ah, the great white. Poor dude died awhile ago. They still have tiger sharks and stuff, but I get it. As for pictures, try Lover’s Point Park. Best place for that, despite the name,” you laugh. 

He grins and nods, taking a sip of his drink. The two of you fall into silence as you wait for his ride. You feel maybe a tad bit shy and awkward, but not too bad. He seems perfectly content sitting there, swaying side to side as though it’s impossible for him to sit still. 

Thor finally comes back from his trip to the backyard, heading straight for Jungkook. He stops right in front of him and waits patiently. Jungkook smiles and holds out his hand, which Thor takes as permission to come near. He immediately plops his head onto Jungkook’s thighs, his tail wagging crazily. 

“He’s so nice. What’s his name?” 

“This is Thor,” you answer with a smile. “Man, he really likes you.” 

Jungkook giggles and scratches Thor’s ear. 

Suddenly, there’s a frantic knock on the front door. You frown slightly, sad that this has to end so quickly. You feel like you just came off as some boring old lady without a single interesting thing to say, despite the fact that you were only a few years older than him. Hardly ancient and not even near enough thirty to start panicking yet. You supposed, in the end, it doesn’t really matter. You’d never see him again. His group never even has concerts anywhere near you, so really, it doesn’t matter if you were memorable or not. You managed to give him some help when he needed it and that was enough. 

He stood up slowly and shuffled towards the door, ignoring it when the knock came again. He sighed and stuffed his feet into his shoes and turned to you with a small smile. 

“Thank you for your help, noona. I really appreciated it. I won’t let Manager Sejin in because I know he’ll try to make you sign stuff, but I trust you.” 

“Oh, if you want me to sign something, I will.” 

He shook his head. “It’s okay. I always feel weird making people do that anyway.” The knocking grows louder, making Jungkook frown at the door. “Guess I really need to go.” 

“Yeah, it was nice meeting you, Jeon Jungkook.” 

He grins and holds out his hand, his larger one engulfing yours completely when you accept his handshake. He bows over your connected hands. 

“It was nice meeting you too, Y/N.” 

He finally opens the front door himself, and you catch a glimpse of the famous Manager Sejin before Jungkook is dragging him down your stone pathway towards a tinted black SUV. You stand in the open doorway, leaning against the frame as you watch him climb in and roll down the window. He waves enthusiastically at you, smiling so much his eyes do the crinkle on the sides that never fails to make your heart flutter. You wave back despite Sejin watching you closely. You watch as the car pulls away, waiting until the last flicker of black is gone before shutting your door and leaning against it. 

So...that just happened. 

Your mind was trying hard to process everything. You couldn’t really figure out how you were supposed to feel. If you were some crazy fangirl you’d probably be screaming right now, but that didn’t feel right. Still...your heart was beating insanely fast, and your hands were still shaking. You’d hidden it fairly well while Jungkook had been here, but you’d gotten pretty good about hiding your anxiety over the years. 

You wander back to your parlor and drop into the high-backed recliner that was your favorite, Thor promptly running over and laying his head onto your lap. You slowly comb your hands through his fur and try to calm down, focusing on your breathing and Thor’s comforting presence.

Once you were calm enough, you head to your office and lose yourself in busy work. Even though you didn’t have any guests at the moment, you still had plenty of future bookings to prepare for, and there was always paperwork to do.  

You’d managed to not think about him or what had happened for a whole three hours, until your message tone beeped and you looked at your phone. There was that selfie again, with his cute smile and happy v sign...and a message from a “JK.” 

JK: Hi, Y/N Noona! I sent myself a message earlier so I could thank you properly. They tracked down my phone for me! What can I do for you? Tickets? Signed something? 

You: I don’t need anything. Just stay safe. 

JK: I’m going to figure something out on my own then! And you can’t complain! 

You: You’re very stubborn ._. 

JK: I know ;) 

Jk: I have to go. Hyung’s are giving me the look. Goodnight! Pet Thor for me. 

You: Will do. Night. 

You sigh and set down your phone, patting your cheeks, surprised and yet not to find that they are burning. You’re blushing like a middle schooler over a couple of meaningless messages! Most likely he would forget all about you by tomorrow, knowing how hectic his life is. You didn’t blame him for that, but it was sweet that he was so insistent on thanking you for something any decent person would do. 

You ruffle your hair and head to the kitchen to make dinner. It was best to just get back into your routine and move on with your life. There was no chance you’d ever see Jeon Jungkook again. 

