#no promises I'll post actual art any time soon but also no promise I won't

[quill-n]

//knifecase, ii16 spoilers, suggestive humor

chat is this funny

[artsartblog]

Since I'm currently working on something else Xiaoyue related, I thought I'd post some art of one of the aus I've made surrounding her.

I don't have much art for this au, but I still enjoy the au (even though I haven't thought of much that changes in canon because of this au, but I will eventually). So here's the lore for this au:

After Mk becomes Monkey King's successor, Xiaoyue feels forgotten and is pretty much ignored by the others whenever Mk is around. Though the others never intentionally ignore the elder twin, but it doesn't stop her from feeling like a shadow in her own life. Then one day Xiaoyue decides to just leave, but no one really notices except her brother Mk. This subsequently gets her possessed by LBD, who promises Xiaoyue that she'll finally be noticed by those around her and won't ever be forgotten. Xiaoyue doesn't fight the possession, actually embraces it, and lets LBD lead the way to fulfill her "destiny". Xiaoyue is fully aware of what's happening around her when LBD is in control. However, she doesn't agree with the way LBD treats others to fulfill her "destiny", which causes conflict between the two. Especially after encountering her brother.

When Mk meets the possessed Xiaoyue, he's so happy to see her. Though he's a bit confused about how she ended up with the Spider Queen and in a new outfit. Yet that confusion and happiness disappear when he realizes that Xiaoyue is now under the control of LBD. He doesn't get to ask why, leaving before the question could come up. However, now knowing LBD is using his sister, he has to find a way to stop LBD soon and get his sister back.

I could probably go through the episodes to explain what happens differently because I have some ideas on how things would be different, but I'll have to do that another time. Especially since I want to think things out and figure out ways to make it seem that it wasn't necessarily one person's fault for Xiaoyue's feelings being so negative to allow her to let LBD use her as a host. If you have any questions about this au feel free to leave them in my ask box. You can even ask about specific episodes and how LBD Host!Xiaoyue would be in that episode (can be from any of the seasons, but don't ask about s4 because I have not seen it). You can also ask about other aus or ocs of mine. I'm always down to talk about my ocs and aus!

[rp-repliforce]

A little update on Bladeless's story

I still don't think I'll be officially returning to writing my muses on here anytime soon, since I've recently started trying to make the outline for Bladeless's story. I'm still not entirely sure if I should go with text or comic format, but I've been thinking about maybe just doing text with occasional illustrations.

I know that due to my poor attention span, every project I start inevitably gets left unfinished, but... this one is actually showing some promise so far. There's just something about Bladeless that makes him bounce off of other characters REALLY well, and his story keeps on growing.

I get the feeling that it's going to get pretty long though, because I had decided to start from the VERY beginning of his life (in the prologue), where he and his siblings hatch from their eggs and grow up over time.

Currently I'm at the part of his life where he's wandering around in the wilderness, trying to figure out how to survive with all his broken blades. I won't spoil what I've been writing (in case I do finish this), but I feel like it kinda showcases how unforgiving life in the wild can be for pokemon (which is a reflection of what I know about real-life animals). Bladeless has to start thinking outside of the box in order to get by, and he ends up using a rock as a weapon in order to compensate for his poor offense. He would sometimes use it to knock down berries from high branches, but would also hurl it at low-level bird pokemon to hunt them. He would still be struggling though, because it's not guaranteed that he'll even find anything to eat every day. Sometimes there's just... nothing.

Anyways, this'll probably be my last post about Bladeless on this blog. I've been thinking that I really should start a new sideblog on my personal account where I can post my other art and talk about my non-Repliforce OCs. I also need a place to upload my fic about Bladeless, but AO3 grosses me out and Fanfic.net isn't as poplar as it used to be. So... I might just post my fanfic on the sideblog too. I've never done anything like this before though, so that's why I'm hesitating a bit.

If anyone has any tips for starting an art blog, I'd be happy to hear them. ^^

[archivyrep]

Libraries, records, and Kore: Archives on Mount Olympus [Part 1]

Atropos and Clotho, sisters and archivists in 80s style clothes in "Fate"

On November 16, I responded to Sam Cross on Twitter, saying that I enjoyed her post reviewing archives in the video game, Hades, and the interconnection with Greek mythology, noting her mention of Rachel Smythe's webcomic, Lore Olympus, promising to write a "post about records, libraries, and more in the series," and said I will write about it soon. In my conversation with her, she mentioned her previous post on the topic, which I'll summarize at the beginning of this article.

Reprinted from my Wading Through the Cultural Stacks WordPress blog. Originally published on Nov. 28, 2020.

I'm really excited to be writing this post because Lore Olympus is one of my favorite webcomics, along with a number of others on Line Webtoon (otherwise known as Webtoon) like Acception, Castle Swimmer, My Dragon Girlfriend, Cursed Princess Club, and Mage & Demon Queen, to name a few, but I don't remember archives coming up in any of those webcomics, sadly. Lore Olympus is one of the world's most popular comics, garnering some of the highest views of those comics on Webtoon, and is en route to being a young adult animated series produced by the Jim Hanson Company, released someday in the future.

Cross, who I've mentioned on this blog time and again, talks about the myth of Persephone and Hades, complete with those cringe-worthy parts, and summarizes Lore Olympus well as a "webcomic retelling of the Persephone myth" but with modern-day sensibilities, noting how the realms of gods are set in the modern-day with "all of the technological bells and whistles," and that it explores "the entire spectrum of human emotions and experiences." In the comic, Hades is lonely, complete with war trauma as a son of an abusive father, resigned to the reality, as he sees it, that he won't find love.

Persephone, with the nickname of Kore or Persie, is the goddess of Spring who is 19 years old, Demeter's daughter, and is the "beacon of light and kindness" even as she is naive to the social more and politics of Olympus itself, with the comic exploring "empowerment, trauma, and self-actualization" through her. Cross puts it well, noting that everyone is messed up, while Hades and Kore are adorable.

She mentions two specific instances where archives show up, noting they are both "in the land of the dead," in episodes 51 and 75, which I'll go into detail while talking about other episodes, as records are interwoven throughout this webcomic. Also, I think it is interesting that Kore is Sicilian and a vegetarian, as revealed in episodes 79 ("Sunset") and 80 ("Siciliana").

Let's start with episode 51 ("Distance"). In this episode, Kore is shown her duties by Hectate. This includes traveling to what is described as a library, where Shades read scrolls. According to Hectate, these Shades are recording "the lives of every single mortal as it happens." Each scroll represents a mortal life, with new scrolls started as soon as a new mortal is born. If a mortal dies, the scroll is "filed away in the library" and Kore is given the job to gather information on mortals for specific trials, assisting Thanatos and Hermes. Kore is unsure she can fulfill this task.

Now, as Cross rightly points out, the filing away of a scroll after a mortal dies makes the place, not a library, but rather an archives. As such, she is also right that the "archives-and-libraries-are-synonymous angle" is unfortunate, even though there is undoubtedly wonderful spirit and art behind this part of Underworld Corp.

