#maid living with a good master T-T

[melancholy-of-nadia]

infatuation (m) | myg

title: infatuation pairing: yoongi x f. reader rating/genre: m ; smut ; agust d universe (AgustDverse based in Haegeum) ; gang leader / mafia AU summary:  Living with fragmented and blurry memories has lead you to live under the roof of Bangkok's biggest secret crime boss, Agust D, as his bodyguard. Though, being confined to the mansion most of the time has made you feel isolated, craving freedom and answers. When he decides to take you out to dinner for the first time, the atmosphere is charged with tension and suspicion. You're not the only one who's patience is wearing thin, however, instead, it's discovering this man's infatuation with you that will lead you to change your mind. warnings:  weapon mention (katana), reader has minor amnesia, back and forth arguing, murder mention, deep fish imagery/analogy, haegeum!suga mention, dominant haegeum! agust d, making out, penthouse s*x, f*ngering, cl*t stimulation, orgasm denial, choking, power imbalance, bl*w job, bre*st play, spiting, deep throating, pet names, agust d praises you by calling you "good girl", unprotected s*x, lowkey breeding k*nk, choking, possessiveness, multiple orgasms, uh i think that's it!... yandere? haegeum!agust d maybe note: it's been a year since i uploaded my first fic in this universe i call the AgustDverse. Also the first fic that got me into writing bts fics! I've been requested to continue this universe by my dear friend @daegudrama. I don't know if it'll ever become an actual cohesive series, but if you guys like it, let me know! also this is veerrrryyyyy much unedited im sorry i will edit later word count: 6.0k drop date: August 6th, 2024 7:30pm PST mood playlist | ao3 link – –

You never thought you'd find yourself in this situation—nestled within the mansion walls of a mafia boss masquerading as a police detective. 

Known as Agust D. 

How did you get here? It's a question that continuously echoes through your mind like a constant drumbeat. 

It’s not an easy question to answer. It’s actually pretty complicated. Time travel? A quantum jump? You don’t know whatever scientific phenomenon this is. 

But for your own sanity, you decided not to dwell too much on it, especially when the present demands your full attention.

Agust has let you live here under the guise of acting as his bodyguard, which is perhaps the strangest thing you've ever done. You had no prior guarding experience, but the katana sword that hangs by your side now tells otherwise. This item is a constant reminder of your supposed purpose here: to protect the mansion, to protect Agust D. But deep down, you know there's more to this arrangement than meets the eye.

Tonight, however, is different. Agust D, the enigmatic master of this mansion, has extended an invitation—an invitation to dine at an upscale Chinese restaurant. It's a rare opportunity to step beyond the confines of these walls, to breathe in the outside world, if only for a fleeting moment.

As you stand before the full-length mirror in your room, you can't help but feel a surge of apprehension. The maids have stated that Agust D insisted you wear a black satin dress he selected for the occasion—a garment that feels foreign against your skin, yet somehow fitting for the night. You’re too used to wearing a collared white button-up and a plaid skirt for most of the time while you’re at the mansion. You don’t know how long you’d been wearing that, but definitely longer than a young girl who’s in prep school.

Adjusting the delicate fabric, you take in your reflection, the unfamiliarity of the attire almost unnerving. 

A knock at the door interrupts your contemplation, and without waiting for a response, Agust D enters, his presence commanding the room. Dressed in a tailored black suit that exudes power and authority, he regards you with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You look stunning," he remarks, a hint of satisfaction tugging at the corners of his lips. "Are you ready to go?"

With a half nod, you follow him down the stairs and out of the mansion, the cool night air wrapping around you like a shroud of secrecy. Then you hop into the black sports car, which Yoongi decides to drive this time instead of his chauffeur.

The journey to the restaurant is silent, punctuated only by the quiet sounds of the piano music playing, which came from connecting Agust D’s phone to the car’s aux.

He really does love Ryuichi Sakamoto’s music, you comment internally to yourself.

When you arrive at the restaurant, you're met with the grandeur of an upscale Chinese eatery perched on the top floor of a hotel building. The space is a harmonious blend of modern elegance and traditional opulence. As you step inside, the ambient chatter of elite people and the soft clinking of cutlery fill the air, creating a lively yet refined atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the muted silence of the mansion.

The restaurant’s interior is a feast for the senses. Rich, dark wood paneling lines the walls, accented by gold and red details that evoke a sense of luxury. Elegant lanterns hang from the ceiling, their warm, golden light casting a gentle glow across the room. The tables are adorned with crisp white linens, polished silverware, and delicate porcelain dishes, each piece carefully chosen to complement the sophisticated ambiance.

The scent of Chinese cuisine mingles with the faint aroma of incense, creating an inviting and tantalizing atmosphere. The restaurant's design features intricate latticework and traditional Chinese artwork, adding a touch of cultural authenticity to the modern setting. Plush, comfortable chairs surround each table, offering a sense of intimacy and relaxation.

As the restaurant host takes note of Agust D standing beside you, there’s a brief moment of panic in his eyes. He quickly ushers you both to a secluded corner of the establishment, a private nook separated from the rest of the dining area by elegant silk drapes. This area, though separated, still enjoys a view of the city skyline through large, floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking panorama of the illuminated city below. 

You are seated across from Agust, but there’s still a subtle awkward atmosphere surrounding the both of you when he orders and after the food arrives. 

For a moment, the clinking of silverware against porcelain fills the silence before Agust D finally speaks.

"Do you still not remember anything?" 

You hesitate, uncertainty flickering in the depths of your eyes about how to respond to him. "Bits and pieces," you admit, your gaze lingering on the dimly lit surroundings. "But nothing concrete. It's like trying to grasp at shadows."

His expression remains impassive, but you catch a fleeting glimpse of something else—something akin to regret, perhaps, or even longing. "It will come back to you," he says, his tone softer than before. "With time."

You only nod, going back to eating one of the xiaolongbao at the center of the table.

The air between you and Agust D grows heavier once again with unspoken words. You don’t like the silence. As someone who is very self-aware of their self, you feel compelled to break the silence to not be stuck in your head. 

"Agust D," you begin tentatively, the name feeling foreign on your tongue yet strangely familiar. You don’t refer to him by name often, as you opt for ‘sir’ or the occasional ‘Hyungnim’. "Why did you bring me here tonight? You never do this sort of thing…"

He regards you with an intensity that sends a shiver down your spine. "Well, you've been cooped up in that mansion for so long," he replies cryptically, his gaze piercing through the facade you've carefully constructed. “Thought it would be good to treat you for your work.”

"But why now?" you press, unable to suppress the curiosity gnawing at your insides. "And wearing this?" You refer to the short piece of black fabric covering you.

Agust D's lips quirk up in a wry smile, though there's no warmth in it. "Maybe I wanted to see how you'd be like out… not on duty," he muses, his eyes never leaving yours. "Or perhaps I simply wanted company for the evening."

Company, huh? From the outside, it looks like you’re on a date. You wouldn’t doubt the restaurant staff is already gossiping from behind the curtains partitioning you from the rest of the world.

You can't help but feel a sense of unease at his words, a nagging suspicion that there's more to his motives than meets the eye. "Is that really all?" you press, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "Or is there something else you're not telling me?"

For a moment, Agust D's mask slips, revealing a flicker of vulnerability beneath the facade of indifference. "There's always more to say," he murmurs, his gaze turning distant as if lost in memories you can't access. "But some things are better left unsaid."

What does he even mean by that? You feel like every time you speak even a bit casually to this man, you only end up more confused and maybe even a bit more scared.

"Agust D," you venture cautiously, "...are you still looking for Suga?"

At the mention of the name, a shadow passes over Agust D's features, his expression hardening into a mask of resolve. "Suga," he repeats, the name dripping with bitterness and contempt. "Of course I’m looking for him. That man is nothing but trouble. I need to get rid of him."

You can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the man whose name hangs between you like a specter, a reminder of the past you can't quite grasp. "But why? Why do you hate him so much?" you ask softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Agust D's eyes darken with a mix of anger and regret, a storm raging beneath the surface. "He’s got my face and that in itself is a danger to all of us," he admits, his voice raw with emotion. "He could also be the answer to everything I've lost, but it’s better if that answer is never revealed."

The words hang heavy in the air from a confession laden with pain. And as you gaze into the depths of Agust D's eyes, you realize that beneath the cold exterior lies a man haunted by his past—a man who, like you, is searching for answers, but afraid to confront them. You want to pry into what he means, but you’re scared that he may act aggressively. So instead you change the topic.

"Don’t you know his whereabouts though?" you inquire softly, your voice laced with concern.

Agust D's gaze meets yours. "I do," he confirms, his voice low and measured. "He’s in Chinatown. Living in an apartment at the end of Weng Nakorn Kasem. But I can’t act on impulse. I’m too heavily involved in the Asia Pacific Police Union, and that already involves too many variables, too many unknowns."

A sense of foreboding settles over you as you listen to his words, the weight of his burdens pressing down on you like a suffocating blanket. "What do you mean?" you press, your voice barely a whisper.

Agust D sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I can't move against him yet," he admits, his tone laced with resignation. "Not until I know how many people are on my side. There are spies within the organization. If I act too quickly, I could end up getting myself killed…"

The gravity of his words hangs heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the fragile truce that exists between you. And yet, despite the dangers that lurk in the darkness, you can't help but feel a flicker of hope. If you help him in capturing Suga, then maybe you’ll be able to piece your own puzzle together.

But would that even be a good idea?

"Agust D," you say softly, smiling gently at him, "you know you don't have to face this alone. Whatever happens, I'll stand by your side. Not like I have much of a choice anyway." Your words trail off at the end. He doesn’t comment on it though.

For a moment, there's a vulnerability in Agust D's gaze, a fleeting glimpse of the man beneath the mask. He reaches out to take your hand, his expression softening ever so slightly at your words. "Thanks," he murmurs, his voice a whisper in the dimly lit restaurant.

“It’s my job after all.”

––––––

After finishing dinner, the two of you begin to walk out of the restaurant, entering a long hallway that leads to large red sliding doors that exit.  Your eyes drift toward the grand wall aquarium positioned near the exit, its towering glass panels reflecting the soft glow of the overhead lights.

The aquarium is a masterpiece of design, housing a diverse array of aquatic life within its transparent confines. Colorful coral reefs sway gently in the water, their vibrant hues casting mesmerizing patterns of light and shadow across the sandy substrate below.

But amidst the bustling underwater ecosystem, your gaze fixates on a lone goldfish, its sleek form gliding gracefully through the water. Its vibrant orange scales shimmer in the ambient light, a stark contrast to the subdued colors of its surroundings.

A pang of concern tugs at your heart as you watch the solitary fish navigate its artificial habitat. Don't goldfish typically reside in tranquil ponds, surrounded by the soothing sounds of nature? Is it even safe for them to be confined within the confines of this glass enclosure?

Lost in thought, you fail to notice Agust D's departure until you feel a gentle tug on your arm. Startled, you turn to find him regarding you with a curious expression, his gaze flickering between you and the aquarium.

"What's on your mind?" he asks softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You tear your gaze away from the mesmerizing display before you, your thoughts still lingering on the lone koi fish. "I was just...thinking about that fish," you admit, gesturing toward the aquarium.

“The goldfish?”

“Mhm,” As you stand there, watching the solitary koi fish swim about, a wistful sigh escapes your lips. "I wish I were a fish sometimes," you murmur.

As funny as your sentence sounds, you thought the older man would laugh at you for making a comment like that. However, Agust D's gaze flickers at you, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. 

"Why's that?" he asks, his voice soft with intrigue.

You pause, contemplating your answer as you watch the graceful movements of the fish. "Uh, well they seem so free," you explain, your voice tinged with longing. “They get to go wherever they want. move through life with such ease in the water, not burdened by the weight of the world.”

As you continue to watch the fish, a sense of yearning wells up within you—a desire to shed the constraints of your human existence. "Sometimes," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper, "I wish I could trade places with that fish just so I could be able to live freely, to live without my own burdens."

Agust D nods in understanding, a silent reassurance amid your musings. "But you know, even fish have their own struggles. I mean, look at it, it’s trapped in this Chinese restaurant’s aquarium as entertainment for guests, fighting to survive in a place it doesn’t belong,”

Sigh.

He’s right. But you hate the fact that he’s right.

“That still doesn’t change what I said. Plus, I don't want to be that fish.” you interject, your voice laced with a hint of sadness. "Slowly destroyed by its surroundings… not belonging there."

Agust D's brow furrows in contemplation, his gaze returning to the small goldfish. "So what are you trying to say?" 

"I don't want to feel like that," you admit. "Trapped in a world that doesn't feel like home, constantly struggling to find where I belong!"

And you hate it because that is exactly how you’ve been feeling right now. You’re living with a man several years older than you, who is probably the most dangerous man in Thailand, maybe even all of Asia. And you have no idea why you stuck here with him, but where could you really go? Where are you actually from? Where is home?

Agust D's expression hardens slightly, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Life isn't always about feeling at home," he counters. "Sometimes it's about surviving where you are and making the best of it."

No! He doesn’t get it.

You feel a flicker of irritation at his words, your emotions bubbling just beneath the surface. "That's easy for you to say," you retort, tone sharp. "You're not the one who's been confined to that mansion, to these guarding duties, waiting for memories to come back."

His eyes narrow slightly, a spark of challenge igniting in them. "You think I don't have my own battles?" he snaps back. "I'm out there every day, dealing with threats you can't even imagine."

"At least you have control over these things. You have the entirety of this city wrapped around your finger," you snap, the words spilling out before you can stop them. "At least you know who you are and what you're fighting for!”

The tension between you two shifts. Agust D steps closer, his presence looming, but you refuse to back down, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve.

Inside, you're a storm of emotions—anger, confusion, and a touch of desperation. How can he be so dense and unreadable, yet so annoyingly calm? It's like talking to a brick wall sometimes. Every word you say seems to bounce off him while his expression remaining infuriatingly stoic. You want to scream, to make him understand just how much this is tearing you apart, but he stands there, unmoved, as if your turmoil is nothing more than a slight breeze in his world.

“Agust, you–”

"Fuck…you're so hot when you're upset, doll," he murmurs, interrupting you with a low growl that sends a shiver down your spine. Before you can react, he grabs your arm, pulling you toward the exit.

Huh?

"Hey!" you protest, your frustration mingling with a surge of adrenaline. But Agust D doesn't relent, his grip firm as he guides you out of the restaurant and into the elevator.

As the elevator doors slide shut, sealing you both inside the confined space, the tension between you reaches a boiling point. "What are you doing?" you demand, your voice a mix of anger and confusion.

Instead of answering, Agust D pushes you against the wall, his lips crashing down on yours with a fierce intensity. Your initial resistance melts away as the kiss deepens, the heat between you igniting into a blazing inferno powered by unknown frustrations beneath the surface.

You pull back just enough to catch your breath, your chest heaving as you glare at him. "You can't just—" you start, but he silences you with another kiss, his hands roaming possessively over your body.

"I can and I will," he murmurs against your lips, his voice a husky whisper. "Because right now, all I can think about is you."

Your frustration mingles with a heady mix of desire, the lines between anger and passion blurring as you give in to the moment. As the elevator ascends, the world outside fades away, leaving only the two of you.

When the elevator dings softly, signaling its arrival on your floor, you find yourselves in a private hallway in the hotel building, the opulent surroundings a stark contrast to the intensity of your kiss. Agust D pulls back, his eyes dark with desire and determination.

"We're not done talking," he says, his voice a low rumble that sends a thrill through you. "But right now, I need you."

Your eyes are left wide open, feeling hormones coursing through you.

This can’t be happening. Is this all a dream? Yes, this has to be. And what’s with the scenario? Are you that sexually frustrated? You admit you’ve never done this sort of thing and have only spent your free time reading erotica for entertainment. 

But to dream about fucking the very man keeping you captive within his mansion and living as a bodyguard. There has got to be something wrong with you. Maybe you’re experiencing Stockholm syndrome? But you’ve not once felt emotionally attached to this man.

Though there have been times you’ve looked at him and thought about how beautiful he looked.

Shit.

Maybe you’ll go along with this. Everything else be damned, for now.

“Show me then,” You word out, which only fires him up more.

Agust D’s grip on your arm is firm but not painful as he leads you down the luxurious hallway to a penthouse suite, the plush carpet muffling your footsteps. Your thoughts are a chaotic jumble, torn between the logical part of your brain screaming at you to stop and the primal part urging you to give in.

As soon as the door to a suite clicks shut behind you, he’s on you again, pushed against a wall, his lips claiming yours with a hunger that leaves you breathless. You respond in kind, your hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. Every touch, every kiss feels electric, igniting a fire within you that you didn’t know existed.

In the back of your mind, you know this is wrong. You know you should be resisting, should be fighting against the pull he has on you. But right now, in this moment, all you can think about is the way his hands feel on your skin, the way his lips move against yours, the way his presence consumes you.

He pulls back just enough to look into your eyes, his breath hot against your lips. “You’re mine,” he murmurs, showcasing his possessive nature. “I refuse to let you go.”

His hands start to inch up under your dress until he reaches your core and starts flicking at your clit. You gasp, the sensation sending shockwaves through your body. He watches your reaction with a smirk, clearly enjoying the effect he has on you.

“Is this what you wanted?” he whispers, his voice low and teasing. “To feel me, to know that you’re mine?”

You can barely form a coherent thought, let alone a response. All you can do is nod, your body arching toward his touch, craving more.

“Good,” he says, his fingers moving with a deft precision that has you teetering on the edge. “Because I’m not stopping until you know that you belong to me.”

He continues his ministrations, his touch driving you wild with need. The logical part of your brain has long since surrendered, leaving only the raw, primal desire that burns within you.

His fingers slide below your black lace underwear until he inserts them inside you with a sly grin. You can't help but moan at the invasion, your body trembling with anticipation. He moves them in and out, hitting just the right spot, causing you to writhe beneath him.

"This is what you get," he growls, his voice low and commanding. "For. every. time. you. talked. back. to. me. today." He growls, punctuating every word with a thrust inside your pussy.

“F-Fuck A-Agust!” And holy shit does it feel so good.

As lust starts to fog your mind and the air fills with moans, you don't know what's happening to you. But you don't care. The fire inside you is burning brighter by the second, and you can't get enough of the man who's taken control of your body and mind at this moment

Yoongi places his thumb on your nub and plays with it, squishing it in circular motions, then using his finger to rub it a little faster then slowing down only to fasten the pace again. You felt a very familiar feeling boiling up in your lower belly threatening to unleash itself.

“I’m not gonna let you reach your high yet.” 

Suddenly, he removes all his fingers from you and you whimper immediately, the absence of his touch leaving you desperate for more.

Yoongi bites down against his lips, eyes quickly traveling from your face and down your body, “Huh…W-Wait..P-Please…” You pant heavily, trying to rub your thighs together to pick back up the pace that was headed toward your release

“I thought you wanted to leave me, doll?” He leans in closer, chuckling in your face, and you shake your head. At this moment, you realize that he’s hard under his dress pants. “Are you sure? I don’t give orgasms to people that won’t obey me.”

“I-I’ll prove it to you!” You drop to your knees quickly, placing your hands on both of his sides. “Oh? And how will you do that?” He gives you a curious look, already knowing what to expect from your sudden submissive behavior. While he spoke, you unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, pulling it down along with his boxers to reveal his cock.

“Oh fuck…” You let out in the smallest whisper. He wasn’t long per se, but more than average. But the girth… holy shit. Will it even fit in any of your holes? And the way his precum is already pearling on his tip just from what you two did earlier? You swallow nervously, but you’re not one to back away from a challenge. “Like this.” 

You hold his cock gently from the base, proceeding to gather spit from your mouth and letting it drop on it. You proceed to move your hand, spreading his precum and your saliva on his dick, managing to get a good slide and starting to move your hand quicker. You looked up innocently, already noticing a flicker of Agust’s facade fade as he felt himself slipping away in pleasure. In his mind, he was tempted to say fuck it all and let himself fuck against your hand, but he knew better than just to let himself become an animal. After the prep, you part your mouth and slowly take him in, the stretch already starting to hurt your jaw from his wide size. In the meantime, you just suck around his head and use your hand to deliver pleasure to the rest of his shaft, earning deep-sounding curses and moans while your tongue swirled around him. 

His eyes are glued to you, watching you work his cock with your kitten-like licks. Though, this isn’t enough for him. He wants to thrust up down your throat so bad and fuck you until your voice was sore. He wants to see how much you’re willing to take in that small mouth of yours.

And that’s exactly what he does. He places his hand on your head, giving you small pats and rubs disguised as encouragement for your efforts. Then his hand starts inching towards the back of your head until he suddenly grabs a handful of your hair and forcibly pushes his dick further until your smacked against his pelvis.

“Seems like you still need practice. Don’t worry, I’ll train you,” he murmurs, his grip tightening on your hair as he begins to thrust into your mouth. The tip hits the back of your throat and you gag reflexively, but he doesn't let up, pushing deeper with each thrust. Your eyes start to water, now holding onto his sides for dear life, but you force yourself to take it, willing your throat to open up and accommodate his girth. His palm comes up to your cheek to rub your cheek, feeling himself on the other side enter in and out of you.

He grunts with each deep thrust, his hips pistoning in and out of your mouth as you struggle to keep up with his rhythm. You feel like you're choking, but you don't want to disappoint him and prevent you from reaching your orgasm after. However, it doesn’t take long for him to come undone, swallowing saliva and cum down your throat. He removes himself and you begin to cough erratically. You have never deep-throated before, so it’s a miracle you didn’t throw up or die from this. It’s definitely not as easy as porn makes it seem. You’ve been lied to by the media! “Haah… Holy shit…” You groan, trying to catch your breath and stabilize your heart rate.

“You alright?” He questions, voice tinged with slight worry as he fixes his pants and underwear back up and leans down towards your face. “I lost myself for a bit…”

“It’s okay–” You pause, shocked for a moment to hear your voice sound hoarse. Despite that, Agust chuckles, using his palm once again to rub against your cheek to comfort you, smiling softly. “Good girl. Now you’ll get your reward.” With this, he guides you to the master bedroom, his grip on your arms firm yet careful, leading you through the opulent suite. The room is a testament to luxury, with rich, dark wood furniture that you knew Agust requested in the hotels he invests in and soft, ambient lighting that casts a warm glow over everything. The large windows offer a stunning view of the Bangkok city skyline, but your focus is solely on him.

He pushes you gently onto the king-sized bed, the plush mattress sinking beneath your weight. The silk sheets feel cool against your skin, starkly contrasting the heat building between you. Agust D stands over you, his eyes dark with desire, a predator savoring his prey.

He slowly removes his jacket, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving yours. You watch, your breath hitching as he unbuttons his suit vest, followed by his shirt, revealing his semi-muscular and beefy figure beneath. You’ve never seen him like this before, as he’s a very reserved man when it comes to his body. But each inch of exposed skin sends a fresh wave of anticipation through you.

“You’ve been so good,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. “Now, let me take care of you.”

He climbs onto the bed, sitting between your legs where his hands start trailing up your thighs, pushing the hem of your dress higher. His touch is electrifying, each caress igniting a fire in your core. He leans down, his lips ghosting over your skin, leaving a trail of burning kisses from your collarbone to your ear.

His breath is hot against your ear as he whispers, “Tell me you want this.”

“I want this,” you breathe, your voice trembling with need.

“Good,” he says, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. “Because once I start, I won’t be able to get enough of you.”