[tarithenurse]

On my mind, in my Soul - 3

Prompt: Three items to intergrate: Purple, Art Installation, and Crazy by Gnarles Barkley (passages shown as blockquotes). Pairing: Loki x Burglar!reader. Content: Angst x a lot, references to violence, criminal activities, dislike of modern art, abduction, swearing...maybe other stuff too... A/N: It’s the Loki we know, but he’s made himself a home on Earth, curating an impressive collection of valuables from across the universe – all for himself and the fame he finds despite the New York incident.

Crazy

The next day, you’d been sore. Cold into the bones in a way that no hot showers or mugs of tea could purge because it wasn’t just physical. The “visit” and events at Loki’s manor had been bad enough. You hadn’t needed him showing up in your room, your home, only for you to want him so shamelessly as you had to the point where you’d begged for him without a care of what might happen. But in the harsh light of day, it scared you shitless how easily you’d given in.

I remember, I remember when I lost my mind There was something so pleasant about that place

That’s when you made the decision.

Taking the pendant, you’d placed it in a box with a note telling him you didn’t want to play his games. It had smarted when you slid the lid on, hiding the gleaming eye from view to be wrapped up in brown paper, tape, and a hastily scribbled address. The same day you sent it, you sold the little apartment and took refuge in the safehouse where you hopefully could plot your next steps in safety.

Hopefully.

It was tempting to keep running until you’d reached the other side of the earth where no one would know you and you could start over, pretending to be someone else. But each time you considered the idea, the chill would stir in your bones, reminding you just how quickly he’d found you. No. It wouldn’t help to run, because how could you hide from a magic-wielding extra-terrestrial? Even across the ocean, it’d just be a matter of time before he’d find you if that’s what he wanted…and you’d have no way to stand your ground. Whenever you got to this point in your internal ramblings, you’d hear his voice seething with anger at the idea that he might take you against your will. Oddly…you believed that, at least. Maybe it was the memory of the blow sending you skidding across the gleaming floor in his home?

That hadn’t been his magic. Watching yourself in the mirror, the decision made itself for you, and over the next days you snuck out to pick up the equipment you needed, making sure to stay away from your usual haunts.

You spend months staying indoors as much as possible, the time used on online studies and all the training you could accomplish within the safety of the walls of your home. And why not? The last few jobs had lined the coffers plenty and you had no interest in drawing attention to yourself or your hiding hole.

So the instructional videos kept rolling as you mimicked the movements and stances, soon discarding the padding on the dummies and the gloves because you knew none of the pretence would steel you for the real deal. Hands and wrists bruised after the thousands of impacts with the hard material, your ankles had twisted on more than one occasion, adding a limp to your normally cat-like movements.

…

A person can only stay cooped up due to external influences for so long before they begin to feel a prisoner in their own home. Pacing the concrete floors, there’s no joy to find in the sheltered place because you need to breathe freely again, need to navigate the bustle of the city and be a part of it rather than simply watching from the outside. And you need a challenge. Money’s not run out yet, but it’s getting closer which tempts you to pick your old contacts for a connection. A job that entails more than just making a plan based on information other people have provided that they too will be the ones to pull off. And of course the perfect temptation’s waiting for you…there’s just one hiccup…

And I hope that you are having the time of your life But think twice That’s my only advice

…

Gliding through the crowd like liquid purple, it takes little effort to make it to the place in the gallery where the object’s hanging. Art, fart. The artist is more than famous throughout the world, but most of his works contain less meaning than the concrete of the building…although you find the huge legume-seed childishly entertaining with the warped reflections. These installations? Huge discs with various colours, sculptures any Freudian psychologists would celebrate, and splashes of bloodred on shredded and pulled canvasses that makes you think of hospitals and pain. You can’t help the scoff that escapes you.

“Not to your liking?” The smooth voice curls around you like a snake.

There’s no reason to look for the speaker because only one person is capable of scaring and arousing you with a simple sentence. Not this time. Without an answer, you leave Loki standing before the black void of a concave, the rustle of the silk dress soothing your nerves only slightly.

You’ve seen what you need to formulate a plan, shocked at the lax in security at the private gallery where works regularly are auctioned off to the rich crowd, the ones who always are eager to seem like they live the perfect life when in reality theirs suck just as badly as anyone else’s…it’s just nicer to cry in an Aston Martin. With a notoriety like that, it isn’t a surprise that Loki’s around even though you’d hoped to be lucky because modern art isn’t anywhere to be seen in his collection.