At least this angle isn't as bad as the confusion in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, which is only continued and magnified in the animated series. The fact that these scrolls will be used for trials means that they are records that have continuing value, as they have usefulness and significance, justifying their preservation. As the archives-as-such in this episode is only shown briefly, we don't get a look at how the records are categorized.

Hopefully, it is done in a way better than the abandoned scrolls that are shown in episodes of Tangled ("Rapunzel and the Great Tree" and "Islands Apart"), which I'll focus on in a later post on this blog, or the "inner library" in that She-Ra: Princess of Power episode in the 1980s.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[something-glowing4u]

when I'm hungry and have no food, I'll get a small amount of salt then just spend an hour eating it very slowly.

anyways new chapter of Daisy Petals Fall coming soon in like. more than 20 seconds. so like. bit over 20 seconds. just a smidge. nothing too crazy. could be 21 seconds if you're optimistic enough. even 22. no guarantee.

I could be bluffing though, and you'd never know. like I could release it in 19 seconds. trip you up. or 1, possible 14 seconds. It could be out right now and you'd never know, because you were busy reading this! now don't go checking now. It's not out. but it will be. In more than 20 seconds from now. no, I'm not tricking any of you. I promise it was just a joke, it really WILL be more than 20 seconds from now. "when is now?" you ask. now is when THIS post was posted of course! so if you see this in 30 minutes, an hour later, maybe a day, then you might be lucky enough to not have to wait 20 seconds! good for you! get excited! there's a good chance it's out right now! key word. chance. yeah. so if you checked about 2 days after this was posted, and it's not there, then uh...sorry about that.

but, kind of your fault if you got your hopes up. I did say chance so. But the good part is. I don't actually have to worry about it that much. It's not like this fanfic is some big thing many people are just DYING to see. maybe like one of you, but it's not a huge priority. you can casually just enjoy following a small story with each update. you don't have high expectations for a fan creating work, because in the grand scheme of things, it's never something so grand. and you know this. that's a good thing. a really good thing. I know the story may be a bit different if I were to have more eyes on me. But even writers who make it big run into problems with life in some shape or form. Surly takes longer than 20 seconds to cough up a draft you been working on for 7 weeks with only 300 words....oh sorry, I mean 300 characters. you can cough and cough and cough, but you can only seem to cough up...flan... ew... Sometimes the passion is lost and, "I'll never be a good writer!" "I suck at updates!" "I can't get passed my art block!" are words the words that will usually come out. as much as I wanna say "don't think like that you can improve!" I also know it's not that simple. you will say these things at some point. especially if your confidence is constantly dull. It's normal to say those things. especially when everything you read is so much better than your own in your eyes. but believe a stranger on the internet for once, it's not true. how corny! what cliché advice! you've heard this a lot, I bet. well.... its good advice. yeah sure, it sounds insincere, due to how overused it is but it's very true. you just need to learn to accept it. it can be hard because we subconsciously think everything we make sucks and will never be as good as those that have inspired you. but those who inspired you probably had the same problems, losers.

naturally, we can get rid of theses thoughts with time. how simple. Some can't though. they need more encouragement, and sometimes they have no one to hype them up. I'll hype you up. yeah, I know I have no clue who's reading this. To you, you're just reading words on a screen that are just saying sweet nothings. K I want you're attention now so don't you dare roll you're eyes....unless you didn't and actually are looking forward to reading this. But um. I'm cheering for you. you don't believe me? tag me, I'll cheer for you personally. I don't care. I know what it's like to feel like no ones rooting for you. I truly believe each word I type. Because to think people are struggling as bad as I am and have no positive thoughts can't go un-noticed. I won't let acid eat away who you are....ew now it's getting all mushy and emotional....uhh... well instead of saying "you are valid" I'll say....you're cool.

"you are valid" sounds too shallow, and lame. wouldn't you rather be cool? I would. dang I hope that wasn't offensive. I mean, not that inherently is, but that just sounds like I'm saying you're cool, but not valid. I men you are but- neverminded. hm lost my thought. uhh something something, hip hip hora?.... something... 20 something?... uhhmmm..... yeah I don't remember. oh well! I just opened text and started writing. I don't even think half of that made sense. hmm. really could have finished that chapter by now.... oh well! couldn't hurt to wait over 20 seconds. Daisy Petals Fall 'CH 2 will be out in more than 20 seconds. :D

[tothedarkdarkseas]

Hi there, if or when you receive recommendations for active writing communities, would you share them if that's okay? I never thought to look for something like that before. It's a good idea, and would be so cool for my gf and I to explore those spaces when we're in our own blocks.

Hey there! I'm so sorry for not answering sooner, I promise I was not ignoring nor trying to hide suggestions from you! Unfortunately I haven't really explored anything myself and therefore don't have a community link to provide!

I was recommended a paid option for a critique forum for adults, but I can't speak to the usage myself. If you want to send me a private message or check the replies to the original post you'll see it!

I do occasionally look up "writeblr" blogs, but the walls of advice versus actual communities are rather different things, and I'd imagine it would be more difficult to actively share or receive feedback from any blog big enough to come up. Maybe if you have the time and desire to do so, you can read through work from some of the smaller blogs and see if they're open to a mutually beneficial readership situation, but I don't blame you at all if you shy away from such a direct approach because I've shied away as well.

Definitely still open to recommendations if anyone has any! Life is a bit complicated right now, soon-increasing workload and long-declining mental health haven't been the most conducive to creativity, but it is-- it is sad, to see oneself as no longer being the things one makes. I don't like the idea that life gets in the way one day and never relents again, and your writing or art just stop wherever they were last. Selfishly, I suppose I also didn't like the idea that stopping it all didn't matter, that none would miss it or think it a shame. That anything you make or aspire to just dies with you. I don't think that's a healthy attitude to have, and I certainly don't think it served me well, but it's something to examine and try to find peace with. Maybe having a space for that, and a reason to aim high may help. Maybe it won't.

Sorry for the tangent! If something comes to my attention, I'll let you know!

[kadoodles-on-ao3]

It's been a while since my last aside so I felt like sharing what I've been working on in my free time! I promise I'm not lazy, I'm just busy and also really like starting new projects halfway through working on 8 other projects for some reason haha

Speaking of starting something new when I haven't finished something I started previously, Minh and I were planning on making a collab Shulkelia one shot for Valentine's Day! Obviously that didn't pan out haha but it's still being worked on and it's extremely cute and fun :) Hopefully it will be ready to post sooner than later! And I also will hopefully be able to work on Constellations soon as well!! (Seriously I feel. SO. bad about my hiatus, especially since I know how many interesting and fun rough-draft ideas we brainstormed up for it that are just waiting to be finalized and shared with the world!!)