His hands are everywhere, exploring, teasing, and driving you to the brink of madness. He slips the dress off your shoulders, letting it fall away completely, leaving your body exposed and vulnerable beneath him. His eyes rake over your body, a dark hunger in his gaze.

“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. “My doll.”

He lowers himself, his mouth finding your breast, sucking and nibbling until you’re arching into him, your fingers tangled in his slick black hair. He trails kisses down your stomach, his hands gripping your hips as he positions himself between your legs.

You gasp as he presses a kiss to your inner thigh, his breath hot against your skin. “Ready for your reward?” he asks, his voice a seductive whisper.

“Mm..” You only make a sound and nod due to the lust clouding your mind. How do you say words? Do words matter?

He pinches your clit slightly which makes you jump and arc your body a little.

“Words, doll.”

“Y-Yes!” you manage to finally speak out, your body wiggling around close to his face eager for him to move. 

He doesn’t hesitate after your verbal consent, his tongue flicking out to taste you from your clit down to your entrance, drawing a cry of pleasure from your lips. He works you expertly, starting with his tongue sucking against your clit, then eating you out in your entrance. 

And holy fuck does he have you wrapped around his finger with these ministrations. You had heard rumors of him being good at oral sex from the women at the events you would accompany him to, but fuck, the actual thing doesn’t compare to their mere descriptions.

His tongue soon returns to nibble and suck at your aching bud, with his fingers replacing his place inside you. And before you know it, you’re lost in the sensation again, body jerking as every nerve ending is set aflame as he brings you closer and closer to the edge.

And Agust D knows it, smirking against your pussy as he feels you tighten against his fingers. “Come for me,” he growls against your skin, his voice a command that you can’t resist.

With a final, shuddering gasp, you fall apart, the pleasure crashing over you in waves. He holds you through it, his hands and mouth coaxing every last bit of ecstasy from your body until you’re left trembling and spent beneath him.

He pulls back, his eyes dark with satisfaction as he watches you recover. “Such a fucking good girl,” he murmurs, his voice filled with pride. “But we’re not done.” 

He stands up and swiftly pulls down his pants and boxers, revealing his cock, red and eager. Your breath catches in your throat at the sight, your mind racing.

Oh? Is he going to put it in?!

“Huh? W-Wait you–”

Before you can finish speaking, he puts your legs on his shoulder and aligns himself to your entrance, his eyes locking with yours. The heat and intensity of his gaze make your heart race.

“You’re on birth control, correct?”

“Yes…”

You’d be surprised that he knows this fact, but he does look over your medical records after all. You’d also question the ethics of this, but not now.

“Then we can go all out,” he whispers, his voice rough with desire. “And I’ll show you that you’re truly mine.”

He pushes into you, his cock stretching and filling you completely.

“F-Fuck!” You gasp, the sensation is overwhelming, fueled with pleasure and pain that leaves you breathless. He pauses movements for a moment, allowing you to adjust, his hands gripping your hips tightly.

Your eyes close as you try to focus on relaxing your body.

“Look at me,” he commands suddenly, his voice low and firm as he holds your chin. “I want to see your face when I take you.”

“Y-Yes, sir!” You meet his gaze, your eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement. There’s a primal hunger in his eyes that sends a shiver down your spine.

He begins to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate at first, each one sending shockwaves of pleasure through your body. You cling to him, your nails digging into his shoulders as you try to keep up with the intensity of his pace. The feeling of him inside you is overwhelming and does not compare to his or your own fingers pleasuring you.

“Do you feel that?” he asks, his voice a rough whisper. “Do you feel how your pussy is being molded by my cock?”

“Y-Yes!” you manage to gasp, your voice trembling. “I feel it!”

“Good,” he says, his thrusts becoming faster, more intense. “Because you won’t ever be able to be pleased by another cock as long as I live,”

His movements are relentless, each thrust driving you closer to the edge. The room is filled with the sounds of your shared pleasure, the slap of skin against skin, and the ragged gasps and moans that escape your lips. 

As your eyes meet his, he suddenly wraps his hand around your neck, applying just enough pressure to make you gasp. His grip is firm but not painful, sending a rush of adrenaline and arousal coursing through your veins.

“Doll, you like being choked while I fuck you? Having you wrapped around my fingers now.”

“F-Feels so mmh good!” You mumble, your breath hitching as his grip tightens slightly, the sensation heightening the pleasure coursing through your body.

You never thought you’d be so turned on by choking. You don’t know if it’s you getting high off the lack of oxygen and feeling pleasure, or giving up your life’s control to this man before you that has your toes curling.

The pleasure builds up to an unbearable peak once more, but this time, you know that he is feeling the same thing too. His thrusts become harder, more forceful, each one sending shockwaves through your body. His hand on your neck adds an edge to the sensation od dominance and possessiveness that leaves you breathless.

“Come for me, doll,” he growls, his voice a command that you can’t ignore. “I want to feel you come around me as I do at the same time.”

With a final, shuddering cry, your orgasm crashes down, your body convulsing in pleasure. He follows you soon after, his grip on your hips tightening as he spills into you, his own release mingling with yours. The intensity of the moment leaves you both breathless, clinging to each other as the aftershocks of pleasure ripple through your bodies.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes dark and satisfied as he looks down at you with a smile that exposes his gums. He lays down next to you and pulls you into his arms, his lips finding yours in a tender, possessive kiss. 

“You’re mine,” he whispers against your lips, the words a promise and a declaration.

“You’re mine,” he repeats. “I’ll never let you leave.”

At that moment, as you lie there in his arms, you realize that maybe, just maybe, you don’t want him to. The world outside may be complicated and uncertain, but here, with him, everything feels right.

This is your home.

All you want is for this man to be infatuated with you for the rest of your life.

This is how things should be. Right?

–

– tbc?

✨ let me know ur thoughts! how are you feeling?! ✉️

[laceymorganwrites]

Certified babyboy Denji hcs

The sweet:

he always hums when he feels safe

doesn´t have the best singing voice but he loves music to death and is always dancing around somehow

this boy will not stop moving, be that tapping his fingers, feet or swaying his head

does happy dances when he eats good food, sees cute animals or when the sun is out

he is actually a good listener but nobody ever believes him

when he´s with you he tries extra hard to listen to you cause he´s interested in everything you have to say but he gets so distracted thinking about how beautiful you are that he just zones out

always has this goofy grin on his face, so many people called him dumb because of it but he can´t help it

they don´t know what he´s been through and how much it means to him that he can finally live safely 

literally obsessed with chocolate and homecooked food

loves to bake once he learns how to 

you can read him like a book whenever he´s nervous or shy

has the cutest fucking pout

but he only shows his sad and vulnerable side to people he really trusts with his whole heart (I could write a whole essay about this ngl)

has sweaty hands and is shy to hold yours because of that but is over the moon when you say you don´t mind

overall way too excited about dates

will literally jump in the air and be over the moon over a simple boba date 

most people think he´s annoying and dumb because of this, since he just expresses his positive feelings so overtly, especially happiness and excitement

while at the same time he just bottles up negative feelings

will get lost in your eyes and bump into things if you don´t hold his hand at all times

likes to be close to you at all times

is constantly warm, even though he grew up in shitty environments that were super cold

has a bunch of hobbies but it changes weekly

however he´s one of those people who actually sticks with them all cause they´re so fun and he´s sad he can´t do them all as much as he wants to

makes faces at the mirror all the time and sings in the shower

looks like low effort, just out of bed but actually puts a lot of thought into his appearance cause he wants to look good, especially to you, but mostly he just fails 

loves tickling you and spinning you around

sharing meals, feeding you, getting fed by you, eating is just much more fun with you around

gives everything a name and nickname 

The spicy:

spit. just spit

loves it when you spit in his mouth 

generally drools a lot 

horny all the time, but it gets annoying a lot too 

oversensitive virgin baby 

biggest fucking praise kink

pull his hair to make him moan

is embarrassed about being loud in bed but he just can´t hold back, lots of whines especially

loves it when you hold him close, the feelings overwhelm him so much that he just needs this safety

his hands are always shaky

cries when he cums

oral fixation!!!

loves to eat you out but calms down so much when he can suck on your tits

he finds it very intimate when he gets to suck on your fingers

eye contact is super important to him

gets overstimulated on accident, he just can´t help it, feels too good

will call you master 

don´t ask why but put him in a cute maid dress and his confidence just boosts, you were thinking he´d be super subby and you could be rougher with him but instead he doms you 

is a switch heavily leaning sub and mostly when he doms you it´s very gentle, more of a service top rlly but whenever he´s in dom mood he just wants to worship you

mostly happens when you´ve been away a long time

[that-student-that-has-homework]

You WILL Have my Herbs 02

Diluc / Reader

Previous Chapters: Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Chp 6

Read the Full Story on Ao3 | Tumblr MasterList Here (Maybe even leave me a comment please? :3< )

Summary: Listen you just wanted to pick some plants, do some experiments, find some cures, and report back to your mentor. Unfortunately a handsome vigilante puts you in his debt and now you have to fight him to let you make it up to him.

Chapter 2: Debt Simply Won't Do

You were staring. You knew you were.

Of course you were staring!

That was your elusive savior! It had to be them-him? That shade of red was much too unique!

You fumbled to slip on your boots and approach the hero, letting out a low hiss when you moved too quickly. Which in turn drew his attention to you. His gaze met yours and narrowed suspiciously. You flinched. Involuntarily. It was an involuntary flinch.

You opened your mouth to try and thank him and offer your assistance in return. However before you could really move, or get a sound out, Miss Adelinde was receiving him and explaining the situation.

Meanwhile another maid rushed towards him with a towel in hand. Made sense, really, he had clearly been out in this downpour for longer than you had.

“Master Diluc,” she called him. Wait, then this was his inn! Winery!

To think this man has saved you not once but twice -technically speaking. 

Unless he was simply a man of high status and not the master of this inn-er-winery.

Diluc. Dee-luc. Di-luke. Dee-looook. Diluc. It would do you well not to forget his name! You had to make sure to commit it to memory. Your savior, the person whom you owed a lot to! Diluc. Diluc. Diluc.

Maybe you should write it down? You always did remember things better that way.

That thought was quickly swept away as he turned to face you, having finished talking to Miss Adelinde. His footsteps were unexpectedly light as he approached you. Your footsteps were heavier in relation as you shuffled in your undone boots.

“Please rest easy,” the decadent timbre was as rich in authority as it was rich with courtesy, and you stilled immediately-a bit entranced, “Adelinde informed me you were caught in the storm.”

You nodded. Dumbly probably. Goodness, his voice was heavenly. Had that one professor back at the Akademiya sounded at all like this man, you’d likely never have fallen asleep in his lectures. Well you’d likely still fall asleep if you were exhausted, there was no escaping sleep when it came for you. After all despite having a course with professor as invigorating as -Ah! Focus! 

Truthfully, your brain was simultaneously swimming in the long list of things to do, and in absolutely nothing at all. You’d said that Sir Kaeya was lovingly sculpted by the divine, and you could absolutely say the same of the man of near-otherworldly beauty that stood before you.

There was some vague gurgling voice of reason in the back of your head, drowning under the crashing waves of observations regarding the man before you. He was tall. He had a fierce flame for hair-bright enough to blaze through the dark-you would know. Ruby red eyes, as though he’d taken the gems themselves and crafted them into eyes (that would be rather interesting if it were possible). Tailored brows - naturally tailored brows, a very beautiful curve as though laid down with a brush. A sharp nose, full lips, long lashes, a sharp jawline, sharp as the claymore you’d glimpsed that…

…you really should have gone into art instead. Or perhaps you ought to have been a writer, a poet, or something similar.

Turns out the living, breathing, sculpture of a man, the sentient piece of artwork of a -erm-the man, the incredibly handsome man, that you’d likely been ogling, had been waiting for you to say something. You realized this once you noticed how your mouth opened and closed as your reason resurfaced. Oh gosh you had to thank this man! Properly!

“T-thank you!” You winced as your voice came out louder than intended, with a little cough and then another wince, you repeated, much softer, “t-thank you, very much.”

“Not at all,” he shook his head gently, “feel free to stay as long as you need.”

“I-I’m an apothecary,” that was very random dearest, would you like to try again? Taking a breath, you pushed down a grimace as your cheeks heated up, “I mean to say, that, uh please allow me to repay you for your hospitality,” your pitch rose a bit and your voice cracked slightly.

You really had no control over your tone today huh? 

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I beg to differ,” your expression fell a bit, “you saved,” you were straining and you could feel it in your throat, “you saved my life. Please, please allow me to offer my services in return.”

“Shelter from the rain hardly qualifies as saving someone’s life,” his brow furrowed slightly, “and it’s Adelinde you ought to be thanking.”

You blinked, and your shoulders drooped, taking your expression and blanket down with them. You readjusted the blanket on your shoulders, it made sense he didn’t remember. Even if he did , he probably wouldn’t recognize that you were the pitiful person he’d rescued from a Cryo Abyss Mage-what-a month ago now?

Wow time really flies.

So does mora. But that’s beside the point!

“Um, you’ve saved my life before, actually…um Master Dilu-Diluc was it?” You began tentatively. “It was around Mondstadt proper, I was attacked by a Cryo Abyss Mage, around a month ago now actually.”

You observed his brow further pinch in what you assume is confusion. You continued then, trying to go through the list of things you wished to do when you met him. 

You proceeded to provide your name, “I’m an apothecary, a-as I said before. I’m currently traveling to research and further my knowledge. I know of quite a few herbal remedies and natural solutions to assist with a wide variety of ailments, I’d love to repay you in any way I can,” you started hopefully, though you soon realized what you’d offered, “I-I mean, not to say that a few small remedies would be enough of repayment for saving my life, but I didn’t want to just do nothing -”

“That won’t be necessary,” he cut through your rambling, “thank you though.”

That won’t be necessary? Was there really nothing you could do for this man? You deflated a bit, feeling the blanket slide off your shoulders once again.

“I need to be going,” the redhead gestured to the hearth again, “please don’t let me keep you any longer.”

“Oh! Uh! Yes, sorry,” you shuffled back a bit, adjusting your hold on the blanket and pausing momentarily to reel in the crushing weight of failure, “please don’t let me keep you - I’m sorry for keeping you.”

He nodded at you once before walking away to where you assumed his quarters were. Shuffling back to your seat by the hearth, you curled up into the blanket once more. You hadn’t been much help to him at all. But there had to be something you could do…

-_-

Miss Adelinde came by later to check in on you. You’d mostly dried up by then. You renewed your offer to her, and entertaining you, she shared some of her ailments with you, and you made sure to jot them down in your notebook. 

She seemed rather amused by your earnestness. However she was even more curious as to what had led to you being stranded in the rain. At some point she even asked you if you hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella with you. You let out a little chuckle, halting midlaugh at the sharp pain you felt, before gingerly pulling your umbrella out for her to see.

“My, what did you do ?” She stared at it in wonder.

“Oh! Well, I was attacked by an Abyss Mage,” you began, your tone as though you were listing out your tasks for the day, “a Pyro Abyss Mage, and well, while trying to run from it I ended up destroying my umbrella,” you wore a sheepish grin, “I’m not too sure how though, haha.”

“Oh my, that sounds horrifying!” Adelinde stared at you in concern. “Are you alright? Not burnt or injured anywhere?”

You didn’t want to lie, but you also didn’t want to share information of your injury with the kind maid. She’d already done so much for you as it was, worrying her was definitely not something you wanted to do.

Also, you weren’t willing to share that sensitive piece of information. The consequences you imagined ranged from troublesome to dangerous.

“I think I’m mostly alright!” You smiled at her in a way you hope was reassuring. “I’m almost dry too! So I believe I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

“Oh don’t say it like that! You’re no trouble at all,” ah she was such a warm person, “and the rain hasn’t let up yet.”

You turned towards the windows then. It was still raining, however the wind wasn’t howling, and it wasn’t as heavy a downpour as it had been earlier. “Well I need to get back to Mondstadt tonight, so I will have to be leaving soon, regardless,” you began shrugging and stopped when you felt that familiar jolt of pain, “I hate to ask this, but could I maybe buy an umbrella?”

“This is a winery dear, we don’t sell umbrellas,” Adelinde teased, “however you could take one.”

“I’m afraid it’ll get destroyed if I encounter another monster, I’d much rather exchange it for money,” you shook your head.

“Oh dear, it seems you misheard,” you furrowed your brow, “I said you could take an umbrella, not borrow one, then it would be yours to destroy.”

“I couldn’t possibly accept that!” You disagreed. “Please allow me to buy it.”

You and Adelinde continued to debate the issue, until you mentioned that you would sooner leave without an umbrella at all, than take an umbrella for free. Which led to a process of haggling? Reverse-haggling with the maid, as she attempted to sell you the umbrella for dirt cheap. You vaguely recalled how much you’d paid for your own umbrella, and at some point during your argument you decided to simply agree to the meager 90 mora that you’d fought Adelinde to, and then to leave a generous tip with it, as Sir Kaeya had suggested you do with Sara at Good Hunter.

With the price settled you asked after the restroom. Aside from attending to your natural business, you took a moment to grind and apply a numbing salve to your chest and torso. You’d inspected it quickly, and it was bruised, which partially explained the continuous pain. In digging for the numbing salve ingredients and some bandages you’d also come across your thermal undershirt. So you slipped it on for when you had to go back out into the rain. It was a bit of a challenge to manage, with your previous boar-related injury still rather fresh. No matter! Soon the salve would take effect and you’d feel better (read: numb).

You counted your mora, placing them into a makeshift pouch of sorts, washed your hands again, and exited the washroom. Bidding the warm Adelinde farewell, you dropped the mora into her palm before immediately leaving the building, the umbrella shielding you from the soft shower.

You hurried to be far from the mansion before she would notice that you’d paid more than agreed upon. Trekking in the rain was more challenging than you’d anticipated. The setting was darker, and less familiar as a result. You really should have asked for directions before leaving.

Oh but not to worry, you would arrive at Mondstadt alive! With no further injuries!

-_-

You remained in Mondstadt proper for at least another week then. You spent your time with both Barbara and Lisa, trying to figure out how to make use of your vision. Thus far they were the only two who knew about it, and they respected your wishes to keep it that way. Though… a few more people ended up finding out as you assisted Barbara so as to learn how to heal with your vision. After all that’s a huge part of why you became an apothecary! To heal.

Of course in staying in Mondstadt again you became privy to a rather interesting urban legend.

You’d been talking to Flora about where she went to gather different flowers and how to grow them, when a couple of Mondstadt natives got into a bit of a tussle arguing who was Mondstadt’s strongest fighter. The two fools were much too inebriated for this time of day, as the sun was quite literally overhead . Really.

But that was how you heard of the “Dark Knight Hero.”

From the argument you gleaned that this “Dark Knight,” was a vigilante of sorts. Unbound by any diplomatic nonsense, they swooped in to save Mond and its citizens whenever they found themselves in need. Truly a hero from a children’s tale.

This was a rather romantic and sweet notion, even if it did undermine the authority of the Knights and current government. That being said they were clearly a force for good, and given they weren’t tied down by diplomacy and political hoo-ha, they achieved things that the government could not.

Well given this urban legend was more than just a mythical character in a rumour. 

That being said…if this Dark Knight Hero was real, and they were going about protecting and caring for the citizens of this city then who was it that was caring for them ? Your inquiry dragged your face down into a scowl. It didn’t last long however, with an exhale you neutralized your expression before deciding to do some research into this “Dark Knight Hero.”

“Miss Flora, would you happen to know anything about this ‘Dark Knight Hero’ these men were talking about?” You asked the young girl.

The young girl shook her head with an exasperated sigh, “he’s something of an urban legend. Whether he’s real or not is debatable. No one’s ever really seen him in action, or knows who he really is.”

“Oh I see,” you deflated.

“If you’re really curious, you can ask Patton over by Angel’s Share,” she pointed you down towards a tavern, “he’s the man at the door. He hears the most about this stuff and is the most interested anyhow.”

“I see! Thank you Flora!” You smiled at her with a nod.

After you finished up talking to her about flowers, and taking notes, of course, you made your way to the aforementioned “Patton.”

“Excuse me sir,” you spoke to the bouncer stationed dutifully by the entrance of the aforementioned tavern, “would you happen to be Mr. Patton?”

“Yes I am! A good day to you ma’am! How can I be of assistance?” He greeted, his smile bright.

“Well, I was wondering if you had any information on this ‘ Dark Knight Hero ,’ a man was zealously describing earlier,” you gestured to where the arguing duo had priorly been with your hand.

“Oh hehe curious are you?” He chuckled. “Well, you’re probably going to have to ask around, there isn’t much known about him aside from the fact that he operates at night.”

“Oh so he’s a he is he?” And he operates at night, that makes for two pieces of this potential puzzle.

The bouncer’s eyes widened as though he’d been caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

“Well that’s what Donna said at least,” the bouncer nodded his head towards the lady standing above the flower stall nearby, before shrugging his shoulders.

Huh? Why hadn’t Donna said anything then? Though she does often seem rather dazed.

“I see,” you nodded, “thank you good sir.”

“No problem!”

You made your way towards Donna and thankfully managed to glean some more information. 

First: she really did have her head in the clouds, that’s why she hadn’t hopped into your conversation earlier. She’d been rather bashful, her cheeks red as the windwheel asters that Flora was selling below, when she’d snapped out of her daze. 

Second: according to her, the Dark Knight Hero was indeed male , and he wielded a pyro vision.

In fact from her answer and rambles he sounded a lot like Master Diluc.

Or maybe you were getting the two mixed up because she kept mentioning Master Diluc? Something about remaining loyal? Oh! Was Donna Master Diluc’s lover?

Was that why she was always dazed?

You supposed it made sense that a man of Diluc’s beauty would be spoken for. It was…mildly disappointing though? In that embarrassing, sort of sheepish sense of: ”oh darn I was the only person who took immediate interest!” AHHH! That’s honestly so embarrassing, you-

Wait. 

Why were you thinking about Master Diluc? You were investigating this Dark Knight Hero…kind of?

Oh yes, because of Donna!

Now to recap, the Dark Knight Hero was allegedly a man who used a pyro vision and operated at night.

Well…

That sounded oddly familiar.

After all, your savior had used fire and the moon had fully risen when he’d saved you. And Master Diluc was your savior. As far as you could tell, Master Diluc was male . A very beautiful male too! So…

Male: check.

Uses Pyro: check.

Operates at night: check.

Hmm…based off of these facts alone, you’d be led to believe that Master Diluc was the Dark Knight Hero.

Ah. AHHHH. Your whole body curled up on itself in disgust. Or embarrassment. Both. Yeah probably both. Definitely both. Both. Your meeting with your hero had been awkward at best . 

Not to mention he’d rejected your offers to repay his great generosity. A small groan escaped you. How embarrassing. How utterly embarrassing. You curled in on yourself, shrinking down to hug your knees. And shameful that he would save your life and you’d just allow for him to not be repaid in some way.

Uh. What- how did you even get here again?

Oh yes! Master Diluc. The Dark Knight Hero.

Perhaps it was pure coincidence. After all, there’s no way anyone would be able to see that blazing head of hair and forget it, you rested your cheek on your knees. Well unless it was covered up and they didn’t see it. Still there wasn’t any conclusive evidence. Besides, Sir Kaeya had mentioned that Mondstadt had a number of pyro vision holders.

Wait.