He corners you at the wardrobe, of course. Why had you decided to check in your coat? Right, you weren’t allowed to carry it with you…maybe they thought people would sneak out a one and-a-half meter in diameter art installation under the trench coat. Either way, you just have time to consider leaving the piece of clothing behind when the cool of his presence envelops you, sweetly familiar yet frighteningly so.

“[Y/N]…”

There’s a pained edge to his voice that makes the air stick in your throat and your hands shake when you accept the coat from the attendant who’s blissfully unaware of the severity of the situation. Just a few words, a plea for help, and you’d be safe from the Asgardian. For a while. The admission carries dread, drenching you in silent resignation from its wake. Not giving in, though, and you pull the coat on before turning, striding past the tall man who’s dressed in his signature black and green.

Cold air fills your lungs and shimmies up your bare legs. Already, a cab’s waiting by the curb hoping for a fare and maybe a fat tip considering the visitors to the gallery behind you. Voicelessly, you slip in, collecting the purple fabric before closing the door. Only then do you urge him to drive, the destiny’s a fancy hotel.

As the engine rumbles, propelling the car onto the road and through the checkered pattern of the city while you see absolutely nothing of the scenery, too engulfed in your thoughts. You’re supposed to be plotting now, conjuring up the elegant plans ensuring you not just access to, but also an exit route with, the prize that will land you a fat paycheck…still, the task is jarring as every thought is disrupted by the echo of Loki’s voice and the haunting glimpse you’d seen of his face.

Not my bloody problem! Groaning silently, your head lolls onto the headrest beside yours. So what, if the man’s looking haggard? An obsession burning in his eyes that’s nearly drowned out by a pain you don’t want to recognize because if you do, you’ll know how badly off you are too. Fuck. Everything would’ve been simpler if you’d never decided to rob the God of Mischief, but here you are and it was only your logic telling you to run.

Here we are.

Here we are?

Sitting up straight, you study the world outside the cab with big eyes, hands clenched into white-knuckled fists in your lap. You aren’t on the way to the hotel, you’re not even anywhere near the neighbourhood you’d planned for but rather in an area with rich brick houses spread wide enough to hide on lawns surrounded by bushes and trees, the only official access points being the gated driveways. Just as you reach for the door handle, the car bumps over the softened curb and pushes a puff of stale air past your trembling lips, but the door’s locked and the driver ignores your frantic pleas when you urge him to let you out, to let you go. Anything but bringing you to Loki’s manor looming ahead in the dark.

Your struggle continues when the car door finally opens to allow a couple of burly private guards to reach for you. Fuck, are you happy you’ve spent all that time training martial arts and self defense…but in the end, there’s nothing you can do against these bundles of muscle and you’re dragged through the house up to the top floor where you’re deposited in a bedroom.

Ever since I was little it looked like fun And it's no coincidence I've come And I can die when I'm done

Dishevelled and afraid, you scream yourself hoarse while pounding at the door, only interrupted when you try to unlock windows with the few tools you’d snug along in the purse, but nothing helps, and you sink onto the blackness on the giant bed. No tears. Fighting back the desperation, you take in the surroundings, noting the wall-to-wall wardrobe covered in mirrors which makes the room seem grander than it is. Not that it needs extra square meters added to the endless moss-green carpet that’s the resting place for furniture of honeyed wood and leather. Pillows of the signature green silk are tastefully tossed onto a low, soft bench by the window and next to you on the bed, echoing the shade across the floor. There’s another door, nearly invisibly carved into the wall, which brings a shimmer of hope back into your heart only to be smothered when all it turns out to be is a private bathroom.

…

You’ve gone through every nook and cranny the two rooms in search of a way to get out. After that, you’ve spent some time simply nosing about to learn more about the god before eventually taking care of your appearance. The way you see it, you might as well appear on top on the situation if you’re going to have to talk yourself out of this mess…if Loki can be reasoned with, that is.

Regardless, your heart lodges itself in your throat at the sound of a key in the lock. Refusing to turn, there’s only the warped reflection in the window to prove that it really is him, your captor, that enters and relocks the door, adding a golden shimmer to the mechanism with a wave of his hand. Not a word’s uttered as he discards the suit jacket and then the tie onto a chair by the wardrobe.