Another thing I wanted to do for Valentine's Day but extremely missed the boat on was mass dumping the few good NSFW Shulkelia pieces on here (with a planned warning ahead of time as well as copious tagging and hiding under readmores, of course!), including a full translation of a doujin! However, it being a nearly 20-page comic with dialogue and onomatopoeia all over the place meant I couldn't go the normal route of putting the translation below the art, it would just be way too messy and confusing. So, I decided to open up Photopea and replace the Japanese text with my translation! I felt bad about editing someone else's work (still do haha) but there was just no other way to do it, there is. SO so much onomatopoeia in there that it would be a nightmare to do it any other way. But that fact also contributed to why I still have yet to finish the translation: I got wayyy too ambitious in my typical perfectionist way, and decided to use the clone tool to edit out the hiragana and katakana handwriting for the onomatopoeia and place English text in their places, rather than just put it in small, parenthetical text next to the original writing like manga translations typically do. And oh my GOD I should never have done that there are literal HUNDREDS of characters I had to painstakingly edit out and I'm STILL not even done yet no no no... But I'm so close to finishing it!! I have only a couple pages left and then it's good to go!! Expect to see it along with the other NSFW art of them (again, with multiple warnings far ahead of time plus careful tagging to make sure you won't see it if you don't want to!!) in the near future!

Not XC related at all, but my most recent project has been making an Ao3 site skin (and, in the process, learning how CSS works) and it's been really satisfying! It's nothing super fancy, but it does create a noticeable improvement from the default (in terms of clarity/organization/readability, no offense intended at all of course!) and I'm very pleased with it so far! Once it's done I'll share it here, complete with notes on what each piece is doing to the layout and how, so anyone can use it and tweak it how they like! :)

I unfortunately haven't made any more progress on Xenoblade 3, sorry to say. And actually... it's partially because I'm worried that I'll end up liking Noah so much that I'll get even more distracted from writing Shulkelia or Xenoblade 1 in general haha... Like I'd never give up on that of course, 1 and its characters will always have a special place in my heart! But I can see myself getting swept away by The New Guy TM, much like I do with new project ideas popping into my head...

My FFXIV x Xenoblade 1 crossover has made some good progress! I've now finalized the outfits for over half of the characters I plan on making, after hours and hours of trying different chestpieces and dyes to get them as close to their canon outfits as possible! In fact, maybe I could share a little more about what exactly I'm doing, to show how I was having too much fun and made it a bigger thing than it had to be, to help explain why it's taking so long haha:

So originally the idea started out as "what FFXIV job best suits the playstyle/archetype of each of XC's playable characters?" (and I have a whole host of notes in my head about why that is from both a gameplay/kit perspective and a fandom-y General Vibes/Aesthetic perspective, which I will for sure post along with the pics). And if I could draw well, it probably would've ended there: I'd just have made some art of the cast posing with their weapons and call it done. But since 1) I can't draw the things I see in my head like I want to and 2) I like to over-complicate things for fun, I decided to pile onto this idea by not only adding more characters of (XC SPOILERS!!!) Alvis, Egil, Meyneth, and Zanza to the roster (including in terms of what jobs suit them each and why!) but also recreate everyone in-game! (I really wanted to do Dickson as well, but unfortunately there are absolutely zero mustache options that look like his :< There's only one that's even remotely similar, but the face is completely wrong for him (what facial features look like are tied to faces, for some reason; the Mustache Facial Feature creates a different type of mustache depending on which Face option you pick) so there's no way to make a character that looks sufficiently like him, at least to my standards. Maybe one day they'll add one that fits...? If they do I will for sure make Gunbreaker Dickson a reality!) This resulted in me needing to not only sit down for hours in XIV's character creator ensuring every detail was as close a match to their designs as possible, but also opening up 8000 tabs in Eorzea Collection and looking through every. single. last. glamour option. in the game for each. and. every. slot. for each. and. every. character. to find out how closely I could translate their weird (affectionate) XC clothes into weird (affectionate) FF clothes. Combine that with my stubbornness in wanting them to look as accurate as possible resulting in making two different outfits per character based on whether or not they can equip/glam the gear as the job that suits them most, (plus the fact that I'm doing [again, SPOILERS!!!] Mecha-Fiora in addition to Homs!Fiora as well as having three [three!] different job options for Shulk based on varying levels of both XC and XIV spoilers to avoid ruining twists for either game), and the fact that I went a step further and decided to also make alternate-race versions for the main party (that sounds... bad lmao. fantasy races, like elves and catboys and such) like half if-these-characters-were-instead-created-by-the-XIV-designers-in-an-alternate-timeline-what-race-would-they-probably-make-them-judged-by-me-like-their-jobs-on-both-lore-and-Vibes-TM and half if-the-XC-gang-existed-irl-and-played-XIV-what-would-they-make-their-characters-look-like, and reminder that each of these versions have two different outfit variants and each outfit needs a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 7 separate pieces each that also need to be dyed and have multiple different options to try on for every character and... it took a teeeeny bit longer than I was expecting to get through haha. But that's not at all to say it's a chore to get through; it's certainly been a process yes, but I've been having a lot of fun the whole time :) Finally getting every element just right, from all the details in character creation down to their eyebrow shape to finding the best option for every armor slot dyed just the right color, seeing it all come together and actually look quite a bit like the character is so satisfying! I can't wait to share them all, I hope someone out there enjoys the results as much as I did creating them! :) Oh, and I also will be making a glam list for each outfit as well as sharing my notes on what I picked in the character creator, so if you want to do an in-game/WoL cosplay as someone or maybe even make an alt named after one based on my recreation of them then it'll be easy for you! :)

Even though I haven't been keeping up with my fanfic writing as much lately, I do still get little ideas for things quite often and am typing them down in my doc for later! I have a gigantic backlog of things I could write: fanfics long and short, Shulkelia fics and Genfics, non-fanfic concepts both XC-related and not... rest assured, even if I'm not posting on here or Ao3 my mind is always buzzing with something and I'm always wanting to create more!

[ikatako38]

7. Tako’s Art Commissions

My Ko-Fi and Patreon are not up yet. Commissions will open in the next few weeks.

I may adjust prices as I go, this is my first time doing this! (I'm expecting to get most of these as Patreon rewards anyway.)

Commissions FAQ

How can I get in contact with you if I have any questions not answered here?

Please e-mail me at ikatako38.coms@gmail.com. Trying to communicate with me throuatreongh Patreon, Ko-Fi, or Tumblr may result in your message getting lost.

How soon will my commission be done?

That'll depend on how many commissions I have in line, how big the commission is, and on other life factors. You can get the most up-to-date information by contacting me with the e-mail above. Feel free to ask before paying.

Are you willing to you draw...?

Another thing you should e-mail me for! I don't have a set list of will/will-not  because I think that context is important, and it makes the most sense to to me to take them on a case-by-case basis. You should always contact me first before paying anything for a commission, just in case I can't make it for any reason. I promise I won't judge, it'll be a polite "no" at worst. Most likely, I'll try to work out a compromise! That being said, I'm least likely to accept commissions with gore, incest, and cis women in sexual situations.

Your art commission categories are weird. What's the difference between a headshot and a full body? What if I want a half-body?

I know it's weird, but for me personally it's really not any more work at all to extend a headshot into what may be considered a half-body. However, a full-body requires more work for body positioning, so it's worth more. Any line I draw will be arbitrary, but I've chosen to make it the waist. This division may seem arbitrary in some of the examples above, but it shouldn't be a problem with the actual commissions.If you order a full-body, I'll include the whole body including the feet unless you specifically ask me not to. And if you order a headshot, I'll draw up to the cutoff at the waist. Profile icons generally only go to the armpits, like in the two examples on the top. Also, if most of the body is covered by something (e.g., the character is peeking out from behind the wall), you may be able to get it for the price of a headshot even if the waist is included. Just ask!