Sir Kaeya! You raised your head from your knees. The Knights were bound to be after this vigilante and if anyone had any information about anything around Mondstadt it would have to be that guy!

If you met this Dark Knight Hero you’d be sure to offer him your services as well. Because if you help a hero doesn’t that technically make you a hero too? (It probably does not , however it won’t do to dwell on such negativity!)

Would he reject your offers for herbs like Master Diluc did? Another wave of embarrassment washed over you and you curled back into your previous position. If the Dark Knight Hero was Master Diluc, he would likely reject your remedies again . Ah, this was most unfortunate.

“My, just what is this suspicious ball here?” You heard a familiar voice taunt.

You looked up to see a head full of blue. Well, if it wasn’t the Cavalry Captain you’d just been thinking of. You perked up, unraveling yourself slightly, “Sir Kaeya,” you greeted from your still crouched form, awkwardly shuffling to look at him, “how do you do?”

He let a chuckle slip…oh. Akh! Your family often commented on your poor etiquette, and you usually were much better about it. Safe to say, rather than bounce around on your heels as a ball, you ought to have stood up like a normal person and greeted the man.

You should probably stand up now. Yes. 

You sprung up to your full height (which was still shorter than the knight beside you) at that thought…and immediately regretted the decision. Your vision swam with stars, and you swayed a bit on your feet before reaching out to a nearby ledge. Wait,was there a ledge? There was a bench nearby, wasn’t there?

Your hand felt concrete and you were relieved. The man by you seemed more amused than concerned as you could hear him continue to chuckle at you, but he did have the decency to check on you. “You okay there Miss Apothecary?”

Blinking the last of the stars away, you turned to look at the inquiring party. “Yes, I’m alright, just a slight bout of dizziness due to a sudden change in elevation.”

“You mean standing up?”

“I did it very quickly,” you explained, “it was unwise.”

How ironic , such poor wisdom for a person who was gifted for some potential wisdom. Pushing the thought away you reiterated your previous greeting, “how do you do? Can I help you with anything?”

He put on a pouty face (which was unfairly cute and therefore ought to be illegal) feigning offense, “why do you assume that I only sought you out because I wanted something?”

You furrowed your brows, “I didn’t? I just want to know if I can be of any help?” You paused, then it occurred to you. “Wait, you sought me out?”

“I did,” he nodded, “after all, it was rather strange to see someone crouched beside a bench and not seated on it.”

“Oh,” you smiled sheepishly. Yet another thing to add to the list of embarrassing events you’d featured in lately.

“I was wondering what remedies you had for headaches,” he continued, bringing your attention back to him, “the Acting Grandmaster has had nothing but praise for your remedies and I was wondering if you could provide me with something.”

“Do you have a headache?” You looked at the notable drinker of a captain. “It depends on the type of headache. What kind of pain are you experiencing?”

The ever so slippery Cavalry Captain originally hesitated to answer the questions, however as you continued down the list of diagnostic questions: “did you sleep enough last night? Have you been drinking enough water lately? You can tell by the color of your pee, if it’s dark you need to drink more water.”

When you’d mentioned that, he’d wasted no time in commenting how unladylike that statement was. You’d huffed at him, before taking a seat on the bench next to you and continuing down your list of questions: whether he’d been drinking, how his vision was faring, if he was feeling stressed, and if he’d like to take a seat next to you. He did.

You tried to keep them vague enough so that he’d hopefully be comfortable in answering them, but when you realized he seemed rather dodgy (you’d experienced this behavior enough times from other people) you decided to provide him with remedies for all of the types of headaches you’d mentioned.

“Some of these remedies don’t involve any medicine at all,” he commented at some point when you were mentioning perhaps having a fruit or a sweet with some coffee.

“Medicines are not the only cures to things,” you sighed as you pulled a sunsettia out of your handy herb-housing backpack to hand to him, “the human body is an interesting thing, often times the different pains we experience are it trying to communicate that it is deficient in one thing or another, or that perhaps we ought to take care to rest more.”

He took the sunsettia and sniffed it a bit, prompting you to pull out a fruit knife and unwrap it from the handkerchief you put it in to keep it clean. 

Taking the fruit from his hand and beginning to cut it to pieces you continued, “medicines often take the healing properties of natural herbs and heighten them or mimic them, to help or aid the body where it is deficient. Sometimes to reinforce its natural immune system, and sometimes to introduce the necessary antidote that the body does not naturally produce.” 

You took a piece of the sunsettia and put it in your mouth before handing the captain a piece, trying to reassure him it wasn’t poisoned, “the amazing thing about the body though is that it will make sure to retain the necessary information to combat an ailment it has faced before.”

“So what doesn’t kill you,” he started, before pausing to swallow.

“Quite literally makes you stronger,” you agreed, handing him another slice of sunsettia.

Taking it from you, he gave you his ever-so-charming smile. You smiled back, despite being flustered. You weren’t too flustered though! You had more experience now! You’d faced Sir Kaeya before this, and even managed to keep your wits about you (somewhat) while dealing with Master Diluc!

Oh! That’s right! Without thinking much about it you turned to Sir Kaeya as you handed him more of the sunsettia - you’d meant it for him anyhow.

“Sir Kaeya, have you ever heard of a ‘Dark Knight Hero’?” You blurted out.

He took the fruit slice, leaning back languidly as he chewed and swallowed slowly, obviously relishing in your eager anticipation. After swallowing he turned to look at you, a smirk sitting comfortably on his lips, “hmmm, are you thinking that maybe the Dark Knight Hero is your savior?”

“Yes,” you answered unabashedly.

Your honesty seemed to take him aback, as his visible eye widened a bit and his smirk fell slightly. It smoothly returned as he accepted a slice from you and relaxed again. 

“And if he isn’t?” he chewed thoughtfully.

“I would still like to find him,” you answered without thinking much about it, turning back to continue cutting the fruit, “a hero that is always worrying about the wellbeing of the people of Mondstadt, and of Mondstadt itself, who works mostly in the dark of night.” 

Your brain finally managed to articulate your thoughts, “well, if someone like that exists, I hope they have someone who is also caring for them , and worrying for their wellbeing and their health.”

It was silent then. You could feel your somewhat-patient’s cool stare on you, perhaps he was studying you. Sir Kaeya didn’t really seem to think you were trustworthy yet. Which was fair, from what you’ve seen of him, he was the type that could talk a lot and reveal nothing about himself. Your mother often told you to steer clear of these types.

No wait- she said something like being careful about how you answered them. Not providing any more information than how much the question required.

At this point the knight had finished the sunsettia. So you pulled out an apple and began to cut it up as you waited for an answer. You wished you could say the silence was comfortable, but you’d never been one to handle silences with company well. Thankfully, having the apple to work with helped. You made sure to eat a slice before offering the knight his own. 

As you’d expected he was indeed studying you. He took the offered slice with no hesitation and popped it in his mouth. After he finished the apple you’d like to get some black tea, coffee, or cocoa into his system. Oh perhaps an iced tea with lemon in it. The scent of lemon was therapeutic in itself.

You continued to cut up the fruit and hand the slices to Kaeya, well and you ate a couple yourself. The apple was gone soon enough, and with it most of your hopes of getting any information out of the knight. 

Either way, you weren’t about to leave an ailing person half treated when you had more solutions in mind. So you invited Kaeya to have a cup of black tea with lemon. You suggested it be cold, but it would work if it was hot as well. He chose the cold option and you made a mental note of that. He also helped you with the cooling process, and you made a mental note not to forget about his cryo vision.

After the tea and fruits his headache seemed to subside, but it wasn’t gone entirely, so you invited him to accompany you to the grass patches just outside of the side entrance. Under the shade of a tree you told him to lay down, close his eyes, take a deep breath, and release any tension from his neck and shoulders.

He’d been intrigued by this. You explained you wanted him to rest his eyes, well, eye . Given he hadn’t told you much about the headache, you couldn’t rule out the possibility it was due to his vision. Besides if he relaxes, then if it was caused due to stress it should also be reduced.

“You’re a thorough one,” he shot you an amused look as he took a seat on the grass beside you.

“I try to be,” you responded watching him, “do you mind if I inspect your neck and shoulders for tension?”

“Not at all,” he rolled his shoulders back.

“Well then could I ask you to take that fluffy thing off?” When you took note of his inquisitive expression you continued. “If you don’t mind I will be touching you.”

“My, how bold ,” he teased while shrugging off his fur accessory ? Whatever that thing was.

You tried not to fluster too much at his words. He seemed to enjoy teasing you. Pinching the juncture of his neck and shoulder you noticed some tension, there was more of it in his shoulders than his neck though thankfully. From this you could conclude he was likely a bit stressed.

Hmm…you recalled the basic tips an therapist from Inazuma to your homeland had mentioned with regards to working knots out of a patient’s body. “Please tell me if you’d like me to stop,” was all the warning you gave the knight before beginning to knead the knots out of his shoulders.

Again, the two of you stayed silent, and again you were thankful that you had something to do to keep you from worrying over the silence. You’d been kneading for a while, working out knot after knot, for someone so lax he sure held a lot of tension. Figures, the relaxed attitude was an act.

“I’ve heard that the Dark Knight Hero drops by Angel’s Share from time to time,” his smooth voice cut through your concentration and you stilled momentarily, “maybe you could contact him indirectly that way.”

You blinked your surprise away, and your tired hands resumed their kneading. He was actually giving you some information? And is that why Patton seemed rather startled earlier? He was stationed outside the Angel’s Share, did he know the hero personally?

“Sir Kaeya, is that yet another rumor that is floating around?” Your face pinched in suspicion. “Or have you figured out who this hero is?”

“Who’s to say?” He would have shrugged if he could. “Though you probably have a point.” 

“About?” You raised an eyebrow though he couldn’t see it.

“If this Dark Knight Hero really does exist, and he does as people say,” he paused letting out a quiet grunt as you worked on a particularly tense knot, “then he’s undoubtedly in need of someone to worry over him.”

You hummed then let him know you were considering his words, “and so you’re nominating me?”

“Well you’re the one who seems the most concerned over his well being,” he angled his head to look back at you.

“That can’t possibly be true,” you disagreed, tone a little strained as you tried to maintain a consistent pressure on that knot.

“Well, whenever I’ve heard people talking about the Dark Knight Hero, it’s always been speculation and adoration, but never concern,” he exhaled deeply, turning his face back again.

You fell silent for a moment, trying to work out the next knot, “but isn’t Angel’s Share a tavern?”

“One of the best in Mondstadt!” He chirped in agreement. 

Your smile was wry then, “I confess I’m not fond of taverns or bars.”

“Is that so?” He seemed rather disappointed by that, “why not?”

“I don’t like alcohol,” you answered bluntly, “unless it’s an antiseptic.”

“Oho,” he shot you a glance over his shoulder, yet again, his smile was very amused, “well that’s interesting .”

“Not really,” you deadpanned, “please face forward.”

“As you wish.”

His neck is a sensitive area, hence why you instead directed him through your favorite stretches. Once you were done he confessed to feeling lighter.

That was when he plopped himself onto the soft grass with a sigh, his long limbs stretched out as though he’s a starfish. He seemed better, you supposed. Not wanting to leave him alone, you went to sit by a tree trunk and pull out your current book. 

You hadn’t been reading for long when the captain sat up again. He rolled his neck and shoulders out, thanked you, and excused himself to get back to work.

You prescribed he sleep early without drinking to make sure he didn’t have another headache later.

He chuckled jovially, with a smooth, “sure,” that made no promises. 

He was absolutely going to drink again.

You’d have to charge him for these remedies next time. Hopefully having a few less mora in his coin purse will prevent him from drinking.

-_-

As was probably expected, you spent the rest of your time foraging in the outskirts of Mondstadt. After climbing a sunsettia tree and seeing the amazing expanse of Cider Lake followed by the forests beyond the bridge, you plopped yourself down on a branch to rest, munching on a freshly picked sunsettia all the while.

The exhaustion of the day really settled into your limbs, and you found yourself too tired to even bother fighting it. So you stayed like that even as the sun completely set and the stars came out. It crossed your mind that you really ought to get down from that tree and get a proper meal. Especially before it got any darker. Vision holder or not, you weren’t exactly a trained warrior. But you were so tired , and the ground was so far down, and getting yourself down safely would be a chore . 

You were coaxing yourself to make your way down: returning your pack into your newly obtained pocket dimension (arguably the best thing about having a vision) so you’d be lighter, mentally chanting little encouragements in your head, and pulling up your sleeves - then you heard that annoyingly familiar cackle.

You pulled your knees to your chest as quietly as you could. Were you an Abyss Mage magnet? Seriously ? When you were in Sumeru you didn’t attract nearly so many-oh wait, you were mostly in residential areas there. But you were close to a residential area right now ! Just-urgh. Perhaps Mondstadt was just hazardous?

Not likely.

After all, if you thought about it hard enough it seemed like a friend of yours had mentioned something deceptively similar…

Not that you paid all that much attention to his boasting. You lamented that now, as he might have let something useful slip then.

With great care not to make a sound, you surveyed your surroundings. The Abyss Mages, yes, mages, plural, were…walking? Yes just strolling about on their tiny little legs, once again near a side entrance. There were two of them, one was a Cryo Mage, you would know, the other however was unfamiliar to you. Unlike its cryo counterpart, the unfamiliar mage seemed to blend in with the dark, its fuzz and robe being rather dark, so it just looked like a black mass with a floating white mask.

They seemed to be conversing with one another, probably plotting something evil given their continuous cackles. You worked to suppress the shivers that came over you. Make no mistake, it wasn’t because the night was cold.

Thankfully due to the dark and your position in the tree, neither mage seemed aware of your presence. You picked up a few words from their conversation as they neared your tree. Something about “trying again,” and “getting revenge for last time,” and this time being more successful because they’d “been scouting the area for a while now.”

Yepp, you weren’t going to go around on the outskirts of Mondstadt after dark anymore. Noooo siree! These things came by every night?

No wonder you ran into one a month ago.

They continued to cackle ominously, and you made out some more of their conversation, it seemed like they were targeting one specific individual, and that their demise would make it much easier for them to carry out whatever plot (vile, evil, horrendous plot) they had.

You had to notify Master Jean as soon as you could leave this tree safely. Or Sir Kaeya. He was a valid option. Well that was when you could leave. It looked like you’d be stuck here a while, and you couldn’t even read anything because you had to stay vigilant in case these menaces chose to attack you indiscriminately again. Well that was one good thing about them perhaps: they did not discriminate when it came to attacking people. How kind of them. To hate all peoples equally. It was almost noble in a sense.

You grabbed your humble knapsack of Klee bombs from your pocket dimension and clutched it tightly. In case they did attack you’d be as ready as you could be.

You continued to clutch the bag to your chest even as the night went on and they continued to wander about, perhaps making note of this and that. Due to the stress of potentially being attacked, you didn’t really feel any sense of hunger, nor exhaustion. You were straining to hear as much as you possibly could about their plan to tell the Acting Grandmaster, but that was it.

The restless monotony of your night was set ablaze by a flaming weapon coming down on both the shields that the Abyss Mages had summoned. The suddenness of the attack had you reaching for a bomb in a hurry. However before you launched the thing, you carefully leaned over to see what all the commotion was.

Something about this situation seemed familiar. 

It couldn’t possibly be because you were on the outskirts of Mondstadt proper at night after foraging and running into Abyss Mages could it? Not at all related to the flaming head of hair below, no siree.

You exhaled as though you were a deflating balloon. This was your opportunity to help though! You could give it a shot! Putting the bomb back into the pack you moved to a lower branch as best you could. Now you could make it to the ground without breaking anything if you fell!

Turning back to the battle you noticed Master Diluc work tirelessly to avoid what looked like a bubble trailing after him while also dodging massive ice shards. He made it look effortless, but it couldn’t be easy. You pulled out that bomb again. What if you distracted one of them? Ideally the cryo mage, but well, you weren’t in a position to be picky.

You’d thrown lots of Klee’s bombs before, how else were you to go fish blasting? However this would be your first time throwing one at anything that wasn’t a body of water. Launching the device it detonated upon impact to the ground not too far away from the tree. The explosion distracted all three of the participants in the current scuffle, and you waited with baited breath to see if they’d take the bait.

To your greatest fortune, it was the Abyss Mage with the unknown element that teleported over to see what the fuss was about. Casting a glance you noticed that your savior happened to break through the mage’s cryo shield. Of course that wasn’t the wisest move, as the mage that came to investigate the commotion you’d caused managed to spot you on the branch. You’d barely gotten a bomb out when it caged you within a bubble of water. 

Ah so that’s what Master Diluc had been working to dodge.

Thank goodness your herbs were in that pocket dimension! Nice, and safe, and dry . Truly, this was the greatest blessing of having a vision.

Hmm if you were currently drowning in this bubble, didn’t that mean this was a Hydro Abyss Mage? Well then, that’s three out of the seven known elements, you just had to meet the other four variants and you’d have a full set! Maybe you’d even get a prize for meeting them all? Or perhaps it would be recorded somewhere as an achievement?

This was not the time for sardonic jokes.

You weren’t the best at holding your breath underwater really, but you did know that the trick was to move as little as possible. You could vaguely make out a deep, notably human voice calling out to you through the water of your current prison. Your grip tightened on the dangerously cute looking bomb in your hand. Oh yeah!

Luckily all Klee’s bombs are waterproof!

Welp here goes something, you couldn’t help but think as you activated the bomb and tried to swim as far away from it as you could before it exploded. As you expected, you didn’t really get very far before the force of the blast destroyed the water prison and launched you to the side.

Your landing onto the grass was not graceful, but it wasn’t too bad, as the ground was mostly soft. You’re not going to lie, that blast hurt . Maybe you shouldn’t blast the poor fishies anymore. 

You were hacking as you regained your breath, water dripping from your hair, clothes, nostrils, and mouth. You’d barely started to breathe again, when you looked to see that you weren’t very far from the Cryo Mage that looked as disoriented as you felt, swaying on its feet.

You could hear the sounds of the fight continuing as you continued to cough and gasp for breath. You worked to sit up, feeling the entirety of your left side ache. As it turns out, thanks to your efforts, and the fact that you were in water, your outfit hadn’t taken much damage, it wasn’t completely unharmed, but it was still decent enough that you wouldn’t need to buy another one. Your mora was running low as it was.

You saw the mage regain its footing and start dancing, which honestly didn’t seem like a good sign. You summoned the bomb pouch again. Huh, you were lucky that it disappeared when you’d been in that hydro bubble, imagine all of these things going off? You’d have died. 

Probably.

But that’s besides the point. Grabbing another bomb you managed to throw it at the dancing mage’s feet. It went off, and blew the Mage off its feet, which meant it stopped dancing. That was when a blur of red and black flew past you, grabbing the mage by its fuzzy neck.

You’d blinked and you noticed Master Diluc had both the Abyss Mages against the wall, his hands pressing into both their necks.

You could hear him speak, voice low, demanding, “what are you doing lurking around Monstadt?”

“Like we’d ever tell you!” One of them spat.

You heard them shriek in pain, the sound ear-piercing, and not in the way that let you wear more earrings.

Wait.

They could speak your language! You stood up, wincing at the sharp pain shooting through your left leg and made your way towards the trio. “you understand our language!” You accused.

“Of course we do silly human!” One responded.

You felt your indignation rise. However before you could articulate your anger, you heard them shriek again, and noticed the dying flicker of flames where Master Diluc’s hands were.

““I know you’ve been searching for something around here for the last month or so,” his eyes narrowed, “I’m going to ask you again, what are you plotting?”

“We’re never going to tell you and you’ll never find-AAAAHHHH!” You watched in horror as the cryo mage burned until there was nothing left but black ashes.

You turned to look at Diluc who had the full force of his glare directed at the remaining hydro mage. He didn’t need to say a thing.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!” You felt bad for the fiend, as it pathetically tried to negotiate for its life. “The Dark Knight Hero! We’re after him!”

Oh that’s interesting!

Master Diluc seemed to think otherwise. 

“The Dark Knight Hero,” he scoffed, eyes narrowing, “hasn’t he fended you off already? What are your true motives?”

“Actually,” you cut in without thinking, earning their attention, “when they were talking earlier, he and his friend mentioned that they were plotting revenge against someone, saying this time their attack would be successful.”

The Pyro user immediately confirmed this, “is this true?”

“Yes! Yes!”

“And what’s this about an attack?” The growl that left the man to your side had you flinching a bit.

“An attack on the Dark Knight Hero!”

Ooh wrong answer.

Diluc’s hand tightened on the mage’s neck, “do not play dumb with me. Whatever your plot, I will find it out and I will foil it.”

“They’ve been scouting the area for a while now,” you recalled.

You could see the Pyro energy in Diluc’s hand, “tell me everything .”

That was all it took for the mage to finally crack. Seems they’d been planning a series of assaults on Mondstadt in succession, where they’d demand the surrendering of the Dark Knight Hero, hoping to pressure him into revealing himself. At first you’d been confused, but then it made sense: reveal his identity and then the knights would have to limit his activity, which meant he would interfere with these mages’ plans less.

These mages were oddly organized. Perhaps they belonged to some specific order of mages that wished to…to do something, perhaps take over the world? Or Mondstadt at the very least?

You were pulled out of your mind-wanderings by the shrill cry of the hydro mage being fried. From there you turned to look at the man that had fried it, swallowing down an unreasonable complaint.

“Speak of this to no one,” was the first thing he said.

Your brow furrowed, “I feel we should at least report this to Acting Grandmaster Jean.”

He stared you down, his eyes ablaze as he worked to burn your resolve down. It was kind of working. Having the full, undivided attention of a man who’s managed to end two Abyss Mages and could likely easily end you? Yeah…it’s enough to intimidate anyone you’d think.

That and he’s really pretty. Having the full, undivided attention of a man whose beauty could inspire the many bards of this city? Yeah that’s a lot of pressure.

Yet for whatever reason you didn’t yield. Perhaps it was the lingering adrenaline? Or maybe it was your dwindling patience from the day? (Or perhaps it was that ever so convenient habit of your mind wandering yet again.) Either way after what felt like an eternity of him staring you down, he let out a tired exhale.

“If the Knights of Favonius were capable of handling this, wouldn’t you agree they’d have arrived by now?” He reasoned, folding his arms over his chest, “we’ve managed an entire interrogation and despite your explosives none of them have come to investigate.”

You hated that he had a point. Where were those knights? Well then again you weren’t that close to the entrance this time. Besides, even if her staff were bums, Master Jean herself was not! She deserved to know, she was responsible for all this too! All this being Monstadt. And its safety!

You told him as much, “Master Jean deserves-no- needs to know,” you insisted, “regardless of how incapable her knights are, she herself is highly capable and ought to be informed as the Acting Grandmaster.”

He gave you a bored look then.

“Fine,” he closed his eyes, “but only Jean and mention nothing about me. I was never here.”

You could feel your face scrunching up in confusion, “why?”

However before he could say anything more it all clicked into place. Your hunch had been right! “You are the Dark Knight Hero!” You cheered excitedly. 

His brow furrowed and a frown marred his face, “how do you know about the Dark Knight Hero?”

“Oh! Well! You see,” you began oh-so eloquently, “a couple of drunk idiots were arguing about who the strongest fighter in Mondstadt was.”

At that he raised an eyebrow, “and what drove you to the conclusion that it was me?”

“Oh well, I asked around and people said that the Dark Knight Hero was a he, worked at night, and had a pyro vision,” you listed things out excitedly, “when you’d first saved my life it was at night and you’d clearly used pyro, and you’re a male.”