The heavy sigh rattles you to your core. “I’m sorry for this, [Y/N].” Glancing briefly, you see how he runs a hand over his face, rubbing the tired eyes momentarily. “I can only imagine what you must think of me, truly…but I need you to hear me out, alright?”

It’s not like you have a choice, really, and this conversation has started nothing like you’d expected. “Then talk.”

[xukunstellation]

Fantasy Fest Series: By Your Side || Mu Ziyang [Werewolf!AU]

Title: By Your Side Pairing: Reader x Ziyang Genre: Werewolf!AU + fluff Word Count: 2,774 words Summary: Walking in the dark is always scary, but at least you had your new canine friend to be with you every step of the way.

A/N: Fourth installment of Fantasy Fest, which ranked third in the poll. I struggled a bit on deciding who to choose for this particular fic, but I finally settle on Werewolf!Ziyang thanks to some lovely followers! Ziyang is my bias wrecker in Oner (can you guess my actual bias) despite him being so underrated. So, this one goes out to you Ziyang! 

okay can we talk about how HANDSOME ziyang looks in that gif?

a straight up GOD

still shocks me to this day that he didn’t rank in top 10 for ip visuals

world’s greatest mystery

let’s start, shall we?

you lived in a relatively small village where everyone seemed to know each other

businesses thrived, everyone was healthy and children ran around freely 

the crime rate was also relatively low, especially since everyone seemed to always be looking out for each other and helping one another

for example you were well acquainted with the butcher’s daughter, the seamstress’ son, the woman who ran the local inn, etc

you felt lucky to call this safe haven of yours your home

so where did you fit in this picturesque image?

you were the village herbalist

at your cozy cottage located near the outskirts of the village, you planted and harvested medicinal plants, roots and herbs 

your services often worked hand in hand with the village’s apothecary ran by a close friend of yours

hint hint nudge nudge wink wink

speaking of apothecary, you were headed there now after your friend had requested you via letter

entering the dainty shop, you saw your friend whispering angrily to an unknown presence behind them that you couldn’t see. when they noticed your presence, they coughed in surprise before awkwardly hurrying to the front counter to greet you

“hi (y/n)! glad to see you again”

“it’s good to see you, too. it’s been a while. is everything alright? you seem a bit flustered” you asked in concern

“ah no, i’m fine. don’t worry about it. some... things can be very annoying”

as if some presence was offended by their words, a jar unceremoniously was knocked off of the counter on its own. if it weren’t for your fast reflexes, it would have shattered on the floor

as you placed the jar back on the counter, you missed the way your friend’s eye twitched in annoyance 

“sorry i’m really clumsy today” 

you saw with your own eyes that they hadn’t even touched the jar, but you chose not to question it since you understood that they were secretive about certain things and you didn’t want to pry

“it’s okay. did you need something? you didn’t specify in the letter”

“oh, that’s right! i was wondering if you had any moonflower petals?”

thinking back to your garden at home, you couldn’t recall growing the said plant mainly because they were so delicate and hard to maintain, even for an experienced herbalist like yourself

“sorry, i don’t believe i have any” you apologized sadly

your friend looked disheartened, “i was afraid you’d say that. i desperately need some to make a cure for goblin cough”

like a switch going off in your head, you remembered that moonflowers were in season and if you were lucky, you’d be able to find some in the surrounding woods of the village

“i can go try and find some in the woods for you. i know exactly where they tend to grow and i’m probably the only one who knows how to harvest them correctly” you offered

“will you be okay? the woods can be very dangerous if you’re out there on your own” they questioned in concern

“i’ll be fine. you know how strong i can be. i’ll try not to wander too far in and i’ll bring my dagger with me for protection just in case”

although they seemed reluctant, they agreed to your offer. you knew they seemed to be in a hurry, so you made quick note of heading out to the woods tonight since that’s when it was easiest to find the flowers

when night fell, you set out to the woods with your trusty woven basket linked on your left arm and a lit lantern in your right hand

hearing the crunch of leaves and sticks under your boots, you used the light of your lantern to scour the area

moonflowers were a special species of flowers; they grew only during the night. like the moon it was named for, the petals were uniquely shaped into crescent moons. the flower also emitted a soft white glow that resembled moonlight

as you walked deeper into the woods, you heard the howl of an unknown creature in the distance that sent shivers down your spine

you were well aware of the numerous creatures that lurked in the forest at night so you were determined to make quick work and gtfo of there

in the corner of your eyes, you spotted that soft white glow you were anticipating for