How will I receive my commission?

Your commission will be posted on Patreon as a public post, so you can see it even if you're not a Patron! If you want your commission delivered privately, it'll be a $5 fee, and we can discuss how to deliver it.

What can I do with my commission?

Post anywhere with credit (ikatako38)

Color, render, add stuff, erase stuff, etc. (Please note what parts you changed. The easiest way to do this is to post them side-by-side.)

What CAN'T I do with my commission?

Post without credit or otherwise pass off as your own.

Remove my signature

Sell it to someone else

[mrpenguinpants]

Spider’s Thread [Reverse AU]

Possessive Red Xiao x Reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Commissioned for: @profoundwitchsalad

Art Credit: @ruoyeahs

Warning: Unhealthy relationships.

Prompt:

“You’ve ruined my life because I have a warped idea of what love is and I can’t live without you. But now you’re trying to leave me and I won’t allow that. You left me alive. You have a duty to live for me and by me. I’m not letting you go.”

---

Xiao Semi Series

[ Friendship ] [ Falling in Love ] [ Cuddles ] [ Protective ] [ Affection ] [ Jealously ] [ Opposites Attract ] [ String Of Fate (Soulmate) ] [ Fainting ]

Link to original posts:  [Red! Xiao.] [Reverse AU]

[Masterlist]

Alatus was once told a story by his Master. A sinner who falls into hell is rewarded for his only good deed, choosing not to kill a spider. As his reward, a thread is lowered down for him to climb out of Hell. In the end, the sinner remains in Hell because he kicks aside others and the thread breaks. Alatus doesn't remember why his Master told him this story but he still empathizes with the sinner. He would have done the same or asked for this 'saviour' to extend their hand down instead. That way he could pull them down.

"Xiao? Are you okay?"

He slowly opens his jade eyes to see you hunch over, peering down above him, eyebrows furrowed together in concern as you reach down and softly tap his temple. He allows you to take a moment to do whatever you want with his face before he reaches up to grasp at your wrist gently, holding back on his want to rub circles into your skin. His reminiscing can wait for now.

"What is it?" he asks curtly, sitting up and resting his elbow on his raised knee. You pout at his curt tone but shrug it off as you take a seat next to him and lean your shoulder against his. You dig into your bag and pull out slips of commission papers and hand it over to him to read through what needed to be done today. A few Hilichurl camps needed to be taken care of, sabotaging a slime balloon, all tasks that seem mundane to someone who fought in a war. As he's preoccupied, you take a moment to look at Xiao's face. He's just the slightest bit unnerved whenever you do this because you always seem to know what's bothering someone.

"Were you dreaming of her again?" you ask quietly. The silence is a good enough answer but you nod understandingly. You never knew his Master personally but you did fight a long strenuous battle against her. From one look you could tell she was a manipulative and cruel woman. While it may not be very kind to say, you were glad that with her passing, Xiao would be free from her physically. But mentally...there were still some things to work out. But Xiao was a very reclusive person, especially with his emotions, so pushing him any further would only make him irritated and closed off.

"Venti and Zhongli are joining our party for a bit if that’s alright. They'll help out a lot with our commissions and travelling. I like Liyue a lot but climbing mountains stresses my shoulders out," you laugh as you change the subject to something less depressing. Standing up as you dust your clothes off before turning to Xiao and holding your hand out for him to take. He stares at it hard for a few moments before huffing and reaching over to clasp your hands together.

It has been so frustratingly peaceful since the war ended. He's not used to it and he can still feel the lick of cutting winds and the heavy pressure of rocks against his body when he sees the bard and funeral parlor consultant just on the horizon. If it were up to him, he wouldn't play nice with these two Archons but they're important to you so he bites his tongue until he tastes blood. He knows the Archons do the same. As soon as the two of them spot you both, Venti is already rushing and tackling you to the ground in his excitement.

"Traveler! I haven't seen you in ages. You need to come and visit Mondstadt more," Venti cried into your shoulder as you awkwardly patted him on his back. Always with the dramatics but you cared about Venti all the same. Xiao scoffed before flicking his jade eyes to meet gold as Zhongli stared down at him cautiously. Since the war ended, everyone seemed to have this warped idea that Alatus had some vendetta against the Gods and Celestia but he was fighting because he was told to.

"Xiao. It's good to see you again," Zhongli said to him. Xiao just nodded in acknowledgement. Even with this new mortal form, Morax never bothered to change his eyes. His gaze alone held the weight of the mountains he had thrown. If Xiao hadn’t been under one of them before, he might have crumbled under the pressure.

"Alright alright, Venti. I promise I'll drop by sometime this month but we still have commissions to do!" you laugh as you haul the bard onto his feet and swat his cape down from the speckles of dirt. He grins cheekily at you, linking pinkies with you to seal your promise, before suddenly lighting up as if he just remembered something.

"Actually! Before we start anything, I need to speak to Mr. Zhongli and Xiao. Super important archon things, you know?" Venti nodded to himself as the two mentioned people stared at him with varying levels of confusion. But Venti just waved their worries off and linked his arms with both men as he dragged them off to a more secluded corner with a surprising amount of strength, “We’ll be right back!”

"Do what you need to do but don't take too long," you called after the trio as you trailed off to the side, messing with your bag of commission papers and gear. Xiao hated that. He knows that these two Archons are your...friends.. but shouldn't you be a bit more cautious? Just because they have mortal forms doesn’t make them human, it doesn’t make him human either.

"Hey, there's no need to look so scary. There really is something important I wanted to talk to the two of you about," Venti speaks up as soon as you're out of earshot. It still gives Xiao whiplash whenever he drops the persona and switches back to Barbatos. "Since Morax is the only Archon I trust with this information and, while I don't trust you one bit, you're the one that's with her all the time you should also know. She's ascending to Celestia."

Barbatos gauges both of their reactions. Morax seems visibly surprised, his eyes slightly widened a fraction, while Xiao has no idea what that means. His Master didn’t exactly give him a history lesson on Celestia or Archons, just pointed to who was his enemy and dealt punishments when he failed.

"And what the hell does that mean?" Xiao asks as he crosses his arms. Venti appears for a second as the bard pouts before continuing.

"It's like I said. A mortal who performs great, heroic feats can ascend to Celestia and achieve godhood. Where they will watch over their people from above. I've only seen this once before so it took me a while to recognize the signs. But 1000 years ago, I helped a woman named Vennessa with her ascension and with the traveler's recent actions with winning the war. Well, you don't need me to explain the rest," Barbatos finishes. Zhongli simply hums as he cups his chin and absorbs what's just been heard. He doesn’t seem troubled by the news at all.

"Have you told her about this?" Zhongli questions as he looks towards the direction that you left. Venti shakes his head. “That would mean that she would vanish from this world."

“I know she loves this world. Whether she wishes to ascend or not isn’t my choice but I want her to continue her travels with that beloved smile on her face. But if she does choose to ascend, she will need our help," Venti stares at the two of them in a mix of pride, sadness, and determination. "Can I count on you two for your help?"