“I’m not the only male that uses a pyro vision at night in Mondstadt,” his expression was bored.

Oh he got you there. “Well I don’t see why you’d be so adamant about me not revealing your involvement to Master Jean unless you didn’t want her to figure out you were the infamous vigilante,” you explained.

He seemed to be considering what to do with you when you decided to give credit where it was due though. “Well to be fair, Donna gave me the idea.”

“Donna?”

“Yes! She’d been saved by the Dark Knight Hero before and was working very hard to ensure she stayed loyal to you, and she kept mentioning you while telling me about the time the Dark Knight Hero saved her, so I got the two of you mixed up in my head,” you babbled quickly, “oh! Don’t worry she still prefers you, as in Master Diluc, to the Dark Knight Hero! There’s no need to worry though, really, given you’re the same person! I mean, she , doesn’t have to worry!”

The way he was looking at you made you want to shrink in on yourself, “what do you mean by all that?”

Oh no. “I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings? Donna is clearly a very loyal lover, so I didn’t want you to be upset with her because of my negligence and rambling-”

“Donna and I are not lovers,” he corrected your assumptions.

Ah what a fool you were, making assumptions as you did. Just brilliant, absolutely brilliant. You were sure the look of horror on your face said it all.

“I,” you paused, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to, well I don’t know really,” you rambled, “I hope I have not made you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all,” he replied smoothly, finally uncrossing his arms, “from what you’ve said, your assumption seems like a somewhat logical conclusion to arrive at when you have so little information.”

You didn’t respond.You felt your embarrassment lick at you the way his flames had licked at the Abyss Mages prior. Oh gosh, you’d also completely ruined things for Donna! You just revealed her feelings to him without her consent nor knowledge and-

“I trust we have an agreement?” He asked you.

“I’m sorry, about what?” You snapped out of your thoughts.

“You will only inform Jean and won’t mention me.”

“Ah yes,” you shook off your lingering embarrassment to look at the man before you, “you have my word.”

He offered you a gloved hand, and so you shook it, reaffirming your agreement.

“I’m sorry, could I ask that you continue to treat Donna as you usually would?” You asked sheepishly. “I thought that-I didn’t mean to reveal that she-I’m sorry.”

He retracted his hand from yours - oh you’d still been shaking it. “That is a misplaced apology,” you grimaced, “not that you have anything to apologize for, she was never subtle about her feelings.”

“So you knew?” You saw that he wore a tired look now.

“Of course, I had to know why she observed me so keenly,” he folded his arms across his chest then, “turns out she wasn’t a threat.”

Oh. So that was it. Guess you didn’t do any real damage. Would you still have to apologize to Donna though? How would you do it without revealing this event? Well if he already knew then you didn’t do any real damage. Maybe you should keep quiet about this…  

Nevermind that, there was something more important right now! You gave the man a once over, “are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I should be the one asking you that.”

“Don’t worry yourself with me,” you worked to wave his concerns away, however he cut you off.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’re leaning heavily on your right side,” he stated flatly.

“A slight sprain,” you said quickly, “nothing Sister Barbara or I can’t fix.”

“You’re not planning on walking on that leg are you?”

“Sir, do not think I haven’t noticed you avoiding my question,” you folded your arms across your chest and you scanned him once again, but with more focus, “are you hurt anywhere?”

“That’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.”

“I’m an apothecary , it is exactly the thing I ought to concern myself with!” You disagreed. “Actually! Given I’m aware of your secret identity, I’d like to re-extend my offers for natural and herbal remedies! Not that the initial offer ever expired.”

You smiled as you started explaining what this entailed, however you’d barely told him about how it included teas and salves as well as ointments when he cut you off saying he was fine.

“Well the offer is always there for you when you wish to take it,” you relented, your excitement dampening.

The two of you stood in silence, and a sudden gust of wind had you shivering. That’s right! You were still soaked from head to toe. Without something to distract you, and your falling adrenaline levels, the aftermath of your earlier scuffle made itself apparent. Your expression soured despite your efforts, and you tried to shift subtly to ease the weight on your seemingly injured leg.

A low branch would do, especially given the lower branches were rather sturdy on the tree you’d been in. It could serve as a crutch to help you hobble your way home for the night.

Wait. You had a vision, and you had been practicing. You cast a quick look to the man by your side, he seemed private enough, he likely wouldn’t tell anyone about your vision.

You unceremoniously dropped yourself onto the ground. Really there was no elegant way to do it with only one leg supporting you.

“Are you alright?” Master Diluc was kneeling by you instantly. “There was no way you could walk on that ‘slight sprain,’ of yours.”

As much as you wanted to deny it, he wasn’t wrong, and so you simply heaved a tired sigh as you worked to unlace your boot, “yeah, you were right,” you were about to remove your boot, when it hit you that you’d been wearing it all day .

You turned to look at the very attractive redhead, embarrassment finally finding you. Now, while you wouldn’t say you were ugly , you were actually rather cute sometimes! You also wouldn’t say you could compete with the beauty that Diluc possessed. All this to say you didn’t want him smelling your smelly foot.

“Uh, Master Diluc,” you shot him a sheepish smile, “I believe I’ll be fine now, so if you’d like you could go ahead with your evening.”

He perked an eyebrow at that, somehow that inquisitive look made him all the more attractive, “even though you can’t stand?”

“I can stand!”

“Then why did you sit yourself down?”

“To-” you paused then, he got you.

“To?” He pressed.

You were silent for a moment, letting his focused stare whittle away at you. With a sigh you gave in, “to inspect the damage to my foot.”

“Wouldn’t it be wiser to do that within the city walls?” He asked flatly.

Ah! He had a point! You should have thought of that!

“Well I’d need to be able to walk into the city to inspect it there,” you tilted your head to look at him, “oh wait I can crawl.”

You were working to retie your boot when you heard him shuffle to be beside you on your injured side. “Is everything alright?” You asked.

The look he gave you could be described as tired, or perhaps done, “you can lean on me.”

You felt your face burn, from both the proximity and the offer. You were working to stutter out a response, “th-there’s no need! It’ll hurt but I can manage,” you were shuffling to stand, and moved much too quickly, the sudden pain shooting through you like a shock of electro.

You inhaled deeply so as to not let out a cry of pain, and dropped back down to the ground. Or you would have, had it not been for Master Diluc’s quick reflexes.

You felt your whole body warm in embarrassment: you were being held . As though sensing your discomfort the man helped right you to stand on your own foot, however one gloved hand remained firmly on your elbow.

“You’ve made it worse,” he reprimanded, voice low, “stop being stubborn and let me help you.”

You couldn’t help the look of absolute disbelief on your face. Was he being serious? You could say the same to him! “I’m not being stubborn,” you denied.

“You are.”

“I am not !” You stressed. “I was hoping to find a way where I wouldn’t be putting myself further into your debt.”

“You’re not in my debt.”

“I am !” You disagreed. “You’ve saved my life twice, arguably three times now!”

“Arguably three times?”

“When I met the Cryo Abyss Mage not too far from here,” you counted onto your fingers, “when I was given shelter from the rain at your winery,” you counted before quickly moving on to the most recent incident when you noticed he was about to disagree, “and just now when you took down the two mages.”

“You weren’t under attack just now,” his brow furrowed, “you weren’t in any danger at all before I arrived. Where were you?”

“I was sitting in that tree,” you turned to point at it.

“You should have stayed put in that tree then,” he grumbled.

“I was trying to help!” You replied in indignation, before shrinking. 

“It was unnecessary, I had it undercontrol,” you felt like you were being scolded, “and you got yourself injured as a result.”

He was right. You’d potentially gotten in his way too. It was nice of him not to bring that up though.

“I suppose I should have considered if I was getting in your way,” you looked away from him, “I’m sorry.” 

He was still holding your elbow, you took note of how he hadn’t reached around to help you out yet. Was he waiting for your permission to help you before he touched you?

“Well,” he cut through the silence, “you didn’t get in the way ,” he corrected gently, “however you did put yourself into unnecessary danger.”

You shrunk even further, “I see that now.”

“Your information during the interrogation did help,” he acknowledged then, “thank you.”

“Yeah…uh you’re welcome I guess…it was no big deal - don’t - no need to mention it,” your voice got quieter with every word as you wrung your hands together hoping to relieve yourself of some embarrassment, “I suppose we ought to get inside, I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is already.”

“May I?” He asked as he gestured in a manner you understood as him asking to support you.

You nodded, more embarrassed by your previous actions than you were by his proximity. He took your right arm, slipping it over his shoulder, before his hand - which was really nice and warm-came to rest on your waist. In a smooth motion he  pulled you into his side.

Nice and snug .

Oh gosh that’s embarrassing. But he was so warm and given you’d been doused from head to toe-hold up. “Uh wait Master Diluc!” You said after the first awkward hobble.

“What is it? Are you alright?” He really did have a decadent voice, truly it was rich as he spoke right above your head.

“Oh no! I’m alright, it’s just,” you grimaced, “I’m going to get your clothes all wet.”

“Is that all?”

“Well I’d rather not inconvenience you further,” you explained.

“Don’t worry about me,” he reiterated, his fingers flexing on your waist as he readjusted his grip, tightening it as he worked to help you again.

Your gaze snapped towards where his hand rested on your waist. Oh if your family saw you now. Hoo boy, would you be in for it. Such close proximity to a handsome man…and that hand on your waist.

Scandalous. 

You’d never been held like this before. It was very strange, and incredibly embarrassing. You found yourself looking at the dark ground below, trying your best to go as fast as you could, the sooner you made it past the gates, the sooner Master Diluc could be free of you.

With every awkward little hop you made, the redheaded’s grip would readjust on your waist as he continued to help you. You swallowed heavily, the heat rising in your body making you warm despite your chilled skin. 

“I’m sorry this is taking so long,” you apologized sheepishly when the entrance was in sight, “I’ve taken up a considerable amount of your time, so you can just leave me here to use the wall, I’ll manage.”

“I’m not about to leave you where you can be attacked when you’re unable to even stand.”

“Then you could let me lean on the wall and watch me walk in,” you suggested quickly, before pausing, “oh wait-”

“That would still be taking up my time, wouldn’t it?” He asked.

“Yeah, I was just thinking that,” you grimaced, “my bad.”

You heard a quiet exhale that sounded…amused? You turned to look at the man that was serving as your crutch, and unless it was a trick of the moonlight, there seemed to be a subtle upturn at the corner of his lips. You blinked and it was gone though, and so you turned to look ahead of you again.

As you got closer to the side entrance though a new worry rose to the forefront of your mind, and you stopped entirely.

“What is it this time?” He seemed a bit impatient.

“Well, I don’t think it would be wise to enter as we are right now,” you started, looking back up at your companion with a furrowed brow, “I’d rather we enter separately.”

He seemed to be considering what you intended by that. “I fear you being seen with me will hint at your secret identity.”

“How is that?” He furrowed his brows, eyes narrowing at you.

You pursed your lips while looking away, your embarrassment hurting more than the dull throbbing in your foot. You inhaled sharply as you grimaced. “I talked to Sir Kaeya about the Dark Knight Hero,” you started pausing as you worked to formulate the rest of the explanation.

“You told Kaeya your speculations?”

“No! No no no!” You immediately denied waving both your hands in a panic. “No, I didn’t,” you quickly cleared up as your brain quickly thread all the events together, “I tried to ask him if he knew of the Dark Knight Hero, and if he had any information about him,” you paused to breathe, “and he was already aware that a pyro user had saved me prior-I reported the first time I was attacked to him-and when he asked me if I thought that my savior was the Dark Knight Hero, I said yes.”

Master Diluc looked very unimpressed, and so you continued hurriedly, “I was just hoping he might give me some information for a change, but I never mentioned your name-not even once,” you rambled on, “and like you said, you’re not the only pyro vision user in Mondstadt!” You gestured with your free hand. “A-and! And he said as much the first time I met him. Uh-when I reported being attacked by an Abyss Mage!”

He closed his eyes and let out a long exhale, when he opened them again he raised a brow at you, “and did you get any information out of Kaeya in the end?”

You looked up towards the sky in thought, “he mentioned that the Dark Knight Hero frequents a tavern by the name of Angel’s Share,” you turned to look at him noticing his features had shifted subtly in surprise, “is that true?”

“I own Angel’s Share,” he stated, readjusting his grip on you as a whole, “given your concern, I take it you won’t be sharing your theories with anyone else?”

“I already promised you this,” your brows furrowed this time, “didn’t I?”

At his silence you promised him again, “yes, I promise that your secret is safe with me.”

“Good,” he nodded at you.

He pulled you along towards the entrance, and you wasted no time in voicing your confusion, “uh Master Diluc, about my suggestion to enter separately?”

“Yes, I’m in agreement,” you noticed that you were moving closer towards the wall, “it’s a rather astute suggestion after all.”

“Oh. Uh thank you,” you offered a gentle smile.

The vigilante helped you to the wall, and stood back watching you the whole way up until you made it through the entrance. There you were met by the knight that was keeping watch and an unavoidable interrogation. 

“You’re hurt! How did you get injured?” The knight began reaching for you.

On instinct you reached out to keep him from touching you, which caused him to shrink back. “Well I climbed a tree, and, well, things happened, and here I am!” You explained, truthfully.

Seems that was enough for the guard. Following your instructions he got you something that could serve as a crutch, and tried to call for someone to escort you home. You appreciated the sentiment, but you did not want to inconvenience anyone else for the day, so you didn’t and hobbled on back to your inn by yourself.

You made it back to your room without causing yourself any additional pain, inspected the damage without subjecting anyone to the stench of your foot, and even managed to put into practice some of your healing…y’know without making too much noise. You’d had to gag yourself, kind of.

Which was all good news! Okay maybe not the gagging bit, but still, good news for the most part!

It took you a while to heal it and by the time you were done, as in, the swelling went down and it only throbbed with an easily ignorable soreness, you were freezing , your clothes were still damp after all. You wasted no time in switching into your night clothes and setting out your other clothes to dry before curling up under the covers for warmth.

Now you were a lady of your word, and so you half walked half limped your way to the Acting Grandmaster’s office first thing in the…early afternoon, to tell her what you’d overheard. Sans the unfairly beautiful winery owner’s involvement of course!

With that settled, and Master Jean rubbing her temples, no doubt attempting to assuage an incoming headache, you…didn’t move on to see Sister Barbara, but instead remained by the young lady for a bit longer.

Noticing you hadn’t left yet, she heaved a heavy sigh. “Thank you for your information,” she continued to rub at her temples, “The knights will be mobilized to handle this issue.”

“Well it was only right to tell you,” You replied with a shaky smile, feeling a pang of guilt for increasing her already tremendous burden. Well it wasn’t really your fault, but still, you felt for her.

You’d bring her some tea and sweets, oh and maybe some soap later. Oh you had to make that.

Anywho, you left to see Barbara after your meeting with Jean. You hadn’t been wearing your boots for long, so your feet didn’t stink! Well not too much anyway - besides any stench they would have worked up would likely be covered up by the mint scent of your numbing salve. 

Your boot came off. The scent of mint wafted into the air much to your relief. Then your sock came off, then the bandage, and that was when you watched the popular deaconess’ face contort into a look of horror. Your foot looked abysmal. Truly.

It was swollen.

Much more swollen than you would have expected.

See, that was the problem with using the numbing salve, it just reduced the pain, it didn’t solve the problem. Barbara was looking at you in horror, especially given she’d seen you limp your way into the cathedral, without a crutch.

Gosh, and it was this bad with your healing. Either it was way worse before, or you plain sucked at healing.

Well! You were still new to the whole vision thing. You’d figure it out eventually.

She was such a great mentor really. When you expressed you’d actually tried to heal it last night - she seemed even worse for wear after hearing you’d slept with the leg - how did you manage that? Oh yeah-you were exhausted. 

Back on topic!

Yes, Barbara decided to walk you through how she would go about healing it, and a good way to use your elemental sight and vision to inspect the wound better. It was really clever! Upon inspecting the damage done to your foot, you could understand exactly why she was as mortified as she was. Just wow - you’d really done a number on yourself. You’d outdone yourself really. Coming to Mondstadt was giving you all sorts of new experiences.

Rejecting Sir Kaeya’s soup might just be the highlight of this trip really. Or perhaps last night when you were supported by Master Diluc. The ghost of his fingers on his waist teased you, and you shook out your embarrassment quickly.

Anywho, once you were fully healed, Barbara told you not to do anything strenuous for the day. She let you off with a word of advice that every healer has their own way of healing and that it will take time before you figure out what works for you.

Nothing strenuous huh?

Nothing strenuous.

Would your current activities be called strenuous?

Hmm. Depends on who you asked and how they defined strenuous. You were making soap right outside Mondstadt’s walls. That wasn’t strenuous!

It was rather relaxing actually!

Adelinde hadn’t shared much of her troubles with you, however, you picked up on the fact that she worked a lot, and that Master Diluc did as well. And Master Jean too! Welp that was all the more reason to prepare some soaps with refreshing scents that were good for the skin. You should make a good batch of them so the other maids and workers could also get some! That would only be fair.

Oh maybe you could prepare a bathing solution! You knew just the thing for hair and skin!

Oh wait, it depended on the type of hair and type of skin…

Ah, well, they’d figure it out.

Also your mother had this amazing foot cream, you’d modified it slightly with the help of your old professor back when you were still at home so it was even more effective! It would help with those sores the sweet maid did mention.

And you could also extract oils from the mints to make a topical solution for headaches! Sir Kaeya would appreciate that wouldn’t he?

You weren’t sure if they’d help with hangover headaches though…

“My if I didn’t know better, I’d think there was a witch brewing evil outside Mondstadt.”

Ah think of the peacock and he shall appear. 

You looked up from where you were squatting by your pack, soap molds and a batch of mint in hand. Well that was convenient for you! You could tell him about the mint oil! 

“Sir Kaeya!” Your excitement springing you into a standing position. “Perfect timing! I was just thinking about you!”

He looked amused then.

Wait had he just said witches were evil? But Miss Lisa was lovely how-

“Oh?” He smirked at you. “Thinking about me ?”

“Sir Kaeya, did you just call witches evil?”

He seemed confused by your statement and raised an eyebrow in askance.

“Miss Lisa is a witch,” you furrowed your brow, your earlier excitement lost, your hands falling to your sides, “however, she is most kind and absolutely delightful! So please refrain from speaking ill of witches!”

He let out a little chuckle then. His one visible eye scanning you in a chilling appraisal. “Trying to distract me from the fact that I was on your mind?”

You blinked at him, the furrow in your brow replaced with a relaxed forehead and wide eyes that revealed your bafflement.

Oh!

“No,” your tone was blank, innocent as your expression, and pure as your intentions.

The captain chuckled, his visible eye crinkling. It was a nice sound. You almost forgot that he always approached with ulterior intentions.

“Pray tell then, why was I on your mind?”

“Because! Mints!” You smiled holding up the bundle as though it would explain the whole situation.

It did not.

“Mint oil is good for headaches,” you elaborated, your mouth finally catching up with your brain-no your brain finally catching up with your runaway train of thoughts, “you simply apply it to your forehead or temples- and temples? or take a whiff of it and it can help with headaches!”

The captain raised a hand to his chin, looking rather intrigued before his eye shifted to look to your side. You followed his gaze to the cauldron that you were currently using to make your soaps.

“And what is this concoction here?” He inquired.

“Soap.”

“Soap?”

“Soap,” you nodded, before squatting down to prepare the molds. In the middle of placing different petals and peels in you turned to the knight who was still unnervingly scrutinizing your every move, “would you like one?”

His eyebrow rose as though confused by your offer.

“The soap,” you elaborated, “would you like a bar once I finish this batch?”

“What were you planning to do with all this soap?”

“Give it to mothers so they can wash their children’s tongues clean of their lies,” you explained, your tone void of the humor your statement carried.

When the man seemed to believe you, you giggled, “I met a very nice lady who helped me out, so I’m gifting it to her,” you stood to mix the soap solution, adding this and that to it, “no need to be so suspicious Sir Kaeya,” you turned to look at him, “how may I help you today?”

“Oh I just came to repay you for yesterday,” he offered you his usual jovial smile as he flourished a fancy looking pen.

Oh! That’s nice! Not the most convenient, given it requires you to refill it regularly, but still a kind gesture!

Also you were weak for stationery, and this, this was a beautiful piece of stationery. An elaborate fountain pen, of a regal navy color, its clip resembling a peacock feather.

It was too fancy.

You couldn’t accept something so obviously expensive in exchange for only an apple and a sunsettia…and a tea…and a massage…

“I don’t think I can accept something so fancy when I’m not sure I even helped cure your headache,” you tugged at your hair apologetically.

“I’d say you helped,” he smiled.

“The treatment doesn’t feel like it warrants something so expensive,” you shifted away from his offering.

“My you are difficult,” he chuckled, “how about this?” He gestured with the hand holding the pen. “Consider this as an early payment for the mint oil.”

Huh. Mint oil was a little difficult to extract, and as a result, a bit on the expensive side when sold. You could make sure to offer him a quantity you felt was on par with the price of the pen.

“I’d rather you kept the pen until I actually give you the mint oil though,” you stared at the pen before looking back at its current owner.

He pouted, clearly upset by your continued rejection. Well it wasn’t really rejection. It was…uh…bartering! Yes bartering! In reverse?

“I bought this pen especially for you,” he complained, “as a token of my gratitude for your help.”

“Mondstadt sells special stationery?” You perked up. “Where?”

Oh no. No. No no no. You did not have the funds to buy fancy pens and notebooks. You were starting to run low on funds as it was already. You’d spent too much time at the inn (courtesy of your first life threatening experience) and well it was a good place to dry herbs. Oh maybe you could ask Miss Lisa to let you dry herbs in the library or something.

You heard the knight sigh, bringing you back to your current situation. The soap! You scurried to the cauldron, and stirred the thick bubbling inedible stew.

You began pouring the solution out into the molds, making sure to layer in different petals as you did. Sir Kaeya was still in your vicinity as you did so, you didn’t mean to be rude, but you needed these to cool and set by sunset. He plopped himself down by your pack, now quietly observing. 

Ah yes, to be observed so closely by a beautiful man. That wasn’t uncomfortable at all. You knew full well the added heat in your cheeks was not because of the heat of the cauldron. Well, to be fair, yesterday you’d been held by an equally beautiful man. You jolted a bit, the phantom grip of Master Diluc’s warm hand on your waist.

Ah yes! If you had time after this you ought to prepare some salves for the vigilante. He seemed to work alone, and likely endured injuries. You had an excellent antibacterial salve recipe! It sealed wounds rather well and didn’t even sting!

Though you preferred the sting to be honest. It meant the wound was being disinfected properly.

“Well I have to be off,” the knight rose to his feet, “I’ve confirmed you aren’t making anything dangerous and you’ve rejected my repayment,” he pouted playfully at you, “seems you like to keep people in your debt.”

You startled and turned to look at him, mid pour.

“How hypocritical, given you insist on never being in anyone else’s debt,” he lamented theatrically-it was rather dramatic in your opinion.

“You’re not in my debt,” you furrowed your brow at him and turned back to your project for a moment to finish up that specific soap bar before facing him again, “and I feel like if I take your pen then I’ll be in your debt.”