walking past a few more trees, a huge smile grew on your face when you saw an entire patch of moonflowers growing under a cedar tree

as you carefully plucked the previous flowers and placed them into your basket, you heard a loud crunch behind you

you froze 

you then heard the low grumble of a growl permeate through the air

fuck 

slowly turning around, you dropped your basket and a squeak left your lips as you saw a massive wolf standing right in front of you

it was easily almost twice your size. its mouth was opened slightly, revealing sharp rows of teeth within. despite how dark it was out, you could still make out the wolf’s golden irises staring straight at you

falling on your butt, your body was wracked with tremors as you cowered in fear. your mind went blank and you completely forgot about the dagger that was hidden in your boot

the wolf took a few steps closer to you and you knew you were done for

clenching your eyes, you began to cry as you braced yourself for your impending death

imagine your surprise when instead of an agonizingly painful chomp, you felt a large smooth tongue lap away at your tears on your cheeks

even in your fear-induced state, giggles bubbled out of your mouth at the ticklish sensation 

at the pleasant sound of your voice, the large canine happily increased in its ministrations and licked at your face more enthusiastically  

“well you aren’t very scary after all, huh?” you mused as you scratched its neck. “you’re just one big cuddly puppy, aren’t you?”

the wolf playfully loomed over your form and nipped at your fingers as if indicating to you that it was far from being a puppy

you chuckled, wiping away the slobber off of your face “sorry, i know you’re a big boy... or girl?”

the animal growled lowly in protest as you mentioned ‘girl’ to it

“okay, boy for sure. you scared me half to death!” you scolded in which the canine licked your cheek once again in apology

as you ran your hands through its thick fur, you admired how silky smooth his fur was as well as its pretty shade of ash blonde 

“are you out here on your own?” you asked it

he shook his head

“that’s a relief to hear. you have someone to keep you company,” you said wistfully more so to yourself then to him

for as long as you remembered you lived alone, so you imagined what it was like to live with several others

you felt him nudge his muzzle into your neck in a comforting manner, making you smile softly

“well i have to head back home now. it’s not safe for me to be out this late and i’ve already gotten what i needed”

standing up, you picked up your fallen basket filled with your bundle of moonflowers

relighting your lantern with a spare match, you smiled at the wolf in goodbye and walked away to head back home

a few minutes in of walking, you heard rustling and you looked to see your new wolf friend trailing behind you

you tilted your head in confusion, “did you need something?”

he only walked towards you and nudged you forward, urging you to continue on your path. confused, you went back to walking but this time with him walking right beside you. then you understood what we was doing.

“ah, keeping me company and making sure i get out safe? thank you.”

you scratched behind his ears in gratitude, holding back a laugh as he struggled to keep his eyes open as you did so

when you saw the edge of the forest approaching, he halted to a stop, making sure he was well hidden in the shadows

“i’ll make sure to visit you again” you promised him, crouching down to his level. “in the meantime, what shall i call you?”

you were caught off guard by a masculine voice echoing in the back of your head

“ziyang” you repeated the voice in a whisper

the wolf barked in response, seemingly pleased that you referred to him by his real name

but how the hell did you know that? 

you didn’t have any time to question it further because ziyang had ran back into the forest and out of sight

when you went back to the apothecary the next day to deliver the moonflowers, your friend was thrilled and paid you accordingly for your efforts

“thank you, (y/n)! you’re a lifesaver”

“it’s no problem. let me know if you need me to gather anything else for you”

you were all too eager when your friend indeed had a list of ingredients that they were running low on stock on, all of which were grown in the forest 

something strong pulled at your chest at the thought of seeing a certain wolf

returning to the forest a few days later, you tried to follow the same path that you did the first time hoping it’ll lead you to ziyang again

while gathering a bunch of pygmy mushrooms, you heard a familiar low grumble and smiled brightly when you saw ziyang enter through the bushes

“i was hoping to see you again” you grinned, dropping everything to cradle his face and pet him affectionately

ziyang returned the affection with a lick to your cheek, rubbing his entire body into you and almost knocking you completely over causing you to laugh

“i see someone missed me too” you chuckled. “i brought something for you to thank you for escorting me out the other day”

looking into your basket, you took out a separate container and opened it to reveal a large raw steak you got from the butcher. holding it out to him with your hand, ziyang carefully pulled it away from your fingers and scarfed it down 

you were pleasantly surprised by how gentle he was considering he looked like he could devour you in one bite

just like before, ziyang stayed by your side the entire duration 

and so this became a regular thing for you and ziyang

every time you had to head back into the forest for ingredient scavenging, ziyang would always guard you throughout the process and walk you back to the entrance of the forest but never stepping out of it

you enjoyed talking to the large wolf, even though he never said anything back to you

however you suspected he understood every word you were saying judging by his body language