It's a complete white noise in Xiao's ears as his surroundings fade out. He thinks he can see Zhongli nod to Venti wishes, the ever calm smile on his face to match the cheery grin on Venti’s. What, now you want to become a God? Leave this world behind? That’s not funny. You made him give up everything. While in your eyes, your blinded hero syndrome, you think you've liberated him from a soulless conquest but he still has nothing. You still took everything away from him and your only compensation was to have him by your side until he left himself. But now you want to leave without a warning? That’s not fair. You don’t get to take back what you owe. He won't allow you to leave him behind.

“Did something happen? Did Venti say something unnecessary again?” you ask out of the blue. Zhongli and Venti had returned to their respective regions once your commissions were all finished. Since the three of them disappeared to talk Archon business, Xiao had seemed even more tense and aloof than usual. As if he was out of it? You knew that everyone was still suspicious of Xiao and they were angsty to leave you alone with him, but you knew Xiao would never do anything to hurt you. When he doesn't answer, you slowly reach over and you subtly nudge his head up onto your lap and look at him curiously. Before reaching down and cupping his cheek. He leans into your touch before turning his face into your palm and leaving a soft kiss. It makes you giggle at the ticklish feeling as you look at him so softly. It annoys him.

"You were never connected to the war and yet you fought against us anyways. Even when I killed so many people, why did you choose to spare me?" he asked as you blinked at him before giving it some serious thought. He went on a rampage and almost destroyed the world. It was fun. He doesn't have any regrets at all because he hated humanity. His own Master was human after all. But then you appeared and stopped him. A random outsider that wanted to play the hero. He thought it was cute. Perhaps he had underestimated the lengths someone would go to to save the world they loved but when he fell defeated at your feet. He said that this wouldn't change a single thing. He would still scorn humanity and what they did to him. He was so sure he would die there but you chose to extend your hand down to him instead despite what your companions felt. Even when the war ended and he had nowhere else to go, you offered him to travel with you. Nothing changed about his mentality, every person that chose to talk to him was quickly scared away with piercing eyes. Every conversation started would end in silence. Every touch would be met by the tip of his spear. But you would link your hands together with his and smile brightly, and he would always end up forgetting his trauma for a moment. You’ve... become precious to him.

"I love this world and everyone in it. You are a part of that world even if you tried to destroy it. It...didn't seem fair to leave you behind when you've suffered just as much," you finish but it only seemed to spark a wave of deep anger inside of Xiao. He quickly lurched up, almost knocking your forehead with his, before grabbing the scruff of your shirt collar and yanking you forward.

"Cut it out with that "love of everything" crap. It's revolting. So you're saying the people I killed weren't worth avenging? Do you think I'm so weak that I need protection? It's one thing to try and please everyone but at least have some awareness would you?" he snarled as he pushed you to the ground. He knew he was being harsh on you and you had every right to walk out and abandon him but you didn't. Of course, you wouldn't. You needed him as much as he needed you. You just reached over and tenderly reached your hand and placed it next to his. Damn it, why is he always the one stuck worrying about you.

"Then you want to protect me, right? Then don't break your promise. You left me alive which means you have a duty to live for me," he takes your hand in his and squeezes hard. Digging his nails into your own until crescents appear and tiny specks of blood appear so you know he's serious. He doesn't care how you interpret his words, just so long as you never leave him.

"Don't die on me, Hero."

It's been a few hours since the conversation so it's pitch black outside but Xiao was never one to sleep. Even if he could, his mind is too loud to fall asleep too. He's startled when you melt against him fully asleep. Honey smooth as you curl up to his warmth and cling to him like moss to a rock. He can feel his cheeks start to flush as his heart begins to pound against his chest. He can't breathe as his world is filtered through each beat that drums against his ears. He's not sure if there's actually something wrong with him or if it's just been a while since someone got so close and his instincts haven't left.

He's just realized it. He's feeling pain. The feeling in his chest is black but he can't claw it away. It's strange in a way that he can't explain it, that he's never felt before, that he's never felt the need to experience. His life had been warped by battle and a constant push to submit to his Master. They are all things he knows but the gentle words that come from your mouth, the bright eyes that hold the world, the horrible ice-hot feeling inside of him is so foreign yet too easy. He doesn't like it.

It makes him feel...clean in a way. Enlightened perhaps? His Master is long gone and it's like you said. He's free now. Free to make his own decisions and live his life how he wants to. He carefully turns over so as to not startle you away as he really looks at you. You look so peaceful in his arms, eyelids shut without worry, face slack without nightmares, breathing so softly against him. If you weren't so close to him that he couldn't feel the rise of your chest, he wonders if he would think you were dead. He stares at the lock of hair swaying back and forth with each breath like a starved man. The strange feeling doesn't stop. He hates it. It's everything that goes against him and what he knows and everything he should want. He's supposed to be the villain in your story, he should kill you right now-

"Xiao..." he hears you mumble beside him as you lean further into his arm. Damn it. How low is he going to go?

“What are you thinking about now? You just need to think about me. Don’t think about anything else...but me” Xiao sighs before he wraps his arms around you and pulls you into him until you're snug against his chest. Close to him, where he can touch you, where you belong. Not with Morax or Barbatos. Not with humans but beside him. He closes his eyes and nuzzles his head into your hair and he stares off into the distance. The feeling never leaves him for the remainder of the night.

"Ah! There you are. I was running around crazy looking for you," he turns his hair to see your flushed form pulling yourself up onto the mountain cliff, "When I woke up I couldn’t find you anywhere! You gave me a scare there."

He hates you. He hates you.

Words of his previous master ring in his ears, almost as if her very soul is wrapping around him as she whispers in his ear how weak he is. Ones with power that refuse to take what they want because they rather live in the comfort of nothing. Be greedier, take what belongs to you.

"Xiao?" you say as his piercing eyes stare directly through you. His Master always told him that she loved him. Even if he hated her he still clung to that false love. Of being wanted. Isn't love for a single person vile? Would feeling such emotions for one person instead of "everyone" bring you down to reality? It's not fair that you've crawled your way into his heart while you walk along in bliss. Now that he thinks about it. It was so simple. He just needs to monopolize your thoughts and love. This time it won't be as friends.

"I love you."

He'll pull you down to where he is. You extended your hand down to hell so it's your fault. He'll drag you down kicking and screaming if he has to. You left him alive. You have to live for him and by him. He's not letting go.

Reblogged for extra notes

[taglist]  <- if you want to be added, please read this first.

@hanniejji@duxastaroth @unionwitch @musekala @sunnshiii @stanzastic @akaasea @xoneaboveallx @adoring-ghost @asheseiler @sakari-shi @dilucsz @dai-tsukki-desu @thicmitten @upsetpotatoo @htnicayh @genshins1mpact @morthecreator @aanne2601 @aklxojjk @fulltimeventisimp @mitsyua@laic2299 @diesekimo @duhsies @creatorofstars @zalladane @itchichan @sweeti-pie @curiouslilbeast @momos-peaches @adeptitao @youaskedfurret @snowy224 @mayumintsu @tigerpriestess @yuu-yuukurotsuki @legionqueensav @eva-0403 @blanktide @pancakiee @castinluckgamer @dazqily @jaybobistired

[dolorum-magne]

Fanart for @french--hoe and their amazing fic I found it all on my own

It's been my most favourite fic of all time for at least a year and I can not recommend it enough. This is a drawing of one of the scenes in it.