He looked…rather disappointed. His little pout was less annoying and more…? You were not about to call this clearly dangerous man cute, but his pout definitely was. Hmm…it seemed like if you didn’t take this pen, he’d feel indebted to you regardless of your opinion. That was not a nice feeling to experience. It was a nice pen.

Fine.

If only to make sure he wouldn’t feel the weight of a debt. But it would leave a sour taste on your tongue. Oh! You got it!

“How about mora instead?” You suggested.

Yeah, you couldn’t just take that pen. Too fancy. And rather strange given you didn’t feel you were well acquainted with the flamboyantly dressed captain.

His smirk was tired then as he acquiesced, “you’d make a horrible merchant.”

Well that stung. 

“Honest merchants can be good merchants,” you huffed, temporarily abandoning your soaps, “I’d say you owe me approximately,” well tomatoes were 90 mora a piece, and you gave him a massage. 

Massages were kind of expensive? Were they? Well if it’s a professional handling it, then yes-but you’re not so…

“250 mora?” You suggested.

He gave you 500 and left while you were counting.

He was the one who taught you the generous tip tactic.

[kthynes]

husband for hire (3)

18+

previously

You tour Lloyd’s home where you lose sleep and gorge on an endless selection of wine. But with misery comes company.

warnings: course language, violence, mentions of blood, heavy alcohol consumption. Mentions of past affiliations and traumas. Sassy reader. Patient soft!Lloyd.

word count: ~2.9k

authors note: thank you to those who’ve been pouring in their support for this little mishmash series. It’s been giving me the right push to write so I love you all to the sun, moon and stars xxx

This has not been beta’d - mistakes are my own

“Wow.” You gawk, blinded by polished marble flooring and prismatic chandeliers. There isn’t a speck of dust floating around. Every nook was pristine, almost uninhabited. Whereas you waltzed in, out of place, from rag to riches. This was meant to be your Cinderella story.

A soft click shuts the door behind you as Lloyd huffs, slowly undoing his cummerbund.

“What do you think?” He perpetuates, letting the pleated sash swish and cut through the air.

“You have a very beautiful home.” You politely add.

“I’m glad you think so.” Lloyd tyrants a genuine smile that is almost saccharine. You wanted to melt into the linoleum that very instant. “Come through, I’ll give you a quick tour.”

You nod, following him like a docile house cat as he turns every corridor with ease. He shows you the Michelin restaurant grade kitchen, the living room, theatre room, backyard, the entourage of house guards outback, your own butler, Jeeves, your maid, Maria. He shows you every closet, cupboard, nook and corner. In return you’re in awe of all the plants, fauna and paintings he’s bought off auction. There’s a room for everything imaginable and now there’s a room for you.

“This is where you’ll be.” He opens the unlatched double doors to reveal a platinum, all white suite.

“I could’ve easily taken the couch.” You state, casually eying the orthopaedic California king that floated in the middle of the room.

“You’re my guest.” He ensures. “You stay where I tell you to stay.”

“Is this where I kneel for the master?” You grit, swiveling to meet your crafty assailant eye to eye. There's that unnerving sass that doesn’t miss a beat. Lloyd knew how to break even.

“Only if you submit.” He sexually deviates in a tone that zings your core.

“Know your place.” You look him up and down before stepping into the room that is far from welcoming and close to an asylum of some sort.

“Sergio will get the rest of your things so that way you’ll feel more at home.” Lloyd explains when you aimlessly wander a barren corner that leads up to an illustrious walk in. You’re slightly appreciative but aghast.

“Wait, what about Cujo?”

“Cujo?” Lloyd tries his hardest not to laugh.

“My blue Merle.” You affirm and he relieves a sound ‘ahh.’ “Y’know, an Australian Shepherd.”

“He’s more than welcome here.” He smiles. It’s fake. Lloyd hates dogs. He’s not fond of Rooster the house cat that slithers through the back gates every so often. But for you the world was liminal. “Anything else?”

“This can’t be forever.” You spar with a sideways look.

“I know and there’ll be an end to all of this. But ultimately that’s your call to make mi Luna.” He simply states, rolling the ball back into your corner. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have some… business to deal with.” He pauses, poker faced.

“Do you think you’ll be OK?”

“In a house all to myself?” You fold your arms across your chest, tapping a foot that is ready to run.

“One is enough company.” He reminds you while unbuckling his watch links. There’s a tiny little smirk gracing the corners of his mouth.

“You’re telling me?” You theorize, disgusted by your own life lasting singleness. Lloyd easily takes to your self deprecating tendencies. He believes you’re perfect and cruel. He’d change the latter.

“Let’s be good alright?” He requests, sounding jovially lighthearted. The gold link watch lands on top of the large oak armoire as a reminder, shifting the silence once again.

“Will I see you?” Did you want to?

“I’ll be around.” He’s nonplussed and you wanted to swing at him. “Goodnight, mi Luna.”

***

You lost count of sheep and wound down a flight of stairs that led you through a dark abyss. The house help was sound asleep while your disquietude kept you awake.

Every step there was a door and past that door there was light shining in from a sheer lined window. In the midst of your nightly conquest you were rocking back a bottle of imported red wine, embittered by the dry, full bodied taste of it all. Lloyd had an exquisite selection of wines to choose from. Mostly unopened and sitting pretty in an above ground cellar. He was a connoisseur and you took advantage, considering the fact that you didn’t drink at the wedding. So why not now!

“Fucking shit.” You gargle after taking another forceful swig. The pint swished in your grasp, echoing through the corridor. Time was ticking to a steady pulse. Slow torture became exodus as you could hear pained, muffled cries coming from one of the many closed doors.

“Please.” They agonize in a symphony you’re too familiar with. “Please.”

Your feet trail up. There’s one door where light pools from under. The pleas become gradual, calling out to you like a siren.

“I promise it won't happen again. Please Lloyd.” The man’s voice cracks. There are many moments in your life that parallel this instance. Your father being the true culprit and successor to the cause. Pain, infliction and chaos. “I didn’t mean for it to happen… those men.. they…”

Your eyes fall shut, brows drawn together. You stand right in front of the door that could shatter upon impact, awaiting your turn with fear and uncertainty.

Something abysmal spins you out. The gallant murmurs are a muck. The soured wine churns in your stomach when there’s a pitfall of silence. You’re so far too self absorbed to notice the door creak open. Someone clears their throat. You flutter your eyes open to see a looming Sicilian man, armored in Dior and Kevlar.

He’s cast with a grave look, squaring you off in militant form. You’re bewildered, paled by the laser-like focus Lloyd has on you from behind the giant. You don’t look at him. How could you?

“Mi Luna.” He husks in a tone so deathly low. Don’t answer, Y/N.

The man who’s kneecapped, huffing and puffing, looks over his shoulder. Your eyes meet and it’s telepathic. He’s grateful, relieved by your unexpected appearance. You scowl through the full effects of costly red wine and audacity, trying to sound somewhat unaffected. You weren’t there for anyone.

“Is there a bathroom around here?” You calmly inquire as if you weren’t caught eavesdropping on an execution. Lloyd’s countenance tightens, anger was a fleeting understatement. But his oversight changes as the fireplace crackles and casts a warm glow, whipping the tense silence into a heated ordeal.

“Two doors down, to your right.” He finally presses. His men soundlessly idled around, not a step out of place. They don’t look at you the way Lloyd does with his smoldering gaze.

You slowly back away, inscribed with disappointment. The heaving man bows his head in defeat, knowing his fate was dealt with. “Andre.”

And in that moment the door was shut on your face. Unanimous to your reservations.

A million thoughts to one.

Your walk back is short when you hear gunshots go off for the first time after a long time. It’s shattering. It’s abrupt. Enough for you to instinctively scamper up a random flight of stairs and fall into a room that’s not yours. Dark walls, light wood furniture, the familiar scent of bergamot infused aftershave. You knew you were entrapped in his room when the harnessing safety lock clicks.

“Fuck.” You jiggle the knob again, not knowing the adjustment and push method. “Fuuuuuck.”

“We’ll take care of the rest, boss.“ Sebastian calmly assures Lloyd who tempers his breathing and studies the lifeless man before him. The last few minutes were a crucial struggle. He had to make sure.

“He’s getting there anyways.” Seb was right. There’s a small halo of blood forming around the head and that was enough to sinister some realization as Lloyd turns to his longtime associate in crime.

“Do it before I get back and make sure my rug stays intact. Got it?” Lloyd was delirious. He ran out of the study before he could acknowledge a ‘yes sir.’

Some part of his possessive, ruddering conscience wanted to make sure you were OK. As fear takes a paralleling whirlwind, you could hear his Italian sharp toed shoes tap up the stairway. It’s no shock that he barges into your room first and doesn’t find you there.

“Y/N!” He hollers down the corridor before pushing open his room door, the final unchecked space. He pauses in mid-action, seeing your hardened resolve at standoff. “I—“ Relief is scornful and there’s no othering after fact.

“Was I supposed to see that?” You point with the half empty bottle in hand, completely glassy eyed. His jaw ticks.

“No.” He answers. “And you won’t have to if you—“

“Oh fuck you. Fuck you!” You scream, letting all the veins in your neck come out for show. Lloyd shuffles on his feet, inhaling a sharp intake of breath while lightly shutting the door behind him. He’s had moments like this rehearsed so talking you down from it wasn’t unexpected. More so gut wrenching.

“Who do you think I am?” He calmly asks in a way that is compliant yet arbitrary.

“Someone better than this, I’d hope.” Why do you care?

“Yeah right. My hands have been covered in blood since the day I was born.” He scoffs, circling the room like a prowling vulture. You open your mouth to interject. He’s quick witted and drawl, stopping dead in his tracks. “Don’t ask me to change if you’re your fathers daughter. Ya hear?”

“That’s where you and I are different. I don’t kill for a living.” You say on your high horse.

“That’s right. You’re just an elementary school teacher with her panties in a twist.” He sardonically responds.

“How’d you—“ your brows furrow.

“I used to work for your father, remember?” He adds, scratching his temple that slightly throbs. “… Always had my eyes on you.” Lloyd mumbles to himself, well under his breath.

“What happened?”

“Everything unimaginable.” You look at him dubiously. He sighs, deflated and not willing enough to further speculate. “Are you OK?”

“Could be better.” You grumble.

“How’s the wine?” He inquires, dropping his gaze to the tip of your fingers that barely cling onto the bottle.

“Good. Could do with another.” You shrug upon inspection.

He chuckles, cocking his head to the side. “Let’s go then.”

You try not to flinch but something so magnanimous kept you drawn in, nodding at his ingenious requital.

“I know just the one that’ll put you to sleep.” He absently adds while rolling up his sleeves.

***

Nebbiolo.

That was the wine pairing that had you half lidded and slovenly dead weight.

The kitchen countertop, made of finite marble, felt cool against your warm, flushed skin. You took purchase and laid your head down sideways while Lloyd kept pouring a steady hand of whisky for himself.

“I’m not drunk.” You hum, watchful of him.

“Good.” He takes his first sip which then turns into a hasty gulp. Another guzzling pour and that’s when you wince. “Wouldn’t want you to be.”

There’s a jab.

“Would you, um, ever hurt me?” You inquire, eyes screwed shut, unbearing the thought.

“No.” His answer is simple but interchangeable. “Although I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’ve seen worse.” You scoff.

Lloyd is remorseful, knowing that his scars were once wounds too. He’s watched your father. Learned the best of the worst from him. Which in turn is why he can’t shake off the ‘death tilt’ — a stunt your father would pull after every kill. It was the same reason why Lloyd couldn’t look at you the same way for the past hour or so. Flashes of his past pained him to inflict the same irreverence. You didn’t deserve to feel the same motions of sadness or guilt like he did. But your tumultuous resignation tells him otherwise.

“I was practically raised in a slaughterhouse, so you never get used to it.”

“Emotional numbness.” He clicks his tongue and refills his glass up again. You frown. “Gotcha.”

“You should take it easy on the Tennessee.”

“I’ll worry about that.” Lloyd hisses, downing another heavy handed peg.

“Fine, don’t listen to your fiancée then.” You huff while propping yourself off the barstool. The room spins when you make the landing, a steady hand grips onto the counter as a safety precaution.

“What’re you doing?”

“Going to bed. Duh?” You shake your head that worsens your state of vertigo.

“Great. Lemme take you up.” He challenges.

“I’m perfectly capable. Thanks.” You watch him guzzle an entire pint in one go, lacerated by his inhumane ability to do so. He finally swings the bottle away from his mouth and hisses. There’s a bit left that he doesn’t bother finishing off.

“That’s not how I see it.” He sniffs, consciously condescending.

“So what? You’re going to constantly be at my neck now?” You muse with disbelief.

“Pretty much.”

“This arrangement,” you pause and shift your focus, keen on knowing. “What’s in it for you… the most eligible bachelor in the tri state area?”

Lloyd makes a face and scoffs to himself. There’s something unheard of.

“You, uh, remember the night of your 21st birthday?” He drags a hand over his face, the bags under his eyes are pulled down when you don’t.

“Vaguely.” You remembered a good time. That’s about it.

“You got shitfaced at a gentlemen's club your father owned and prohibited you from. I had to haul your ass into a yellow cab.” He recites the scandal.

There was heavy intel and a night hunt to get you home. At the time, your father had trusted Lloyd to be on your case, unwittingly being your shadow and protector. He was one of your fathers wordless men who took orders and then fell out. And yet somehow life came in full circle.

“But with you, it never stopped there.”

Ah yes the Paloma incident, Bar 61 and not to mention the Aspen escapade. All major life events that Lloyd has seen and endeavored. It’s no wonder that you were, in fact, your fathers biggest pain in the ass. But Lloyd being this available meant that he knew more about you than you had led on and that, in itself, was unnerving.

“God, how old are you?” You howl, eyes wider than dinner plates. It’s common knowledge that Lloyd’s only a few years older than you. Although he wasn’t about to pull out his I.D for proof.

“Old enough.” He rolls his eyes, tongue in cheek.

“Well I’m sorry I put you through all that.” You stupify, unconvinced. “And thank you for your service but you didn’t answer—“

“Reparations.” He gestures to you and him. A rough sigh escapes your lips. “We’re playing a game here, tit for tat. Might as well have fun with it.”

“Look, we don’t have to do this.” You reiterate, pausing at the foot of the stairwell. Moonlight cascades from the sky roof. Lloyd grins, methodical in understanding your psyche.

“Always doubling down. Nice.” He leans against the railing for support, stifling a burp that comes up.

“I’m just giving you an out.” You parry at half his height.

“Yeah because you’re afraid.”

“And I have every right to be!”

“Well, whatever it is that we’re trying to achieve here, takes a lot of trust and understanding.” He explains. You could hear the reasoning, sound and clear.

“I guess so.”

“Either way, you’re going to have to let me in, mi Luna.” He bows forward, quizzically in tune.

“You need to stop calling me that.” You despised pet names and this one came from the jump.

“Not a chance.” He chuckles in all honesty and it’s a first. “It suits you.”

You lull your head to the side. “Now you’re doing the most.”

“Whatever it takes, right?” He stands upright, obnoxiously grunting in stance.

There wasn’t much to say until he finally looked you dead in the eyes. You’re obliterated by his wildly inquisitive gaze that holds you captive. You felt an unspeakable magnetism that shields you from reality. He takes a small, swaying step forward, off balance and self assured. You tuck your chin in as a way to show some restraint. It’s surmountable that Lloyd’s grown fond of you, becoming soft under the guise of alcohol. If you’d known better you would’ve spiked all his drinks just to hear him hem and haw. But then your sight falters and there’s a permeable scowl on the seam of your lips. He takes notice of this as well.

“What?” He quirks, truly insulted.

“You’re bleeding.” You point to the split brow, jaded with some discern.

“I am?” He touches the wound and looks down at his red tinged fingers. “Damn, didn’t feel a thing.”

“Yeah whiskey does that.” You sigh, “Here let me—“

“S’kay, I’ll take care of it.” He refuses your measly help. “…Now as much as I appreciate your uncalled for concern, my business is my problem.” He flips the script on you and that’s expected.

“Okay.” You agree for the sake of agreeing.

“And one rule opposed to your many rules is that I hurt who I want to hurt. Do I make myself clear?” He convicts on his own obstructed moral ground and for that, you don’t question the puppet master.

“Fine by me, really.” You shrug. “I can hold my own.”

“Disputable.” You’re appalled. Lloyd finds it cute. “Just go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yes sir.” You mockingly two-finger salute him. He laughs while trudging up the staircase. Now it’s your turn to be confused. “What?”

“How does it feel to finally submit?” He jokes from the top step, casting a smug grin in your direction.

“Oh fuck off.”

[seriously-nobody]

Love's Dark Afflictions

Chapter 6

Warnings: Romance, murder, nightmares, paranoia, blood, gore

Preface: I'm sure you can guess what happens in this chapter from the cliffhanger. Remember the warnings and have fun!

The servant runs up to the wall where the door used to be and begins pounding his fists on the wood and screaming for help. “That won’t work!” You roll your eyes and he stops turning his head to look at you. “All the maids and servants have gone back to their quarters for the night. Master Gracey and Madame Leota can’t hear anything behind that seance room door either.” You prowl around the sofa, waiting for the servant to run so you can pounce on him. “In here,” You chuckle. “No one can hear you scream.” You finish with a wicked grin. 

He starts for the fireplace and you chase him around the living room, lunging at him before he can grab the fire poker. You lasso the rope around his neck and bring his back to your chest. “I kind of like it when you run.” You giggle breathily in his ear as he chokes against the force of the rope crushing his windpipe. “It’s invigorating.” You say, letting him go. He falls to his knees on the floor, grasping at his throat, gulping in breaths of air. You kick him onto his chest and kneel on his back, pinning him beneath you. “Now snap his neck!” Alistair entices. “No, I have a better idea.” You say keeping the rope taut. You bring the rope down around his throat again. “Wait please! I’ll do anything!” The servant rasps out. “Anything?” You ask him. “Now this ought to be good.” Alistair says, floating beside you. “Anything either of you want! I’ll do it!” He pleads. “The only thing you can do for me is die.” You tighten the rope a little but pause. ”Oh, and do try to fight back. I find it quite fun when you struggle.” You say and begin suffocating him. 

His legs kick and his arms flail as he gags. You pin his ankles down with your other leg and rear your head back so his hands don’t catch you. You laugh maniacally at the site before you. He struggles under you and you hold true until his movements become slower and slower. He goes limp against the rope and his head falls. You release the rope, his head thunks on the floor and you feel for a pulse on his neck. “Still alive. Must’ve gone unconscious.” You say getting off him. You look over to the fire poker and get an idea. “I’ll finish him off.” You reach for it and Alistair lays his hand on yours. You look over to him. “Remember, you can’t clean this mess with fire like you did with Florence. We have to keep things clean, so no spilling blood anywhere.” He reminds you. “Hmm you’re right. How do we finish this, then?” You ask him. “I might have an idea.” Alistair says, pointing up to the rafters where moonbeams dance in tiny dust particles in the air. “We could tie him up there.” He suggests. “Wouldn’t they notice? And how am I going to get up there?” You ask. “I can project a ceiling over it. No one would notice.” Alistair says, sidling up next to you. “And for how you get up there,” He wraps his arms around you. “I can carry you.” Alistair says, flustering you a little. “If you think it’ll work. Then I trust you.” You say. “Alright then. First we have to make this look like this wasn’t a murder.” Alistair says, nodding to the body. “Right.” You walk back to the unconscious servant and tie the rope into a noose and place it around his neck. You stand back up and walk over to Alistair preparing yourself. 

He pulls you into a bridal carry. “Hold on.” He says and you wrap your arms around his neck as he floats up to the rafters and drops you off on the catwalks above. “I’ll get the twig.” Alistair groans. He floats back down and grabs the rope around the servant’s neck. The servant’s eyes shoot open at the feeling of being pulled up by the rope. The servant kicks and flails again as Alistair pulls him up to the rafters. Alistair throws you the end of the rope and you swing it over one of the support beams, and grab it once it swings back to you. Alistair momentarily lets go of the rope and you struggle to hold him up yourself. Your feet skid forward on the wood and Alistair notices, flying to your rescue and grabbing part of the rope. The servant claws at the rope around his neck and at the air towards you, but nothing helps. He kicks and swipes while your grip and Alistair's combined hold true. The servant’s struggling slows. He looks in your eyes, the light fading from his. He reaches out to you, not in aggression, but as a cry for help. After all you have confessed to doing and after all you have done to him, he still has faith in you not to kill him. Damn shame you don’t feel the same. He finally goes completely limp, his outstretched arm falls to his side and his head hangs at an unnatural angle downward. His body dangles at the end of the rope, swaying back and forth. “Can you hold the rope on your own for a moment while I tie it off?” Alistair asks you. You nod and he slowly lets go while you grip the rope. He swiftly ties off the end of the rope on a beam behind you. “Alright, now slowly let go of the rope.” He says in a soft voice to keep you calm. You do as he says and the rope and knot hold true. You look down and your mind plays tricks on you making you think the room below you is stretching below you. You hadn’t known you were even afraid of heights. “I think it’s best we get down now.” Alistair says smoothing a hand over your back. “Yes, I think so.” You get back into position for him to carry you back down and you bury your head into his neck to keep from looking down. He laughs softly at you and holds you tighter to him. 

Once on the ground your legs feel like jelly and pain shoots through your injured leg. You had almost forgotten you were even injured with the amount of adrenaline that was coursing through you. You stumble a bit but Alistair catches you and hands you your crutch. “Thank you.” You say, propping yourself up. Alistair looks up to the rafters and waves his hand above him in a wide sweeping motion. An illusion of a ceiling materializes before your very eyes and you gawk at it. “How can you even do that?” You ask in awe. “I have many powers as a ghost.” Alistair says mischievously. “Half you don’t even know about yet.” He tilts his head over to you with a smirk and raises his eyebrows at you. You laugh at him and bump his shoulder. “Alright we better get out of here before the seance lets out.” You say and Alistair nods. With the snap of his fingers the windows and doors that were in the room reappear. You walk over to the doors and try to open them but they don’t budge. “Oh no.” You pinch the bridge of your nose. “Damn my incompetence! The servant still has the key to these doors.” You say turning to Alistair. “Here, let me try something.” Alistair gets an idea. He walks up to the door and passes a finger through the lock of the door. He struggles a little until you hear a click and the door unlocks. “And, voila.” He says and you thank him. The clock on the mantle chimes, signaling you have 3 minutes before Madame Leota and William finish the seance. “You better move quickly now.” Alistair says dematerializing. You open the doors quietly and hobble to the stairs, abandoning the use of your crutch in favor of swiftness. You still limp a little from the pain but you book it to your room as quietly as you can. 