“the mason’s son is definitely fooling around with the merchant’s son, don’t you think?” *ziyang nods*

“i might have to skip dinner tonight if i want to make sure i plant the sapplings in time” *ziyang nips at your hand and shakes his head in disapproval*

“if you wore trousers, would you wear it only on your hind legs like a human or would you need custom pants to wear on all four legs?”

*ziyang has left the chat*

although no real words were exchanged, it was like you were talking to another human being no matter how silly it may have looked from the outside

you were once again walking through the forest to gather some more roots and plants for the apothecary 

however, after fifteen minutes of being on your own (ziyang usually found you within five minutes of you entering the woods), your furry companion was no where in sight

you were beginning to grow worried when more time passed and he still hadn’t shown up

you heard rustling come from beside you. using your lantern, you held it out in front of you and just briefly caught ash blonde locks duck behind a set of trees

“ziyang? is that you?”

the male whimpered in response, making your eyebrows furrow in worry

why did it look like he was hiding from you? 

“are you hurt?” you asked, taking a step forward towards him

you were astonished when the male growled at you in warning. however, it wasn’t in a threatening manner. it sounded like he was afraid

why would he suddenly be afraid of you?

“sweetie, it’s okay. it’s just me. you know i would never hurt you. come out, please?”

there was a moment of silence as ziyang contemplated your words before coming to a decision

however, you were astonished once more when instead of the four legged companion you expected, an unfamiliar male stepped out from behind the trees

the stranger was very tall and you had to lean your head up to look him in the face, which was framed with long light blonde hair. aside from a pair of trousers, he was devoid of any other clothes

but what caught your attention more was the fact that his entire upper body, hands, and feet were entirely covered in fur. your eyes trailed to the claws at the ends of his hands

moving your gaze to meet his eyes, you saw golden eyes looking at you with a mix of guilt, fear and a bit of hope

you could recognize those golden eyes and fur color anywhere

���...ziyang?”

ziyang looked physically relieved that you recognized him, but he made no move to step towards you

“it’s me...” he said, and you realized it matched that same voice you heard in your head a few weeks ago

“so this in entire time, you were a...”

“werewolf. i’m a werewolf and belong to a pack who rule these woods”

that explained why he understood everything you said and knew exactly how to find you each time you came

he wasn’t just a wolf

he was a wolf wolf

a diggity dang werewolf

while trying to process that thought in your mind, ziyang sighed sadly and took a tentative step towards you

“please don’t be afraid. i promise it’s still me. just in a different form than you’re used to” he explained and stopped a respectable few feet away from you 

you should have been afraid of him, but you weren’t. just like he said, he was still the ziyang you knew and adored

slowly walking towards him, you gently placed a hand over his heart, feeling it beat rapidly against your palm

“it really is you. i was scared something happened to you tonight,” you lightly slapped his bare chest and he winced in mock pain

“sorry, sweet. to be fair, you scare me as well”

you cheeks tinted pink at the sudden pet name. “s-sweet? and how can someone like me scare someone like you?”

“how can you not? whenever you’re around, i feel this innate need to protect you. i get excited at just the mere thought of seeing you again. you look at me with those pretty little eyes of yours and i lose all focus. one smile from you and i’m completely at your mercy. what have you done to me? you’re absolutely terrifying”

you felt that same strong pull tug at your heartstrings again, overwhelming your entire being but you welcomed the warm sensation

his words only made your heart beat even more

“i still find the idea that a big wolf like yourself has fallen for an ordinary human like me”

“you better get used to it because i intend on courting this ordinary human as my mate”

“m-mate?”

“mhm”

now that he knew you weren’t afraid of him, ziyang seemed to have made a full 180. instead of the timid being a few minutes ago, he stood charismatically in an almost alluring manner. his eyes though still held that same playful and soft gaze you realized he always looked at you with

“you sure you won’t regret it? courting me isn’t an easy feat”

“for you, i’ll do anything”

at this rate, you had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before you fell for him too

fin

okay but werewolf!ziyang is hella sexy

and anyone who disagrees is lying to themselves

i love ziyang

stan oner

stan mu ziyang