I did intend on posting this with a few other drawings of some of my other favourite scenes from this fic so far but I haven't finished the others yet as I have neither the time, the motivation, or the ability to do so. (the posing I'm trying to draw in one of them is giving me so much grief) and I have my final exams starting next week so the won't be finished any time soon. I decided to finally post this one on its own and post the others at a later date.

I tried so many things I'd never done before when I made this about a month ago including drawing a full background, the wrinkles in his clothes, the way I drew his hair, the lighting, and it was actually my first ever time drawing his in game outfit. I even taught myself how to draw Saint Bernard's specifically for this piece. I'm incredibly proud of it and I hope the author likes it.

Also just a quick pic of the sketch. I actually drew the whole room but 90% of the detail ended up being cut for the final piece and I worked really really hard on it

Once again, please go read their fic. I can not recommend it enough.

Look out for more art of this fic, I promise I'll finish the others at some point lol

[mimi-ya]

It's me again, hiii!

I just wanna say that that pic you used to reply to my long ass ask is so cute!!! I love baby Luffy with all my heart, and I'd go to hell and back for him 😭

And I hope you get to cosplay Perona! Her design is one of my favorites in OP 🥺

Now, I've been away for a while and I'm only now seeing some of your posts, so I hope it's still ok to comment on them? Aksjaoshdg

So, Zoro's birthday fic,,, I LOVED IT SO MUCH! THAT WAS SO HOT, I QKJSIAHSHSJSNS fucked out Zoro is 💯 There's something about him being wrecked, and vulnerable, overall, that makes me lose everything 😭 ~ on a side note, I haven't catched up with the manga, yet, so I don't know what's happening currently in Wano, but I REALLY wish Oda would give us some Zoro angst or something like that. I know that is a little sadistic, but I'm CRAVING some vulnerability coming from him 😔

Which leads me to the next topic: mutual hate fucking. I know it's been a while, but I wanna join my fellow Zoro fuckers and intercede for our man 😏

Also, you've been sent to horny jail?! wth 😭 if Tumblr ever dares to come up with this outrage again, it will have to drag us all along with you 😡 ~ we've all been convicted of the same crime, after all 🤧

And your OP art, SO CUTE!!! YOU'RE SUCH A MULTITALENTED QUEEN! I tried drawing baby Robin, once, and... It didn't go well 😅

Now, your birthday celebrations event!!! Mimiii, that's the cutest thing ever 😭 YOU'RE SO SWEET, I CRY. I've submitted mine a few days ago (I've been writing this ask ever since, but I still haven't finished it......... WHY AM I LIKE THIS), even though it won't be my birthday any time soon jwjsjwnbbs actually, chapter 2 of covert identity came out around my birthday, and I was so happy!!! I considered that as a unintentional birthday gift kashusjshsh

On your post about Pudding -- I couldn't agree more! She deserved better, and I hope she can be free, someday. It'd be nice if she, Brûlée and Katakuri rebelled against their mother. Mama is straight up abusive. She always goes on and on about creating a world without discrimination, where "all races" can coexist, but that's all empty discourse. She collects people, and treat them as if they were animals in her own particular zoo. I love her as a character, but I DESPISE her as a person 😂

Finallyyy, I wanna talk about your mutuals tag list!!! Alright, so, when I first opened it, I really wasn't expecting to see myself tagged there. I might have teared up a little........ 😭😭😭 MIMIIIII, that made me so, so happy 😭 I keep coming back to it, and EVERY single time I get, like 🥺😭🥰

Just know that I love and appreciate you just as much! I've been kind of absent from Tumblr, lately, but I love seeing your posts on my dash; they really make my day.

I'm planning on creating a new blog just for OP (maybe?) (my original account is over 10 years old, and I'm having quite an identity crisis. I can't even stand looking at it 🤡). If I follow through that plan (or when I'm finally able to put up with all the bullshit of past me and can go back to using my old blog), I promise I'll let you know whenever it's ready! Until then (and even after that), I'll continue being your sprout, for as long as you allow me 🥺

- 🌱

I'll comment on your most recent works as I read them, as I still haven't had the chance to do that 😭 also, I think it's best if I just end this ask here, as it's gotten LONG long, already, and I just keep adding things as the days go by 😂)

my sprout!🌱

first off: baby strawhats are superior to adult strawhats, but something about baby asl will always have the biggest place in my heart!! SO CUTE! my brother is watching op, and I’ve asked that out of the 1000 episodes he PLEASE let me watch 493 & 494. I LOVE BABY ASL SO MUCH!!

perona is also one of my favs! my roommate and I have a goal of going to some anime con when ever things feel safe again, so I have until then to make my cosplay! Except now I’m OBSESSED with ulti!! the only down side is I don’t think her outfit is as fun as perona 😪 but we’ll see what happens!

I’m glad you enjoyed zoro’s bday fic!! Wrecked zoro is the best zoro 😌 and I have a feeling we’re going to get some zoro stuff in Wano, I’m just not sure if it’ll be angst?? I feel like the only thing that could get to him would be about kuina, so if Oda is somehow able to tie her in? Idk! (And of course luffy and the crew, but I don’t want THAT MUCH angst!)

and don’t worry, mutual hate fucking is cumming (lol, i hate myself 😭) it has to, zoro is literally the perfect character for it

I was sentenced to a quick stint in horny jail but have been bailed out! I promised the tumblr gods to behave from here on out so fingers crossed that doesn’t happen again!!

thank you for the sweet words about my art! I realized I didn’t even post all the things I made! Crafty things are my favorite! And I would love to see your baby Robin, I bet she’s adorable!

I’m glad you like the birthday celebration event! I’m pretty excited about it! I just hope I can come up with enough birthday themed ideas! 😅 and speaking of covert identity… lmao chapter 4 is basically done but then I remembered y’all need chapter 3 before that! My goal is to have chapter 3 done within the month and 4 will come quickly after! ☺️

Pudding and all of big mamas kids deserved better! I’m interested to see what role the Charlotte children will play in Wano or if some of them will ever be seen again in the future!

And bestie! I’m so glad you saw the tag!! LOL! I was giggling writing it out, because I was like, this will be so funny if my 🌱 opens it! And I couldn’t not include you! And I feel that blog issue, my old blog was a cluster fuck of all my different fandoms, and I was like, alright. Time to just make something fresh for op!

I’d be happy to interact with any blog you make, but will also always have you in my heart as my little sprout! 🥰🥺 love love love getting to hear from you! 💗

[airis-paris14]

Starlight (T. Udaku)

Summary: Amani is an orphaned heiress who's spent most of her life raising her younger sister. T'Challa is a widowed King and Father. Neither of them is expecting much from their night at the Lotus. But the coming months have many milestones in store for these young adults. Will becoming a family be one of them?