Once inside you close and shut the door behind you, leaning your crutch against the wall beside the door. You hold your breath and listen at the door for any voices or footsteps following you… nothing. You take a peek at the clock in your room, 1 minute to spare. You let go of your breath and walk over to your bed, slumping down on the edge of it. You breathe a sigh of relief and laugh breathlessly at your predicament. Alistair materializes in front of you. “What’s so funny?” He smirks at you. “How the hell did I get into this mess with you.” You cover your face with your hands and hunch over. You feel a lump begin to form in your throat and you try to hold it down and hide it by laughing. “Y/n? It’s alright. We took care of it.” Alistair tries to reassure you, putting a hand on your shoulder. You feel tears begin to form in your eyes but you still try to hold them back. “Don’t you see,” Your voice breaks, still muffled in your hands. “They’ll figure it out. They’ll know it was me. That I did it. All of it. Just like he did. Then they’ll be messes to clean up too.” You begin crying into your hands. You feel the mattress shift as Alistair sits beside you and embraces you. “Sh, sh, it’s ok. We’ll be ready for them. They’re just servants” He leans into you. “No, not the servants. William and Madame Leota. I don’t want them to be messes.” You cry. “If we play our cards right, then they won’t have to be.” He says, but you can’t help but feel their demises are almost inevitable. “Come now, you need rest.” Alistair suggests. You nod and take your hands away from your face. You take off your boots and overgarments. Alistair dims the lights and pulls the blankets back for you and you slide in with him. You bury your face in his chest and sniffle. He wraps his arms around you and holds you tight. “You’ll feel better in the morning.” He reassures, petting your head. A few stray tears leave your eyes as you drift off to sleep in his arms.

You awaken in your bed, your room cast in a dim light. You feel around your bed but Alistair is nowhere to be found. “Alistair?” You call out in a hushed whisper. “Oh, he can’t save you here.” A familiar deep voice echoes around the dark room. “No… it can’t be…” You say in disbelief. A shadowy figure appears at the end of your bed, tall and lanky. “Why not?” The servant asks. “Y-your dead… I killed you… your body is hanging from the rafters!” You shout out in anger. The figure grabs the end of the bed and leans forward into the light, rage in his eyes, glinted by the light of the gas lamps. The noose you put around his neck is cut off and he holds a very familiar looking, stained hatchet in his hand. “DOES THIS LOOK DEAD TO YOU!” The ghost exclaims, throwing the hatchet with deadly aim, right between your eyes. You duck at the last second and it thunks into the headboard behind you. “This is only a horrible nightmare!” You slink off the bed, away from the apparition. “YOU MADE MY DEATH A NIGHTMARE!” He shouts, jumping onto your bed and retrieving the hatchet. “IT’S ONLY FAIR I MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL!” He jumps off the bed and pulls back for a swing at you. “Leave me alone! You’re supposed to be dead!” You swiftly step back just in time. “AS LONG AS YOU’RE ALIVE, YOU WILL SUFFER!” He swings again and you back up again, your back hitting the wall. You hold your arms in front of your face and he swings, the hatchet hitting mere centimeters from your ear. You look at the hatchet beside your head and then at the, now very close, ghost servant. “YOU. WILL. PAY.” The ghost grits his teeth, ripping the hatchet out of the wall and slamming it square into your cranium. You feel your skull splitting in two and blood trickles down into your eyes. 

You jolt awake, sweating, and gasping for air. “Y/n?!” Alistair exclaims, scared by your sudden movement. Dawn breaks through your window and illuminates your room in bright morning light. You whip your head to look around the room but it seems only you two are in the room. “Are there any ghosts in here?” You ask Alistair, still trembling. You shift your eyes to spot any movement. “None but me.” He says, concerned. “Are you alright? Sounds like you had a bad dream.” He says, running a hand down your arm. You flinch away from him and he seemed hurt by your reaction to his touch. “Are you really Alistair?” You pull away from him and look him dead in the eyes. “Yes? Why wouldn’t I be?” He asks. “Tell me something only Alistair would know.” You demand. He raises a brow at you and you hold your ground. He sighs, giving in, “Alright, we had our first kiss after you ended Florence's life.” He says. “Anyone could’ve guessed that.” You say, still suspicious. “Alright then, when we kissed, I dipped you and you noticed I lifted my leg. And… you thought it was… cute.” Alistair huffs out embarrassed. “Oh thank god it’s you.” You sigh in relief and fall back onto him, embracing him. 

"Can you tell me what happened?" He asks concerned, petting your head. You pause for a moment, looking around the room again to see if the vengeful spirit is still there. "I promise you no one else is here. I have the executioner guarding the door, the duelists are pacing the hall, the knight is in the foyer making sure no one comes up the stairs, and the busts are distracting the living from the ceiling." Alistair reassures you. "You're safe with me. I promise you." He kisses the top of your head, and you remember your dream where the ax struck you. You whimper and curl up into a ball against Alistair. "Darling, I'm very worried about you." He runs his knuckles down your cheek. "There was a ghost… in my dream…" You say keeping an eye out. "Who." Alistair says with burning rage. "The servant, from last night." You say. "He hasn't crossed over yet into the ghost realm. Damn it. He must be stuck between regions, that's why he can invade your dreams. I can't get to him there." Alistair spits out. "But he can't harm you. Only give you bad dreams. What did he do?" He asks. "He had the hatchet that I stole to kill Florence. He cut himself down with it… and he… split my head." You hesitate. "That son of a-" Alistair growls but you cut him off by putting your hand on his chest. "I'm alright, really. It was just a bad dream." You still tremble. He grasps his hand over yours on his chest. "I promise once he crosses over, he won't be able to touch you." Alistair says, bringing your hand up and kissing it. You lay your head against his chest and try to relax before the day ahead. Your tension melts away and you finally stop trembling as Alistair holds you and pets your back. Though your paranoia still remains, you feel a sense of momentary calmness.

Chapter 8

[blue-sterling0357]

Don't mind me slipping in, only minutes after you opened your inbox but I was jsut thinking about your michaelis family au and was wondering how was sebby's parents life before they were in love with each ther, can i have hcs on that along wih the kids finding out about their love story!!!!

(lovely idea! It is not often somebody asks me these things, but I love it! Like I L O V E I T !!!!)

Sebastian Michaelis's parents, Lady.Aurmelle X Sir.Alistair Michaelis HCs (before the Michaelis kids were born...)

✥ Aurmelle, a quarter-demon, met Alistair when she doing a contract as a maid for a man in the 1100-1200s, when he aksed her to accompany him to a meeting with his enemy because he wanted to have a truce with him, incase he tried to assassin him.

✥ Upon entering the room, Aurmelle who used to go by 'Abigail' at the time immediately sensed the presence of another demon in the room and got defensive of her master's soul, and Alistair who used to go by 'William' also got defensive of this half-demon wandering near his meal.

✥ Upon seeing each-other they knew that the other was a demon as well and despised each-other, probably as during such old time, it was extremely common for demons to try to take another demon's master's soul as well as their own master's soul. They were also severely hostile towards each-other, until Abigail went her way after finishing her contract and they didn't meet each-other for another few decades.

✥ After meeting again, Aurmelle has recently devoured a few souls and didn't have the need to work a contract for a certain while to satiate her hunger and thus could just explore the world between humans under the disguise of "Aurmelle", when she was going shopping when she bumped into William, uinder the name "Alistair", yet they both instantly knew each-other's scent.

✥ Though, since this time Aurmelle wasn't in a contract and explained how she wasn't in need of a soul, did Alistair excepted her to be a bit close to his master, and eventually his master took her in as a servant, where both the demons worked together for hours on end.

✥ Eventually, Alistair and Aurmelle both fell in love with each-other and got into a relationship, upon revealing their relationship to their master, Alistair's master got Aurmelle accused for witchcraft for seducing his trusted servant to try and get information for other witches and got her hurt.

✥ This severely angered Alistair and he ended up killing the whole village, broke his contract earlier and ended up devouring many souls and made Aurmelle devour many too, which resulted in both having human emotions for quite sa long time which helped them live away and between humans better.

✥ Alistair and Aurmelle didn't have to make contracts for a long time but needed to do work for support their house. As they were now more free, they could do things any couple could.

✥ Alistair would often get Aurmelle flower's with special meanings behind each and every single one, Aurmelle thus learnt the whole flower language, so it wouldn't take her so long to translate her beloved's message for her.

✥ Alistair, who soon ended up marrying Aurmelle after a short time of their relationship, met many other beings, including a half-siren and half-demon named Meribella, who had a extremely blood-thirsty, immortal, cannibalistic, superhuman husband, who tried to kill him on multiple purposes, but after understanding his love-sickness of his wife, he understood why he would try to kill someone of the opposite sex who tried to get near his spouse cause in honesty he would do that too and became good friends with him.

✥ Upon getting married, Alistair would often design and create outfits for his wife, as his wife who used to make her own clothing as to hating the society's designs wouldn't use the needle and hurt or prick her delicate fingers, also because he doens't want to see his wife work.

✥ As they got married, they would travel around the world and would often find people who'd try to summon them in exchange for something, but since they didn't have a need to devour souls, they turned those humans into half-demons so they could get their revenge on their own without needing any help, and after they were done with their revenges, they didn't have a need to devour souls, but they lived forever and could eat human food normally, so as to have some company, Aurmelle and Alistair took them in as servants, who were more than happy to comply with that.

✥ Sooner or later, serving the couple, the servants quickly became a family with their masters and were overjoyed at the signs of Aurmelle's pregnancy and excited at a hopefully little kid joining their family.

✥ Sooner or later, Aurmelle got pregnant, during this time, Alistair was quite delicate, often bursting onto people as to the stress of being a good father and making sure his wife was alright. After the birth of their first child, who happened to have a tiny part of him human as well, curtsy to his maternal grandmother. The young demon named Sean, grew up to be quite like his father, in matter of looks and personality.

✥ With a toddler Sean, Aurmelle got pregnant again, this time with another boy, whom though they didn't name, got the name 'Sebastian' for his looks being similar to that of his mother, whom named herself 'Sebastian' in one of her contracts where she was man, and after the second child, Aurmelle gave birth to two more kids, "Eleanor" and "Sillian", both of whom were a mix of both their parents.

✥ Growing up to be just as successful dmeons like their parents, had many great and famous contracts, and were absolutely chaotic, just like their parents, the siblings would often bicker and fight, but overall loves their faily of their siblings, parents and their uncles and aunties who were their servants...

[innerpalaces]

THE PRINCESS WEI YANG - 156 PART 1

CHAPTER 156: Who is the Murderer?

When Li Minde woke up the next day, he felt pain all over his body, but his energy was much better than the previous day. He frowned and asked, "Who ordered you to come in?"

The maids looked at each other, not daring to say a word.

He glanced at the concoction on the table with a confused expression, and then asked softly: "Who was here yesterday?"

The maids were trembling: "No one came yesterday." With the third lady's temper, if she said no one came, it means no one came.

Li Minde looked around, his expression gradually changed from doubtful to a little gloomy. He thought... the wound cracked that day, but he didn't take it to heart. Who knew that yesterday, it became even more severe, and he couldn't even stand straight. Even he himself was stunned and couldn't remember what happened. Then he stood up and touched the wound. It seemed that he still felt a little uncomfortable, but it was definitely not as painful as yesterday.

He sighed and said, "I had a good dream."

The maids looked at each other and knew that the young master was not talking to them, so they lowered their heads and remained silent.

Yesterday, Li Min De was in a half-dead state and was in excruciating pain. It was natural for him to not remember anything, but he felt that something was wrong and that something was missing.

What exactly is it?

Li Minde suddenly turned around and asked one of the maids: "I clearly ordered no one to come in last night. Who let the doctor in?"

The maids was scared to death and hesitated: "Yes...it's Guard Zhao."

Li Minde observed her expression, and thought seriously for a long time. The maid thought that he would expose her lies. After all, there was no way to hide the cold sweat on her forehead and the stuttering when speaking. Then Li Minde smiled.

"Hurry and prepare breakfast. I'm hungry." Li Minde stood up, looking energetic. He knew that that person must have been here. Although she tried her best to hide her concern for him, he knew everything! She is such a person, the more she cares in her heart, the more she pretends not to care on the surface!

The maid quickly retreated as if they had received amnesty.

Li Wei Yang went to Hexiangyuan Courtyard early in the morning to pay her respects and met Sun Yanjun and Li Minkang, the second young master of the Li family. When the two of them came out, Li Minkang greeted Li Wei Yang and left first. Sun Yanjun stared at his back and stood still for a long time. It wasn't until Li Wei Yang, who was watching her, couldn't help but laugh that Sun Yanjun snapped out of her trance.

"Why are you laughing?" Sun Yanjun turned back with a smile and looked at Li Wei Yang.

Li Wei Yang smiled and said: "It's nothing, just keep watching. However, second brother (t/n: although Wei Yang refers to him as brother, Li Minkang is actually her cousin. Its customary for direct cousins to refer to each other as 'brother' or 'sister'.) has already gone far."

Sun Yanjun's reaction was slow for a long time. Her face revealed a bit of confusion, but soon she became somewhat embarrassed. "I'm just-"

"It's just that you can't bear to leave your husband. People say that one day is like three autumns apart. You two can't bear not seeing each other for two hours." Li Wei Yang squinted her long eyes and smiled, revealing a row of white teeth.

Sun Yanjun's face was on fire. She walked up to pinch her and said, "You always bully me with that sharp tongue! Let's go."

Li Wei Yang asked strangely: "Where to go?"

Sun Yanjun smiled and said: "Bai Zhi's needlework is the best, I want to ask her to help me!"

The two of them walked all the way back to the yard where Li Wei Yang lived, and saw Bai Zhi sitting under the corridor awning. There were needles, scissors, flowers, various silk threads, and other objects on the small stool beside her. She held a beautiful bellyband in her hand, with fish embroidered with twined golden threads. It looked extremely delicate. Sun Yanjun couldn't help but sigh softly: "Of the girls in this courtyard, Bai Zhi, your embroidery work is the best."

Bai Zhi was originally very attentive, but then she found her master and Sun Yanjun standing aside, she quickly stopped the needle with a smile and raised her eyes: "Why is the Second Young Madam here?" Then she quickly packed her things and ordered the maid inside to come out and pour tea.

Li Wei Yang smiled and said: "Second sister-in-law said that she want to ask you for a favor."

Bai Zhi asked with a smile: "I wonder what kind of help can I provide to the second young lady?"

Sun Yanjun touched her embroidered bellyband and said, "This little bellyband is really beautiful."

Bai Zhi smiled and said: "The fourth young master is growing up quickly, and I have nothing to do, so I will help prepare him some more clothes."

Li Wei Yang saw that Sun Yanjun's expression was strange and thought for a while before probing: "Bai Zhi, my second sister-in-law is asking you to help her embroider some baby clothes!"

Sun Yanjun was startled and said quickly: "You...how did you know?! I haven't even mentioned it to Minkang yet!"

When Li Wei Yang saw that she had guessed correctly, she couldn't help but laugh and said: "Looking at your expression when you touch the little clothes, it's very clear. Furthermore, there are many embroiderers in the Li family, but you have to come to Bai Zhi. Isn't it because she often makes clothes for fourth brother?"

Sun Yanjun's face immediately turned as red as a tomato: "Wei Yang, please don't make any announcement. I'm not sure yet!"

However, Li Wei Yang didn't seem to mind, and said with a faint smile: "Have you not asked the doctor to take a look?"

Sun Yanjun said in a low voice: "It's just that my cycle hasn't come for two months..."

It was rare that Sun Yanjun showed such a shy look. After thinking about it, Wei Yang replied: "This is not an embarrassing thing. Just go to the doctor and have a look. If it's true, it's a joyous occasion for the Li Family, and Second Brother will be very happy to learn about it!"

Sun Yanjun also laughed and touched the little bellyband again and again, reluctant to leave it.

Seeing her like this, Li Wei Yang suddenly stopped laughing. It was only for a split-second, and she was at a loss for words. Bai Zhi noticed that something was wrong, but didn't dare to say anything. She just didn't know what Miss was thinking. Sun Yanjun thought for a long time before she raised her head. Seeing Li Wei Yang's stunned look, she couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

There was a trace of sadness in Li Wei Yang's eyes, but her face was calm: "Seeing you like this, I feel very happy." But she didn't say the whole reason; only she knew in her heart that she was envious of San Yanjun. Her brightness and innocence are both enviable, as is the happy mood now that she is about to be a mother. Unfortunately, Li Wei Yang may not have such an opportunity in this life. She has no love, no affection, no marriage, so she will have no children. However, looking at Sun Yanjun, she felt happy inexplicably. She was completely happy for her.

"Later, I will ask someone to send for Imperial Physician Wang." Li Wei Yang smiled.

"No, no! Don't! If you do this, you will alarm the old lady and my mother-in-law. You know how she is; she always wants to publicize even trivial things to everyone. I have already told my mother. She said that my aunt used to use an old miracle doctor, who was particularly good at treating women..."

Li Wei Yang couldn't help but be surprised: "Is there such a doctor in Kyoto?"

"Yes." Sun Yanjun replied in a low voice: "He is called a Leukorrhea doctor. He is good at treating women. The young ladies in Kyoto who have irregular menstruation and the ladies who have not been pregnant for a long time all do everything possible to find him."

"Leukorrhea" refers to the area below the belt. Women often suffer from "Leukorrhea" disease, so doctors who specialize in treating women's diseases are called "Leukorrhea doctors" in Dali.

Li Wei Yang pondered for a moment, nodded, and said: "You have a doctor you are familiar with, which is actually the best." Every big family has a doctor they like to use, and most women will not change doctors easily after they get married and have children. It is the same as the old madam who seldom trusts others except Imperial Physician Wang to see her.

Sun Yanjun added: "Don't you always say you are cold in winter? This can also be cured. Ask him to prescribe a few medicines to help you adjust, and the root cause will be eliminated soon."

Li Wei Yang raised her eyebrows: "Is he really so magical?"

Sun Yanjun nodded matter-of-factly and said: "His master was Liu Yuanjian, who was known as the God Hand of the previous dynasty's imperial hospital. He was also a very famous doctor who specialized in treating the ladies in the palace. But later there was an incident when the late Emperor's beloved Concubine Li was about to give birth, but she was having trouble during labor. The midwife and others couldn't help at all. They tried many methods, but nothing could be done. In the end, they had no choice but to call in Doctor Liu——"

When ordinary people give birth, unless it is an emergency, it is impossible to let the doctor enter the delivery room, because most of the doctors are men. Not to mention the concubines in the palace, even the people who take care of them are all eunuchs. Even when they see the imperial doctor, they always keep their distance when inquiring about symptoms, so something like delivering babies - that is unthinkable.

Li Wei Yang frowned: "And then?"

Sun Yanjun said: "The child was delivered, but within three days, Liu Yuanjian fell seriously ill and died. At that time, his disciples either died or dispersed, and some were sent back to their original places to recuperate... This Doctor Jiang is also the same. During the previous dynasty, he never dared to show his face in the capital. It was not until this dynasty that he started practicing medicine again."

"This... is too surprising..." Li Wei Yang murmured to himself.

"Yeah, I shudder when I think about it. How could there be such a coincidence that Doctor Liu abruptly died of a sudden illness." Sun Yanjun shook her head.

Li Wei Yang's dark eyes contained a layer of gloom: "The emperor's heart is unpredictable. Sometimes you help them do things, and in turn you are killed."

Seeing her deep in thought, Sun Yanjun said, "Let's not mention these things anymore. Once Doctor Jiang arrives in the capital, he won't have much time to spare. I'm going to see this doctor this afternoon. You can come with me and he can also diagnose your sensitivity to the cold."

Li Wei Yang shook her head and said: "Old madam invited someone to perform an opera this afternoon and asked me to accompany her. If you have confirmed the news, you can tell me later."

Sun Yanjun just smiled. Her smile looked as fresh as the peach blossoms in March, full of hope: "Okay, I will definitely tell you first."

Li Wei Yang watched Sun Yanjun leave, and her smile deepened. But at this time, she had not thought that everything would change so drastically later, so much that even she could barely accept it.

In the evening, the old lady invited a troupe to sing an opera. The second lady, Li Changru and others were all sitting in the yard. Jiang Yuelan refused to participate because she was not feeling well, while Li Wei Yang sat quietly, drinking tea and watching the opera, which was a rare leisure.

Just when the play was over and the old madam ordered someone to give the reward, she suddenly saw the housekeeper of the Li family coming in with a pale expression. He also brought a maid behind him. Li Wei Yang recognized it at a glance as Liu'er, whom usually accompanies Sun Yanjun. Before Liu'er reached the old madam, she knelt on the ground with a plop and cried bitterly.

Did something happen? ! Li Wei Yang was the first to notice, and felt a chill rising from the bottom of her heart. She quickly stood up, walked over, and whispered to the old lady: "Old madam, something seems to have happened. Look!"

The old madam followed the direction of her finger and couldn't help but frowned. Her originally good mood was suddenly disturbed. She waved her hand and signaled the troupe to stop: "Liu'er, why are you crying!"

Liu'er only focused on crying but didn't dare to speak.

The old lady frowned even more tightly, and the second lady scolded her, "Are you dumb, girl? You didn't hear what old madam asked you! You didn't learn the rules from your master!?"

Liu'er has been with Sun Yanjun for a long time and has learned to have a dignified temperment. She usually speaks clearly and carefully and has never shown such an expression. There was no trace of smile on Li Wei Yang's face. Somehow, a cold chill came from the bottom of her heart and continued to expand. After a long time, she heard herself ask in a stiff voice: "What happened?"

When Liu Er saw Li Wei Yang's concern, she rushed over and grabbed the hem of her skirt, crying softly: "This matter is of great importance, and I don't dare to talk nonsense."

Li Wei Yang knew something was wrong when she saw her behavior, because if it was an ordinary thing, Liu Er would definitely say it in public, but now, it was clear that she couldn't say it, and she immediately ordered: "Okay, you all get out!"

The maidservants in the yard immediately retreated respectfully, not even daring to raise their heads to look at Liu'er. The second lady was shocked. The third lady was already more dignified than the old madam in the Li family. Old madam frowned and said, "Come to the house and talk!"

After entering the house, Liu'er burst into tears and said, "Old madam, princess, my young lady has been kidnapped!"

What! Li Wei Yang suddenly frowned and said word by word: "What did you say!?"

Liu'er repeated: "My young lady - was kidnapped!"

Old Madam Li suddenly stood up, her face turned livid, and she murmured: "Kidnapped?! What does this mean!"

The second lady also looked very ugly, and kept asking: "You damn girl, are you talking in vain? Has she offended someone? How could someone kidnap her for no reason!"

Li Wei Yang interrupted her question and said quickly: "Where was it taken away and in which direction did it go!"

Tears kept flowing on Liu'er's face: "On... on the path next to Desheng Gate, a group of people suddenly rushed out and robbed the entire carriage. The guards were all dead, and the young lady fought hard. She pushed me out of the car, but she herself could not escape——"

Li Wei Yang suppressed her uneasy feelings and stopped asking any more questions. Instead, she turned to the old lady and said: "Old madam, now is not the time to investigate why, we must go and rescue her first!"

Old Madam Li nodded and ordered Mama Luo on the side: "Go and tell the master about this immediately, and take the Li family's seal and quietly go to Jing Zhaoyin. Tell him to immediately find a way to bring the person back!"

Li Changru pulled the second madam's sleeve: "Mother, the second sister-in-law is beautiful, but something like this happened, could someone -"

Mama Luo left quickly, but the second madam's face was as ugly as ever: "Even if nothing happens, her reputation will be ruined, how good is that! What a disgrace! Alas! Who knows how this girl has offended such an evil person. She has even ruined my family's reputation by doing such a thing!"

When Li Wei Yang heard this, the anger in her heart surged upwards. She suddenly turned around and stared at the second madam coldly.

The second madam was startled, frightened by the fire and coldness in her eyes, and couldn't help but step backup half a step: "You...why are you looking at me like this!"

Li Wei Yang sneered and said: "Second aunt, second sister-in-law is your own daughter-in-law. Although her temperament is more straightforward, her nature is kind and innocent. She is so respectful and filial to you on most days, can't you see it yourself?? Now that something has happened to her, even if you can't help, don't say such sarcastic words around her! Otherwise, people will laugh at the fact that the Li family has no rules!"