Warnings: None

A/N: Hey y’all. I know I’ve been absent for a little bit again. This story was on the top of my update list and Dress Up is next now that I’ve finished the update. Now I’ve only posted this story on Wattpad, and since the update really only helps them, I thought I get in my weekly update by posting this story from the beginning. I hope you all enjoy as much as my other stories. As always let me know if you wanna be on the tag list. I’ll be posting an account update soon with some news about stories and the Master list. Have a beautiful day guys.

2 || 

Amani watched from the doorway as her baby sister packed up her suitcase. "You know you don't have to watch me pack. I'm a big girl." Amare Okeke looked up smiling. Amani walked over to help her zip the suitcase. "You're barely old enough to fly alone baby girl."

"Amani I'm 17."

"I know. I know. My baby girl is all grown up." Amani pulled Amare into a tight hug. "Maybe I should just keep you here this semester."

"Amani....."

I know, I know. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is paying your tuition, so I guess I gotta put you on that plane."

Amare chuckled. "I think they'd miss me too much if you didn't."

Amani scooped the younger girl into a hug. "Just be safe kid. Don't talk to strangers and no joining the mile high club."

Amare groaned and shuddered. "Okay, it's definitely time for you to go, don't wanna be late for work."

Amani laughed, "Be safe okay. Come back to me in one piece."

"I promise, scouts honor," Amare raised three fingers as she pushed her older sister out of the door. "Just one more hug," Amani begged. Amare shook her head, and shoved the car keys in her sister's hand. "Out," she pointed to the 23-year-old. Amani ran in for one last hug before hopping in her car. She waved three times more before pulling out of the drive and into the city traffic. Her Lexus weaved in and out of traffic as she headed to her day job. The Lotus was more of a pass time than an actual job. It paid a decent amount, and she got to work with her friends.

Twenty minutes later Amani pulled into The Lotus's back parking lot. She gathered all of her things and headed in to help work the closing shift. She scanned her key card and pushed open the heavy security door. The kitchen staff seemed to be winding down from the dinner rush. It was only seven and most of the tables had been served and were waiting to pay. Amani dropped her things in the break room before heading out to help the other waitresses.

" Well look what the cat dragged in." A petite woman teased from behind the bar. "Hello to you too Sakura."

"Hey, Mani! Can you cover this last table for me while I set up for tomorrow?" Madiyson asked as she nodded at a man and a little girl who walked into the restaurant.

"I just got here! What about 'Kura? She's here too."

Sakura glared at Amani from behind her magazine. "It would really mean the world to me if you could do it, Amani..." Madiyson puppy dog eyed her.

"Fine," Amani sighed, fixing her thick curls. They both stared at her arranging her twist out.

"What he is cute!" The black woman blushed grabbing a kid's menu and a menu."He has a daughter." Kura pointed out. Amani walked over to the sink to wash her hands, grabbed the nearest dish towel, and leaned again the counter to check her teeth in the mirror.

"But I don't see a ring," Madiyson pointed out as she grabbed a fresh washcloth. She winked before she hurried away to wipe down tables. Sakura laughed and turned back to her magazine.

Amani hastily checked her reflection once more before walking out onto the main floor. The little girl waved as the woman approached the podium."Hi! Welcome to The Lotus. Just you two tonight?" The man nodded. "If you'll follow me then." The small group walked to a booth. Amani fished into her small apron and took out a notepad. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"I'll have water," he smiled at the young woman. His voice and that smile practically melted Amani right then and there. The young woman pulled herself together to write down his order.

"Ada did you want anything?" he asked the little girl across the table from him.

"Do you have strawberry lemonade?" She asked in a sweet voice.

"No, but I may have something just as good. If you don't like it I'll bring you something else. How does that sound?"

The little girl grinned and nodded her head.

"I'll let you look over the menu while I get your drinks."

As the waitress walked off she heard the little girl whisper to her father. "Baba she's pretty!" Amani blushed and rushed over to the bar, desperate to hide the growing flush of her face. As she mixed the little girl's drink at the bar Madiyson and Sakura began drying cups beside her.

"So who's the beautiful stranger?" Sakura was the first one to speak nudging Amani on the side. "That's what we're calling him?" Madiyson rolled her eyes. Amani laughed as she felt Madiyson nudge her other shoulder. "He's watching you," she whispered. The sister looked up quickly at the man and his daughter before grabbing napkins and straws.

"His voice, god it's sexy. He has an accent though. It sounds dark and a little  controlling, but warm at the same time." Amani hastily revealed as she worked to keep her hands busy. Madiyson grinned "Oooh! You like him!"

Sakura face-palmed as guests looked up at the commotion."Keep your voice down," Amani hissed as she grabbed the drinks. "I just think he's cute. Besides he may not even be single. There's no way I'm that lucky," She blushed as she walked towards the bar exit. "You won't be getting lucky either if Madiyson keeps yelling stuff like that out loud," Sakura grinned as Madiyson slapped her on her shoulder.

Amani shook her head and walked out to the table. She set the drinks down in front of the little girl and her father. The young waitress gestured toward the drink as the little girl took a sip. Her face lit up and she smiled before drinking some more. "I'm guessing you like it," she smiled at the little girl before noticing the father smile at her. Amani's face churned up the color of a bouquet of roses. "Anybody ready to order?" Amani asked taking out her notepad.

"Yes, I'll have the filet mignon with green beans and mashed potatoes." He closed his menu and smiled at her."Rare, Medium Rare, or well done?" The young woman looked up expectantly, instantly regretting meeting his eyes. Her knees went weak."Well done please." He folded his arms on the table.

Amani smiled before looking at the little girl, "what is a Mac and cheese?" Ada asked politely."You've never had Mac and cheese?" The young woman exclaimed feigning shock. "Oh my goodness, it's this really creamy bowl of amazingness. You wanna know what I eat mine with?" The little girl giggled nodding. Amani leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I eat mine with Chicken tenders."

The little girl nodded."Good choice, I'll have mine with chicken tenders too then." The brown woman smiled at the girl before writing it down."Fabulous choice princess," Amani smiled as the little girl giggled before her mouth dropped open. "How'd you know I was a Princess?" The man shook his head at the little girl. She went quiet.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I got her in trouble." Amani apologized.

"No, no she's not in trouble. I am T'Challa and this is my princess Ada." At the mention of her name the little girl grinned. "It's nice to meet you both, Amani." She smiled at them both. "I'll have your food out shortly."

The young waitress walked back to the kitchen, handed her ticket in for her table and wrote for herself for a to-go meal."Find anything else out?" Sakura asked as she walked in handing over a ticket. "His name is T'Challa. And he's got money." The woman looked up. "How'd you find out he had money?"

"He ordered Filet Mignon. How many people in this area order filet mignon?" Amani said as she grabbed the plates from the window. "Besides us, and that's only when Mrs. Ella needs to get rid of it."

"Businessmen mostly, we just never give you the big ballers," Madiyson smirks as she drops off her ticket."Are you serious?" Sakura nodded. Amani rolled her eyes, "I'm feeling the love," she sassed as she headed back into the dining room.

"Aww don't be mad Mani!" Madiyson called as Sakura cackled. The young woman huffed as she carried the food out to her table.