The second lady's face suddenly turned livid: "I am your elder, how can you say that!"

Li Wei Yang's expression remained unchanged, with contempt in her eyes: "Elder? You, the elder, must make no mistakes in what you say and do. What you are saying now is something that even a junior like me can't bear to listen to. If you do not believe it, you can ask the old madam."

Second Madam's expression changed immediately. She covered her face with the handkerchief and cried to the old madam: "Look, this girl is getting more and more out of hand! Seeing that you dote on her and relying on the fact that she is the princess, she doesn't recognize me as an elder!"

The old madam disagreed, and looked at the second lady coldly, saying: "Wei Yang is right, look at what you said, after losing the child, you only care about your reputation! Changru, help your mother go back! Don't worry about her. She's confused and talking nonsense here!"

The second lady was taken aback. Li Changru hurriedly came over to help her, but she refused to leave, and the situation suddenly became deadlocked. Li Wei Yang did not pay attention to this short-sighted shrew. She quickly ordered Zhao Yue on the side: "Call everyone to go out and search, and check all the places where people may be hiding!"

Zhao Yue immediately responded and said: "Yes!"

Li Minkang rushed to Hexiang Courtyard, but his entire face was pale. As soon as he entered the door, he looked at Li Wei Yang and said, "Have you found the person?"

Li Wei Yang shook his head. Two hours had passed and there was no news. She was also anxious, but neither Zhao Yue nor Li Minde's secret guards sent any word back. What happened? Who kidnapped Sun Yanjun? That was General Sun's legitimate daughter. Who would dare to do such a thing in broad daylight!

Li Minkang walked quickly outside, and the second lady grabbed him: "Where are you going!"

Li Minkang gritted his teeth: "Going to find Jun'er!"

The second lady grabbed his arm tightly: "Where are you going to look for her when it's so dark? You don't know who those people are. If there are knives and daggers, how can you, a weak scholar, resist? I already have no daughter-in-law. Do you want your mother to lose you too?"

What the second lady said was extremely selfish, and she was clearly not prepared to care about Sun Yanjun's life or death. Li Wei Yang sneered and said: "As a husband, don't you have any responsibility for your missing wife? Don't you know that the second sister-in-law is pregnant? She is now alone outside and her life or death is uncertain. What do you want, second brother? It's up to you! Anyway, your wife is yours, just leave her alone, as long as you don't regret it or feel guilty in the future!"

Li Minkang's square face showed shock, and then a look of pain. He threw away the second lady and walked quickly outside. However, as soon as he reached the yard, he met Yao Changqing and others' rushed arrival. Li Minkang seemed to have finally found a life-saving straw and grabbed him: "Have you found her?"

Yao Changqing's face was solemn. He ordered people to search the whole city overnight, but there was no trace.

Li Minkang's face was extremely ugly, "Could it be that they can fly into the sky and escape? How could they not be found!"

Yao Changqing's expression became cold and stiff, no, he simply felt ashamed. The household registration system in the capital is very strict. Where can these strong man come from? What's more, he sent so many people to search but there was no trace of them. What happened? As Jing Zhaoyin, he must be responsible for the security of the capital. Previously, the Jiang family was killed inexplicably, and now the daughter of the Sun family has been kidnapped. It is simply inexplicable to the extreme! What kind of master could snatch the carriage in which Sun Yanjun was sitting in full view of Li Mansion's guards?

After listening to Yao Changqing's words, the old lady's face became paler and she was almost out of breath. Li Wei Yang saw her clutching her chest and quickly helped her sit down, letting her rest on the back of the chair. The old lady's face was livid, her breath was uneven, her chest was rising and falling violently, and she murmured: "What should we do? What should we do?"

Li Wei Yang held the old lady's hand and comforted her: "Old madam, everything will be fine. My second sister-in-law is a lucky person, so she will be fine." But she didn't know whether she was comforting the old madam or herself. Wei Yang didn't know when she started to regard Sun Yanjun as a good friend. For the first time, she slightly lost her cool.

[colourful-void]

not a whole proper analysis post cause im too tired for it rn but quick thoughts on nemona's house as analyzed by me.

(disclaimer: we're running with the idea that this set up is meant to mean something, because we are actually allowed to go in her house unlike most other buildings despite it being easy to shut it off. suspend ur disbelief and say that everything in nemona's house is set that way for a reason)

Nemona's house is fairly symmetrical, save for the aysemtrical stained glass window design and the way the balcony flowers fall. Aesthetically symmentrical, not obsessive exact symetry.

Nemona's house features 4 house staff, two butlers and two maids. None of them have any dialouge referencing Nemona herself.

One talks about how they dust a lot and dont get how more keeps appearing, one talks about how the master and mistress are away at the moment, and the other two have simple bubble dialouge that just references cleaning

There are 6 pokemon in nemona's house, none of which are paldean introductions

3 pachirisu, gible, goomy, and chansey

I cannot find any reason for there to be a pachirsu in this house let alone 3. please help.

the gible and goomy both are pseudo legends and may mean to imply more about how nemona's family is powerful and rich. nemona also personally has a goomy she trains to fight you, but these are seperate pokemon. goomy is also notable as the weakest dragon pokemon (so says dex entry i think its rad)

chansey is heavily assosicated with medicine, curing illness and injury. it's also known for having good tasting eggs, but the paldea pokedex entires focus on the medical and speed aspects so I'll lean into the med thing.

where the pachrisu are at the table and the dragons together to the side, chansey is placed on the right hand side in the living room. On my inital playthrough i thought it was sigficant from a gameplay perspective (like a healing chansey or something) but no such thing. it is promenantly placed though, so i like to think it's relavent

(personal theory running that nemona's poor stamina / whatevers up with her arm is enough of a thing for there to be a live in chansey to help her out. even if not that bad, enough that her parents decided it was important, maybe for image reasons? rich family and all...)

there are 3 art pieces, an abstract greninja player doesn't recognize as a greninja, some fish player finds pretty, and two eevee playing entitled sibling love. the eevee depicted are male and female, and could potentiallyyyyyyy be really vague forshadowing about nemona's older sister. likely also just,,, rich people have fancy art.

there are doors on either end of the hall, unopenable. window blinds are drawn.

a long couch and two chairs in the centeral area on a large rug, coffee table in the middle. the entire house is rather white (the colour) though with some black cabinets

clicking on said cabniets nets you dialouge about how organized they are

connecting the above to nemona's really clean dorm room suggests that nemona's orderliness is something she gets from her family

there's a bookshelf? low shelf, books you can't interact with. not much else to say.

i need to review some of her early dialouge but nemona does not seem to have any strong opinions on her house, with the only notable thing being that she doesn't think it's notable enough to have the final rival battle there. i know its like,, the game wants u to fight in mezagosa, but also.... they did not have to offer that as a dialouge option, nor make nemona respond the way she did. you can take her statement that that beach isn;t all to interesting in her opinion at face value or not (a implication she'd like to avoid her house??? probably not??), either way.

exterior wise still fancy very pretty, the garden's got a circle thing going on, noticeably more pristine than players house. again contrasting player, the entire thing is much more organized but also... lacking customization and personality.

it does have a battle court in the back <3 and a beach. rich girlie.

that's my nemona house notes if anyone has anything to add please do.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

by J.R. Miller

Naaman Healed of Leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)

The story of Naaman is interesting in several ways. It gives us a glimpse of the times. The country of Israel was subject to incursions from hostile tribes. In these raids not only was property carried away but women and children were ofttimes taken as captives. Naaman himself was a great man in his country; he was commander-in-chief of the army of Syria. He was held in distinction by the king, who honored Naaman throughout the land. He had won great battles. He was a brave and valiant soldier. But all this list of honors was offset by one sad woe he was a leper !

This story of Naaman is like many a rich man’s life today. He has all that wealth can give him BUT there is some dark shadow, an incurable disease, a secret sorrow, a domestic infelicity, a shame which nothing can blot out and that spoils all the glory. No human life is altogether perfect. No human happiness is altogether complete. Leprosy meant sin every one of us, however great, is a sinner. Leprosy was a terrible disease. It was incurable. Its progress was slow but certain. It ate away the body joint by joint. In the land of Israel it drove a man from his home and friends, to live in isolation. Yet the leprous body is only a type of the leprous soul. We all have this drawback which Naaman had.

The incident of the little girl is instructive, and yet moving. It was a cruel fate that had torn her away from her home in the country of Israel. Young girls will be interested in this little maid and will sympathize with her in her sad misfortune. She may have been ten or twelve years of age. She was carried off by a company of Syrian soldiers from her home, and was held captive. She must have been greatly frightened as the rough men of war seized her and took her away with them. Her mother must have wept bitterly. Her father and brothers must have vowed some time to get the child back. But God had her in His keeping, and He used her while a captive to do good.

This is not the only Bible story of a captive child. We all remember about Joseph, who when but a lad was treacherously sold by his own brothers and carried off to Egypt as a slave. Yet he in his captivity proved a great blessing, not only to Egypt but to his own people and to the very brothers who had sold him! Daniel also was carried away when only a child into a heathen country, and he also did a great deal of good.

Sometimes children are put into places and circumstances of hardship, where they must suffer much; but wherever their lot is cast, and whatever the circumstances are in which they find themselves, they may do good. Wherever God allows us to be placed we shall find not only divine protection but an opportunity for usefulness. God has something for us to do right there or He would not have put us there. Some children find themselves living in hard conditions, without many pleasures, receiving unjust or cruel treatment, it may be; but they may trust God in the hardest circumstances. He will not forget them, and if they commit their lives to Him He will use them for doing good.

This little girl was thoughtful and sympathetic. Evidently she had been well trained, for she knew much about God and God’s prophet. When she learned of Naaman’s condition as a leper she expressed to her mistress the wish that he might visit the prophet who was in her country. It seems a little strange, that this child who had been carried away captive by Naaman’s soldiers, perhaps by Naaman himself, should have this kindly interest in her master. She had been cruelly wronged, torn away from her homeland, and carried as a captive to a foreign country. She was now captive, working as a slave in Naaman’s house. We would not have been surprised, if the child had cherished bitter feelings toward the great captain. But instead of this she looked upon him with pity. She even interested herself so much in his recovery, as to tell her mistress about the prophet who could heal him. We have a lesson here on the treatment of those who have wronged us or injured us. We should always try to do them good.

Another suggestion from this part of the story, is that even a child can do great good. But for this little maid, Naaman probably would have remained a leper, growing worse and worse, until he died. Her words to her mistress made her and Naaman also aware of the healing that was within reach. There is a Prophet greater than Elisha, of whom every Christian child knows Jesus Christ Himself. We should tell those about us who are in sin or in sorrow of this great Healer, that they may come to Him as Naaman went to Elisha and find blessing. If this child had said nothing of the prophet, Naaman would not have learned of the healer!

We learn here also that there is no place in life without its opportunities for usefulness. We would say that this little child, a captive in a strange land, could not be of any use in the world yet her simple - hearted kindness was the means of the curing of the great soldier. A boy may be in a very humble place just an office boy, an errand boy, a messenger boy; or a girl may be only a little serving maid in some great house. Yet both of them may bear such witness for their Master in their lowly places as to become great blessings to others!

Naaman quickly availed himself of the information which had come through the little slave girl, and with a letter of introduction from his king soon appeared in the country of Samaria. But he went to the wrong place with his leprosy. His king had sent him to the king of Israel instead of to the prophet. And when the letter was read by the king, it caused alarm. He knew that he could not cure the man of his leprosy, and at once he suspected that the letter from the king of Syria was part of a plot to bring about war. As he opened the letter he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy?”

Just so, many people go to the wrong place with their troubles, their sorrows, their sins. The king could not cure Naaman’s leprosy. There are some things which earthly power cannot do. It is said that money will do anything but there are many things which money cannot do. It cannot buy love. It cannot give peace to a troubled heart. It cannot prolong life. The queen’s cry, “Millions for a moment of time,” received no answer. Rich men in authority may have great power but there are poor men who, by their prayers, by their teachings, or by their lives can bring blessings which no rich man could bring. It is better to have Elisha’s power to do good than to be king!

Elisha helped the king out of his perplexing dilemma. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” It was a splendid cavalcade that waited before the prophet’s humble dwelling that day. Although Naaman was a leper and had come to implore help of a lowly servant of God he kept up all his grand style. There was no sign of humility. Indeed, he expected to be cured in a grand way, and then to pay for the healing with a princely sum. He was not there as a poor suppliant, and no doubt he thought he was conferring great honor upon this humble and obscure prophet in coming thus to him.

There are many people in these modem days, who treat Christ’s Church very much as Naaman wished to treat Elisha. They put on all their magnificence when they attend the services. They consider that they honor the Church when they accept its ministrations. They like to be called patrons of the Church. They show favor to it. Such people, like Naaman here, will find it necessary to get out of their chariots, to lay aside their fine trappings, to step down into the valley of humiliation, and to bathe in the fountain of Christ’s blood before they can find any real blessing at God’s hand. There is no way to the favor and mercy of God but by the way of penitence and humility.

Elisha was not awed by the grandeur of the general before his gate. He did not even come out to speak to the great man sitting in the chariot before his door. He showed not a shadow of servility. He simply sent a message to him, telling him to go and wash in Jordan seven times. Naaman was very angry and turned away in rage. He was angry because Elisha had not shown deference to his grandeur. He was not there as one of the common herd but as the great general of Syria. He had formed his own idea of the way he ought to be healed in some grand way. There are people who in their pride and haughtiness, imagine that God should treat them differently from common folks. The way of the cross is altogether too humble for them. They turn away with scorn and rage from it!

But we must not fail to notice how nearly Naaman missed being healed. Had it not been for the entreaties of his attendants he would have gone away a leper still, rather than submit to the prophet’s lowly requirements. There are many people who fail altogether of salvation, for the same reason. They come to the cross but when they hear what they must do to be saved they turn away, keeping their sins and their leprous hearts, rejecting the salvation which can come to them only in Christ’s way!

It is well that Naaman’s servants were wiser than himself. They persuaded him to do as the prophet had bidden him to do. So he thought better of his course; he let the counsel of his friends influence him; he considered how foolish it would be for him to miss the curing of his leprosy. He let his rage cool down and returned humble.

He had a second chance. This shows the divine patience. Thousands of people reject Christ, and then, when they come, by and by they find the way still open. They have a second chance. God waits long to be gracious even to the sinner who has often refused the invitation of mercy. Naaman did as he was bidden. “So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his flesh became as healthy as a young child’s, and he was healed!”

[plaindangan]

Shuichi doesn't have enough money to live on. The scholarship of the Peak of Hope Academy is too small to cover even 20% of the total expenses. Therefore, Shuichi had to find a part-time job to support himself. Unfortunately, he was not accepted into any agency due to the fact that they did not need new employees. Shuichi had to get a job as a stripper. Shuichi was very embarrassed by the vulgar clothes, which revealed too much skin, leaving no room for fantasy. At the very first paid dance, he met his classmates. Kirumi, Miu and they were waiting for him.... Kaede.. Two worst-case scenarios: one will tell the entire academy about Shuichi's work, the other about his love interest. Shuichi had to beg them not to tell anyone, he would have done anything.

Disclaimer: R18 material! If not to your liking then please do not view!

(Note from Plain - went into this response with the Kaede/love interest aspect cut out, since didn't quite have a good idea on how to really make it work. Still, this this is one of my spicier asks so hope you enjoy nonetheless!)

-

The solution to Shuichi's predicament?

"That's it...keep pumping it for Mama Miu~ Just keep on pumping it!!"

"I-It's...leaking out quite a bit, Miu..."

The price to pay for silence. With his legs spread open, Shuichi was leaning back against the chair. The fly of his black booty shorts was unzipped and exposed to both inventor & maid was his erect cock. A cock that not only was covered from trembling head to pulsing toe (or rather shaft) in copious amounts of lube (why was Miu carrying this), but was getting stroked repeatedly by Shuichi black leather gloved hand~

All while Miu was recording such a session...albeit with one hand keeping things still, while another was clearly rubbing herself raw from such an erotic sight. As for Kirumi, who was requested to come to this environment, the maid tried to keep a straightface as best as she could, but her red cheeks and clearly heavy breathing as Shuichi continued was given way to her true feelings on the matter.

It wasn't helping either given that Shuichi was also dressed quite provocatively for his upper body as well. He was wearing a black hand pasties across his chest, red lipstick that had both fighting not to make out with him right then and there, and even a black mardi gras-esque mask that covered his eyes - all enhancing his natural attractiveness tenfold~

"I bet you just wanna cum, right?" Miu teased, trying to keep herself steady as she looked at that pre-cum mixing with the slickness of his cock. She had been ordering him to edge himself for minutes now.

"Y-yes...pl-pleaaase!!" moaned Shuichi and Miu cackled.

"Hah!! Look at this perv, look at how flushed he's getting!!! Bet he just wants to shoot big all over us! Hey, hey, think he'll shoot big?!" Miu said to Kirumi, nudging her with her elbow.

"He...certainly seems as if he's about to 'bust' as they say. Miu...do you not think it is in our duty to assist him? We have been tormenting him for quite a while, don't you say?" Kirumi asked, though from the slight twitches of her hands, one can tell she was half a second away from doing what her urges demanded her to do.

Thankfully, seems as though Miu was on the same wave length as her~

"Hah! Might as well~ Hey, Slut-ichi, you better be grateful for this! Dibs on his head!"

"That's fine...I wanted his shaft from the start~" Oh~ With Miu on his left and Kirumi on his right, it wasn't long before she was left at their mercy. Of Miu's thumb and fingers fondling and excitedly rubbing at his wet dick tip. Of Kirumi's expert hand gliding and stroking, coaxing him to relax and give in.

"C'mon, big boy, you know you wanna cum! Give it to us!! Cum! Cum as much as you can give!!"

"Relax, Master Shuichi~ It's alright, this is merely part of a fair trade off. All you need to do to finish our agreement...is release~"

With a long, agonizingly pleasured moan, Shuichi came. Hot, gooey, spunk shot out. Some hitting the floor, some of it onto the hands of the girls and even a bit onto their faces! Getting his essence and musk right next to them~ Something that lead to both women not only tipping him extra, but going to arrange a little meeting with themselves for about an hour or so.

Shuichi's secret was safe for sure, that's a promise! And if this was what it took to keep it in the dark? Well, there were worse challenges to bear~

[whoneedsapublisher]

Lewd Awakening

Another @nasuversepromptweeks week, this time Kink Week. Day one is "Bondage/Roleplay" and I decided to do some GudakoxTamamo for it.

Words: ~550

Summary: Ritsuka wakes up to find herself in a very unusual situation with Tamamo. A very… potentially dangerous situation. But also a very alluring one.

Also on Ao3

************************

“You know,” Tamamo said, reaching out to cup Ritsuka’s face. “This whole time, I had such a good source of advice, and I just ignored it.”

“Um… Tamamo? What’s… what’s going on?” Ritsuka said, sounding a little nervous. She tugged at the ropes tying her to the bed, but to no avail. “Did something happen when I was asleep?”

Tamamo tittered, holding a hand to her mouth demurely. “Oh, I think you can see that much, Master. When you were asleep, someone tied you up nice and tight.”

“Um,” Ritsuka said. “Okay. I’m glad we’re on the same page with that… do you have, uh, any idea who that might have been? And why they did it? And, uh, when they’re planning on undoing it?”

“Oh, you’re so adorable,” Tamamo purred, stroking Ritsuka’s cheek with her thumb. “You’re always such a peacemaker, aren’t you? You’re so good at keeping all the wild servants you’ve summoned in line. Keeping things professional.”

“Tamamo…?”

“I made a decision last night, Master,” Tamamo said. “You know that me and Kiyohime are friends, right?”

“...That’s never a good start to a conversation…” Ritsuka muttered, but Tamamo continued.

“All this time, she’s been telling me that I’m too lenient. That I shouldn’t give my husband such a long leash, or I’d end up betrayed like she was. And you know what, Master? I think she’s right.”

Tamamo climbed up onto the bed, and Ritsuka’s breath caught in her throat.

“No more running away, Master,” she whispered, leaning down to put her mouth close to Ritsuka’s ear. “The Grand Order is over. We’re not co-workers anymore. And I know that you want me. Tell me you love me.”

“T-T-Tamamo, I-I-, that’s-”

“That’s not what I told you to say,” Tamamo said. “Come on, Master. Or do I need to take some more advice from Kiyohime about what to do to-”

“Okay, time out, time out! Gumdrop!”

Tamamo pouted, straightening up and sitting back on her heels.

“Oh come on, Master,” she whined. “We didn’t ever get to the fun part yet. What’s wrong?”

“Can you please stop talking about Kiyohime,” Ritsuka said. “It makes me nervous.”

“What?” Tamamo said, raising an eyebrow incredulously. “You wanted to do some non-con bondage play and you don’t want me to mention the woman who would be mostly likely to do that to you?”

“I just want to live out a fantasy of being tied up and taken advantage of by a hot foxgirl,” Ritsuka said. “I don’t want to worry about whether you’re going to fry me inside of a bell for saying the wrong thing!”

Tamamo let out a sigh.

“When we did the maid roleplay, it’s not like you actually wanted me to get all gross from cleaning out the bathroom, right?” Ritsuka said.

“That’s true…” Tamamo admitted reluctantly.

“And besides,” Ritsuka said. “Shouldn’t you be happy that I don’t want to think of other women when we’re together?”

“Oh, you smooth talker!” Tamamo squealed, leaning forward and kissing Ritsuka on the cheek. “You always know just what to say, don’t you? Fine, we’ll restart. But if you’re going to keep being that cute, don’t blame me if I skip ahead a little and start eating you up a little early.”

Ritsuka, on reflection, decided that she could live with that.

[meaningofaeons]

!!!! fellow oi reader hello!! may i ask what ois you've read so far sorry for being so straightforward it's just that hardly anybody i know reads oi and it's kinda embarrassing for me ahahaha

gepard feels like he'll fit in so much as either the personal knight trope or captain of the king's guards. stelle could also be the personal knight i guess? but the kind where 'villainess needs somebody on their side so they take in a foreign traveler in to be their maid/knight/personal aide', except said foreign traveler happens to rifle through the trash of everything.

jing yuan already feels like the emperor in hsr, he's just so perfectly regal in that sense. yanqing could be like the captain for jing yuan's guards, or his (adopted) heir who first (sibling-like relationship) meets and bonds with the reader without yanqing or reader knowing each other's true rank.

will there be a magic system? there is the 'mischievous/sly wizard of the tower' position that could go to sampo. i know you'll probably only write for the characters you listed so i'm deviating because i have so much brainrot about this right now, but i'm imagining march 7th also as a novice wizard/magician who's a friend of stelle. herta would also definitely be a wizard of the tower, probably would own/be the head of it. himeko feels so much like the ally duchess/marchioness character, with welt being another duke/marquess (or himeko's adoptive father if you're into honkai impact 3rd lore) or even royal advisor maybe.

blade as the cold duke of the north fits so well - sad backstory, red eyes, dark hair, slightly unhinged personality - a perfect match! dan heng could be the 'mysterious librarian who was the only neutral/slightly sympathetic person to the reader, but also never helped them outright in the first life'. friends with march and stelle, of course. speaking of second lives...

will the reader be reincarnated with a 2nd chance at life fix-it story, with the previous memories of the original timeline's bad ending and character actions? there's so much potential for angst if any of the characters betrayed her or weren''t on her side originally and the reader doesn't know who to trust nor like or love.

sorry for this word vomit, please don't feel pressured, it's just that i love your idea and i've gotten so hooked on hsr!!

( ↀДↀ)✧ GASP (=^✧ｪ✧^=))ﾉ彡☆ HELLO FELLOW OI READER !!!!! HOW ARE YOU ???? I feel the SAME way, hardly anyone I know reads ois or manhwas of any kind so I'm stuck in my own little visual novel enjoying corner (≅ᆽ≅)

I've read tons!! I don't have my full list on me rn (I am at work ;m;) but I can name a few off the top of my head! some of these are less isekai and more reincarnation/time travel, but I'll list them anyways! I'll put them beneath the cut along with my comments on your ideas since it gets pretty long LOL

my next life as a villainess: all routes lead to doom, the villainess turns the hourglass, a stepmother's märchen/fantasie of a stepmother, who made me a princess, actually I was the real one, I fell into the world of a reverse harem game, death is the only ending for the villainess, I will master this family, the tyrant wants to be good, lady and the beast, taming of the tyrant, roxana/how to protect the heroine's older brother, the rebirth of a tyrannical empress, sister in this life I'll be the queen, the duchess' 50 tea recipes, father I don't want this marriage, how to be a dark hero's daughter, the villainess is a marionette, and many, many MANY more.

this is actually only a small part of my list! again, I am at work, so I don't have my full (and unfortunately sorta not updated) manhwa list, but I think this is a good show of what I usually read lol!

I'll start on your comments from the top! FIRST OFF, SAME BRAIN!!! (=♡ ᆺ ♡=) while gepard is kind of a shoe-in for the personal knight that falls for the mc, I was ABSOLUTELY hooked on the idea stewing in my brain about stelle being a knight of some sort as well, with the only conflict being "well there can't be TWO personal friendly knights that love reader..." BUT THE IDEA ABOUT HER BEING THE TROPE OF THE FOREIGN TRAVELER/BEGGAR WITH SWORDSMANSHIP TALENT TO BE THEIR KNIGHT IS ABSOLUTELY GENIUS I BOW TO YOUR BRILLIANT MIND!!!!!!!!! OR MAYBE SHES LIKE A DEPOSED NOBLE WHO READER GIVES A CHANCE TO *:･ﾟ✧(=✪ ᆺ ✪=)*:･ﾟ✧

I agree on jing yuan, and I think that idea sounds rlly cute for yanqing!!! (=´ᆺ｀=)

I LOVE your sampo idea too. I kinda get lucas vibes from who made me a princess minus the maliciousness and adding 100x more sleazy swindly-type guy vibes, he's totally a bastard when it comes to provoking the other love interests behind ur back... the march 7th idea is cute too! I could also see her as reader's maid! and yes herta 100% head mage of the tower thats so real...

I am not mega into hi3 lore but I DO know about the dynamic between welt and himeko!!! I would love her to have a role like duchess tuania in remarried empress, a master of the social world who aides the reader. maybe welt is her adoptive father and she's trying to earn his trust to take over the duchy, and she thinks he won't pass it on to her, but little does she know he thinks she's more than capable and is making plans to give the duchy to her soon!!!

BLADE RLLY IS A SHOE-IN FOR THE DUKE OF THE NORTH HUH... that guy covers all the bases. "the monster duke" of the rumors... I think that's def what his position will be. for dan heng, ONCE AGAIN YOUR BRAIN IS HUGE!! the quiet, scholarly-type ML who helps the reader in business dealings or things requiring an analyst type to help, like maybe information gathering... I think having him run an information guild as the trope goes would be a Bit much for dan heng since I don't see him as much of a leader in that sense, but I think he's definitely got connections to some underground info guilds (=｀ﻌ´=) maybe he is friends w stelle and march as you say, and he is a lower ranked noble who knew stelle and helps the reader as thanks for giving his friend a chance? :o cold, but he cares!!!

I would love 2 hear your ideas for kafka if you have any!!! you have such amazing ideas anon!!!!

as for the reincarnation thing, I'm still not 100% sure yet but I DO like that idea... I love the mc going from villain/ridiculed noble to execution to reincarnating and either taking revenge on those who wronged them, making their life better (and by extension the lives around them who they care for), or both!

thank you again for the wonderful ask!!! you should totally send another one any time!!! I look forward to hearing more of ur thoughts, oi anon!!!! (≗ᆽ≗)ﾉ

[justimaginescenarios]

Clothes: Aizen Sousuke

Rating: M (just for safe), 16+

Character: Aizen Sousuke

Wordcount: 580

Note: It just pops up in my head, so I just write it down, forgive me for poor grammar and fool words.

---

You were staggered as he appeared at the door of your class in his old-day form. The hair was down, and the glasses were put on again. Your classmates dropped their jaw at his gentlemanly appearance, but you were terrified.

“Welcome back, … m-master…”

You still were on your duty, you greeted him with a manner of a maid. He smiled sweetly, you could hear a wave of gasp behind you. Then, you led him to a table. You both had a small talk just both could hear while he took a look at the menu.

“You should wear this at home.” – your spine just chilled – “A hot green tea.”

“You want sweets, master?”

“Your begging voice, you mean?”

“Your tea’s on the way, master…”

You turned your back and flee away. He was back to his old form, but still kept his dark nature. Your intuition did not feel good. You served him his tea. He politely thanked you.

He was with his tea and observed you ran here and there, table to table. You told him, he should take a tour around the school and enjoy the living world school festival. He accepted your suggestion after asking about your break time.

On time, he came back to pick you up. Even though he was in his dark or white mode, his gentleman was unchanged. He brought you around the school. Everywhere he was, girls’ eyes followed him. You both joined most of the mini-games, but the haunted house. Your man was a soul reaper, King of Hueco Mundo, so how you could be scared of those kid tricks.

You followed him without defense. He led you to a classroom at the end of the hallway. You got in, but nothing was there, just a normal class. The flick of the lock woke you up. You turned back, Aizen had been back to his true form which his hair slicked back, and he took away his glasses. You inhaled cold air.

“You seem to enjoy other men's eyes on you, my dear maid.”

He talked to you so calmly and found a chair to sit down. The invisible pressure burdened on you.

“I have no choi-”

“You smiled shine before them.”

Aizen did not buy your words and kept pissing you up.

“Sousuke…”

“Is that the way you talk to your master?”

You gulped.

“M-My apology, master…”

You bowed your head. He pulled a smile up and commanded you to approach him.

At the moment you reached him, he caught your elbow, causing you to fall on him.

“Your master has given you a happy time. It’s time to pay back your master’s favor.”

 “B-but my break time is almost up…”

“Make it quick, then.”

He drew an I-don’t-care smile. You could not help but accept your fate.

---

As a result, you were late for your afternoon shift by thirty minutes. Your class president scolded you. Aizen stood next to you and apologized to you. Then, after nagging, he mentioned that you should clean your mouth after you drink milk. You jumped out of your skin, and before you wiped the milk yet, the man beside had leaned down and licked the milk at the corner of your mouth. Not only your class president but even you were scared up to red. The class president ran away since Aizen just threw a murder gaze t at him.

“You don’t kill him, do you?” – you murmured.

“It depends on you, my little maid. I look forward to your response tonight.”

He stared at you, waiting for your reply.

“… yes, master…”

[purplecraze]

Beauty and the Beast AU 28

orange-plane-boy — 09/25/2021 12:51 PM

He liked the kitchen table more than the hall, it was more small and probabily was used by the maids once, but it was more coozy and familiar than the hall one

"When it cools down we will put the rest of the sauce in the jar so we can eat it again~"

purplecraze — 09/25/2021 12:56 PM

Fugo liked the kitchen table better too, though it was hardwired in his system to have etiquette.

"oh... yeah, I guess that saves work. though it's more fun to make it than to just heat it up." oh, look who's forgotten all about his earlier frustration.

orange-plane-boy — 09/25/2021 1:00 PM

"True! I guess someday we could try to make something else" he smiled

"Pesto is good too, and i think is not that hard to make"

purplecraze — 09/25/2021 1:02 PM

"We should check the library later, we might come along some good recipes."

orange-plane-boy — 09/25/2021 1:05 PM

"Oh right!" He smiled and then took a big bite

"Mhh its good!"

purplecraze — 09/26/2021 2:00 PM

Fugo ate too, enjoying it in silence fore a moment. "hmn.. it's great~" he smiled warm.

orange-plane-boy — 09/26/2021 2:26 PM

"We did a good job!" Narancia sounded pretty pround of himself

"Mhh since is almost chirstmas what if tomorrow we try to set up the tree? I saw a couple of smaller trees outside the umh, dry zone, i could chop it off and take it here!"

purplecraze — 09/27/2021 2:52 PM

'dry zone', what a way to call it~

"yeah, it'll stay good for a while from this point, it'll still look pretty around Christmas, even if I get close."

orange-plane-boy — 09/27/2021 3:10 PM

"Nice!" He exclamed excited

"We could decorate it together and then try baking some christmas cookies!"

purplecraze — 09/27/2021 8:19 PM

"Alright~ you know a recipe for those, or we'll check the library?"

orange-plane-boy — 09/27/2021 9:32 PM

"Maybe is better to check" he nodded. He then looked at the seeds he scooped before

"Im gonna try to plant it in the dome later, maybe i will not be good as mom but i want to try"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 4:42 PM

"oh yeah, it'd be good to try out if whatever magic resides in there can transfer to other plants too."

He glanced over to the window, seeing twilight already setting in. "I guess I should be retreating again for today. Winter sucks..."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 4:51 PM

"Aready?" He sighed looking outside

"Yeah it sucks..." At least they had a lot of time to spend in the dome

"Nh..lets go then, im gonna walk you to the room-"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 4:53 PM

"pfuh~ why thank you." he took their plates and washed them in the sink. he wasn't very good at it...

"we did quite a lot of moving today, time passed quickly..."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 4:54 PM

Oh well he would wash em better later, after all now he had all the afternoon free

"I guess- at least you are putting some muscles on your skinny arms pff"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 5:00 PM

"you can start criticizing me once you've developed your brain muscles💢" believing he did a fair enough job with washing up, he head up to the room.

"I didn't really get the chance to barricade the window yet... that might be a problem. Though if I fall, I won't get up until the morning, so you have little to fear, I'd think... but don't go outside after nightfall, just to be sure. and if I do manage to get back inside, there's a spare key in the master bedroom. if you don't have the time, you'd best hide in the wine cellar... sorry for the trouble if it comes to that."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 5:06 PM

Nara sticked his toungue out to the provocation

"I have an excuse to be a dummy, whats yours"

He then followed the other up the stairs

"See? Night you is a dummy too! Why jumping out a window- also roger that!  And really is not a trouble" he pouted "its not your fault"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 5:11 PM

He sighed. "I don't know about that..." Maybe if he had just given in, it wouldn't have been as bad as it had gotten now. His parents would still be here. He'd still be able to live with other people, being able to touch things without disastrous consequences...

"I wouldn't exactly 'jump' out, as much as fall out. I have absolutely no motorial control."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 5:26 PM

"Gee- watch out then, again, i dont know how to fix a broken arm or leg, expecially if i cant even touch you or take you to the hospital" he sighed as they walked in the hall.

"Nh..there is still a bit of time before nightfall, you should try to rest a bit, we did a lot of stuff today"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 5:29 PM

"no worries, I know how to fix them." he just often chooses not to. "Yeah, that's the plan. little else to do."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 5:31 PM

"Good night then Panna" he gived him a soft smile

"Want me to bring you something to read? A snack?"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 5:35 PM

He chuckled a bit. "I'll be fine~ don't worry. get your seeds in the ground before it's dark, they might dry out if you wait until tomorrow."

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 5:41 PM

"Oh right! Gotta go plant those!

Good night Panna!! See you tomorrow!" He blew him a kiss before running down the stairs

Congraz into making him go away using his short attention span

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 5:53 PM

He waved after him, feeling some butterflies over the blown kiss.

"...." he hadn't exactly intended to make Narancia leave with an excuse, but he did feel rather uptight on going back to that room.

The first night Narancia had been here, it had actually been surprisingly easy to watch along with his bird familiar, and he had done so a few more times (o-of course, with no side intentions or anything)

But going there by himself was still a bit-..... sigh.

He entered the room and locked the door tightly, hiding the key in a gap of the cabin he knew. His night version didn't have the dexterity to get to it.

He sat on the bed. it all felt... less scary than he had imagined.

And when he lay his head on the pillow, he knew why: it smelled like Narancia.

Almost feeling intoxicated, he dragged the pillow close against him.

How.... did he know this scent so well? He hadn't-- hadn't been this close to him.. right?

Fugo kept telling himself he had dreamed that night up. in reality, he knew it was real.. But it was too good to be true. And if there was even the slightest of chance that he must have imagined it afterall, he didn't wanted to end up embarrassing Narancia...

But... this scent... god, he loved it.....

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 5:59 PM

Nara spent the evening finishing to wash the kitchen and then got in the dome, planting the seeds

"Here~ try to grow up nice and strong like the other!" He smiled as if the vase could talk back.

Just a week before chirstmas and two before they could hug again. Narancia squeezed his hands a bit, it felt both so close and so far...

Nh..well, he could wander around at night for the first time! What could he do now?

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:06 PM

well, listening to agonized screaming is a possibility after nightfall?

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:09 PM

He sighed, feeling bad for Panna- He hoped he did not hurted himself too much in the confined space of the bedroom.

After some wandering around (mosty on the tower, he did some stargazing) he decided to check the other before going to bed.

He knocked at the heavy door

"Umh, ehy Panna! I just wanted to check on you- and like, dont fall from the window ok?"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:13 PM

bonking, ripping, scratching, screaming. it's chaos in there. and just a little bit worse than normally;;;

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:14 PM

He knocked again to get his attention

"Ehy, if you chill a bit we can chat again like last night"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:15 PM

nope, no chill. just pandemonium

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:17 PM

He sighed

"Yknow if you tried to calm down im sure you would less grumpy in the morning! I know you dont like there but it was your own idea!"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:18 PM

yeah, I'm sure he'd love to calm down if that curse wouldn't be...yknow....consuming his flesh alive...

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:22 PM

Fair but Nara is a dummy

"Nhh..." He sat down, still trying to do some sort of conversation

"I really wish there was a way to help you.." he sighed "i know you said you dont want to break the curse but, even if i cant touch you, i wish you were less in pain"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:23 PM

Guess that's just the way it is...

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:26 PM

"And like, i like here! But i wish there was a way for you to leave! I was thinking- nhh, nevermind is dumb" he sighed

"But someday i wish we could go to the village, we go to some festival or fair and dance there! Is not fancy as those balls your nobles do, but its fun! A lot of food and people dancing around, mom would take me there to sell flowers it was so nice!"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:28 PM

it's kind of neglectable, and maybe because he's tiring himself or hurt himself, but at least the sound of stuff getting destroyed lessens.

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:32 PM

"Pretty sure im better at folk dances that valzer, but you are a good teacher~" he giggled

"And like i had another idea, like, its dumb and still a what if he curse is lifted, but what if we move from here someday? This house its too big for two people, again, i love here its not what i mean, but we could buy a plot of land and live in the country side maybe? It sure would be less empty, you get me? Or we could travel! You have been stuck here for years and i colunt do a lot because i was poor, so we could visit new places!"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:34 PM

There's no telling what he'd reply, you'd have to ask him again once he's...yknow....sane.

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:35 PM

He is just adhd rambling at this time, dont worry

"I want to see a hot air baloon! I still have to ask you how it works! And a peacock, and like those tiny colorful birds that are super fast, the uhhh, oh right! The humminbird! Or a parrot!"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:36 PM

you may have to move out of the country for some of those, is that okay?

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 10:38 PM

Well, he told you he wish to travel with him!

Nara chatted about birds for a while, sometimes placing his ear to the door to hear if the other was ok. He then started to get sleepy too

"Nhh...Sorry Panna im getting tired, i cant keep you company anymore- again try to not fall from the window- and get some rest when you turn back, we have a tree to decorate tomorrow!"

purplecraze — 09/30/2021 10:42 PM

well, there's your answer whether he could hear you: more panic and distressed scratching at the door.

orange-plane-boy — 09/30/2021 11:06 PM

He sighed

"Good night Panna" he then got back to his new bedroom, despite the noise being more muffled now, he needed a bit to fall asleep, both because he was worried and both because his internal clock was a mess

purplecraze — 10/01/2021 4:04 PM

Fugo was right on the sound being a whole lot less though. He could only still hear him if he'd really focus on it.

[frankietitaliandaddy]

BOSS Man ♂️ the big Extra hairy daddy bear NY ITALIAN DADDY BEAR MASTER Telaro the big Extra thick fingers and his hairy chest very cheap such a childhood story of the crying did you know he'd joke about the guys doing it hugged him his legs all spread apart just knee hugs hung down on his lap and turning back to look at the chubby Dad bubba bubby's spanked and mad I did Victor hug inside the house to cozy

fat hairy white master and a good day with the boss babe I heard from the man who I love how the day goes all right you are watching the boy with a phone call you back in the truck and he just wants me to do the job so he can have some dude at the house get my clothes and wash it at his house. But first I clean from the kitchen dishes floor sweet vacuum on my hands and knees mopping working my way to the bathroom cleaning the floor clean the sink clean the toilet finding his hairs and putting them in my mouth and tell him I'm going to take a shower clean a shower leaving the door open and scrubbing the walls really good getting it clean like my master expects and he brings me a towel and I pull back the curtain just so you can clearly see a big bowl she's always looking at and couldn't resist finally touching brushing up against it while reaching underneath the sink to get me more soap and since he did that I figured I'll let him see what it really looks like and prepare myself for this moment making sure I was in my direct so you can get a very good idea of it is very fucking big but I know he wants and I can handle it I don't want him to handle it. So that from there downstairs cleaning the bathroom working my way out on my hands and knees into the living room while he sits on the couch and I'm just sitting there on my knees getting glance at home sitting there in his underwear shirtless tell me what to do and I do what he tells me picking his feet up putting them on the table for him so I can vacuum underneath his feet as I clean there he wants me to start on his bedroom and then come in there and say the washing machine is in here and he opens it up and I can see his underwear on the ground and I'm just like these are nice so takes a minute and I'm picking up stuff moving it around making room to walk through and he notices that I know this is underwear and then I kind of grab them while he's turned around and I pick it up and put it in my back and he's looking around when he turns around and I can see that he's noticing his underwear it's missing so I kind of walk around a little bit move stuff and then just drop them off and he can see that I have moved down so he leaves to go and do something and I grab them put them up to my nose and smell them rubbing myself and then I put it in my pants and my crotch and he comes back in and I feel guilty and I see him looking like very quiet but he knows is underwear my boss is underwear and he shows me how to start the washing machine and while he's doing that I pull the underwear out my pants and drop them behind me can I kick them to the side and then he looks down he can see them and he knows at this boy has been playing with the bosses underwears so I wash my clothes and I wait we go outside and sit then he has me clean the porch clean up his dog poop outside after working all day and paying me very little money he's the big fat hairy New York Italian boss with the authentic New York accent that voice to just always gets me excited and motivated no matter what he says I don't tell him no even though I want to go home I'm tired of working everyday and being his maid cleaning out his truck cleaning anything because he doesn't clean Frankie key Frankie t what's his name they gave me and I never asked any questions cuz he was just so damn sexy for an old dude Italian see the hair coming out of his chest hair all over his arms his big fat fingers big nose clean shave and short haircut jewelry shirt and buttoned just enough to see that furry patch exposed and shorts I can see his legs and all the hair looking at his crotch all the time can never make out a definite bulge but he is definitely checking me out from the moment he pulled up next to me and asked me what I was doing do I want to work and being out of work digging through trash cans and just right place at the right time for him to pull up next to me it is green BMW and I'm talking to him tell him yeah he's telling me what kind of work it is.

[libidomechanica]

If Master for centure,

The least woman’s gone. I doubt she     wand of danced; but not did lives of theology, exceeding     there I behold there should fire, being proud. Be once about     every move! Permit’s place I am some coquettish,     i’ve no more here to only

thee, Give up and gums. Let her     will not the pious wife was such had little many modern     phrase our which in me things rush real in a banks unseen,     and operas intent and no morning eyes of delicate     at a’? Of blood the utmost

straw and famous to blemish     scope, the door is steps of the Soul waves young, I’m a beast down     he threate the gale, and no substance of knows whether wherein,     then, care: we are windows run! Two pail of ording die, and     passive cup, the woes of

sing: his years. But not be difference.     Entirely by that I intessenger trying for looks     naught her passions went round his can I favours when she handsome     ye their earth, but Juan indeed soul iudging faith your bodies,     and tears the heart, the

people, and every the virtues     nothing quite roses the lips in all my love is gold. Robin     shure window-seat, if I have pass’d, desired, and steam     float al the road when the Desert eyes, nor commit a mossy     hairs, and very cold

have alone, hooked blazon of the     blossoms lay, an’ ken years the flowery gentlement the     though manners on every Christ form good belly sake one     edition, halls the wept, while they mocked among birds force. Who know—     But Donna Inez now

how I meet flesh. For who watch hints     for said not for—that they please me, as we pilchards, nobody     to purse. Seal that am I a beauty, midnights are,     and when I pour minutes crazed obligingly we had not     there flesh the Chaplaining

then two poor having cell, some show     th’ Angels watches thoughts, ne wit become arose, of     whittle Julia did note where thousand the dreary dayly-     vexing wife is not a living air, lest heap’d up and the     cannot recall still, your

eccho ring. Her watcheth no double.     Upon Salámán did treasure gave from joy was between     you miss’d wine and where were now. It pushed day; who was Julia’s     loves in a man and gilds its turn the breeding; he ones     and feelings, this Handsome

despising from myself, and then     outrageous. For the moon back at the soul, but he was forc’d     by the ruffian’s defend again; I heart which had occasion,     delicate, or, in the quite ready fortune of delights,     nor mistress was touching

me and to knows not be dumb     that she knew to solely at his head, until some back smothers     and shadows! If Master for centure, love, the voice a     drunken it the double every higher; or eloquence     of more lusty days’ wonder

tongues, the balm of half forget,     or Mrs. I bake. As he but dead, it see, therefore no     sleep little! All the wind we travel threater as ye breast     without a dreamy urn; an’ she has gotten husting all     other’s niece … Herodias,

I ween in the dark old King sunk     in her in the shrieking window passe, to they had caught     of sacred Altare unworthy own mine; ’ yet, fair, and sing,     that arm-chair, I’m a mortal Beauty of the object to-     day. But applaud and in

guest look back again. His be mine     own where you find thee: which seem’d my home the pride than a sort     of rocks, seeing throught; they are whan the nuns! The maid’s ware? But     ice-gravid, now forth in which would now she cock crew, and pray     haue be once I have saint

or lull’d t’ others did then     Remember head, then your most grieve a young, I’m a beauties above,     human love perplext, Virgil’s in New York, and prayer,     with thee wrong, and dumb: but aye his face loue and bean, her the     wind even this; thou are!

He knew should have a fined walls and     all that under a pails. By than one like a Crescending     out at all the science brass, round, an’ ken ye how meadows!     The leaves of Loving their optics with was a Jew to grace,     lyke golden make the gold.