"Baba, I want to go somewhere fun tomorrow!" The little girl insisted as her father laughed. "You did not enjoy the Museum?" His eyes twinkled as she huffed. Amani chuckled silently as she set the plate down in front of Ada. "Maybe your Mac and cheese will make you feel better," Amani suggested as she handed T'Challa his steak. "If you don't mind me asking, what Museum did you go to?" He smiled, clearly glad someone was interested.

"We went to the High Museum of Art," Amani had to stifle her laughter at his reply.

"Princess Ada, how old are you?" Amani asked as the laughter threatened to pour out of her. "Four," The little girl proudly displayed four fingers.

She could hold back no longer. A full-bellied laugh rolled out of her.

"What?" T'Challa protested as Ada began to giggle too. He sighed as he waited for the two females to stop laughing. "I'm sorry, but you took a four-year-old to the High?" She smiled as she tucked the serving tray under her right arm."There was an exhibit of children's illustrators." He defended himself."But baba," The little girl interjected, "we don't live here I've never read any of those books."

Amani smiled. "Maybe you should try the aquarium, it's one of the best in the country.  There's also this really big Ferris wheel Princess," the little girl's face lit up as she chewed up her chicken tender."Chew with your mouth closed Ada," her father gently reminded smiling at his daughter.

"I'll let you guys eat and be back soon."

The young woman couldn't keep the goofy smile off of her face as she helped refill salt and pepper shakers as Madiyson refilled condiments. "So is he feeling it? Is there a wedding I should start planning."

"No Madiyson you won't be planning  anything." Amani grinned as she put the salt back in the closet. "And I don't know, you don't usually go up to a stranger and say 'Hi, I'm single. Are you single?"

"Well don't ask him like that," Madiyson scoffed as she replaced the top on a ketchup bottle. "I see why you're still single," she laughed. Amani whirled around and threw some salt from the counter at her. "Haha, very funny."  Amani looked out the window to see T'Challa raise his hand.

"I'll be right back," the waitress walked over to the table. "We need a check?" T'Challa nodded as Ada finished the last of her Mac and Cheese. "That Mac and cheese treat you right?" Amina smiled as Ada grinned. "Yes ma'am," she replied.

"Baba, can we get ice cream?" Ada begged as Amani gathered the dirty plates. "Not tonight Ada, maybe tomorrow, entle."

"Oh if you go to the aquarium there's a really good ice cream shop downtown." Amani smiled."Then it's settled we'll get ice cream tomorrow Baba," The young princess declared. T'Challa smiled at his daughter. "Your wish is my command princess."

"Cash or credit?" Amani asked as she stood with the dirty plates. "Cash," T'Challa called. His eyes caused the waitress's heart to flutter. She offered an award-winning smile and nodded. "I'll be right back." Amani walked back into the kitchen dumping the dishes into the sink."Girl don't break no dishes," an older woman yelled from the back. "Sorry Mrs. Ella!" Amani grimaced as she began printing a check.

"Find out anything else?" Sakura asked as she began loading the dishwasher. "He's a total pushover for his daughter." Amina smiled placing the check in a black holder.

When she walked out to the table it was completely empty. Save for a note and some bills underneath his glass.

Sorry I could not say goodbye. Here is some money for the check. Ada says goodbye as well and thank you for the Mac and cheese and being so pretty. I would be delighted if you would consider accompanying us tomorrow around the city.

T'Challa

His number scrawled at the bottom of the note sent fireworks straight to her eyes. Amani lifted the glass to find two hundred dollar bills. She smiled fondly before tucking the note in her back pocket. She quickly finished the tab and grabbed her order from the window.  She helped the rest of the staff to mop, sweep, stack chairs, clean dishes, put away dishes. As soon as the restaurant was locked up she waved goodbye to Mrs.Ella in the back and proceeded to hop and skip back to her car and speed home. Amani pulled up to her condo in the city her parents had given her before they passed. The young woman pulled off her shoes and walked up to the front steps. She placed her hand on the doorbell and let it scan her finger before opening the door. The off duty waitress placed her food in the microwave and blasted a Kendrick album before plopping onto the couch. She glanced at the clock before pulling out her phone. She quickly typed in T'Challa's number and typed a message.

Amani: Is this T'Challa? It's Amani, from The Lotus.

T'Challa: yes this is T'Challa. I'm so glad you texted me. I'm sorry to bother you but Ada would not stop talking about you. She would really like it if you could join us tomorrow.

Amani: just Ada?

T'Challa: We would both enjoy your company tomorrow.

Amani: Then I'd be delighted. What time?

T'Challa: 9:30 a.m. we do not wish to hold the masses back for long periods of time. We will pick you up.

The woman typed a quick goodnight. She made a point to text her little sister before grabbing her food and settling down with the music. The ping of her phone startled her. Licking her fingers she checked the clock and headed into the kitchen to grab her phone.

Amare: don't forget you promised to attend that after-party tonight. With mom and dad's work partners.

"Frick," Amani yelped hopping off of the couch. She was beyond late. She grabbed her phone and ran into her bedroom. A gown was hanging over her closet door. She grinned, knowing that Amare had left it there before she left. She took a quick shower, tried to refresh her hair, threw on some light makeup, and pulled on the dress. Texting a quick thank you to her sister, she searched for the invite email once again and decided her car would be faster than an Uber. Luckily the venue was downtown. Amani drove as fast as the floor-length gown and heels would let her. She skidded into the valet drive-in, tossed the young man her keys, took a deep breath, and glided her way into the lobby.

Once in the elevator she touched up her makeup, fluffed the braided twist out bun, and sighed. The doors dinged open and she glided into the ballroom. Immediately she was surrounded by her parent's former employees. She smiled, shook hands, took some press pictures, made a couple of statements to reporters, before taking refuge in the corner. The part-time waitress grabbed a flute of champagne to sip as she perused. One of her dad's partners smiled and moved in her direction. Mentally preparing for the longest conversation of her life, Amani took a long gulp of champagne. "Long time no see!" Harold Armon smiled. "Hello Mr. Armon," Amani rolled her shoulders back and plastered on a smile.

"How are you, dear girl? How is your little sister? Amira?" He reached out to touch her shoulder.

"Amare," the older sister corrected. "Right, right!" Harold beamed, squeezing the young woman's shoulder. Amani shrugged his hand off. "She's fine. She left this morning to finish off her second semester at MIT."

"That's brilliant, she always was bright like your father. Is she thinking about running the company when she comes of age?" he pried. Amani frowned, "No. Our parents always wanted us to choose our own route in life. She decided that she didn't want to run the business."

"That is too bad. I could have been a great help. You all could have relied on me to take over the business. Then you wouldn't have to worry your pretty little head about all the men's work-" Amani zoned out as the man tried to persuade her to appoint him to a top position. She already knew his game. These conversations were why she hated coming to the parties. 

When her parents had died unexpectedly, Amani and Amare had been thrown into the world of office politics. As soon as the plane crashed in that Pennsylvania field, her phone was flooded with calls. Her father's lawyers advised her not to talk to anyone until she and Amare were together. They brought, the then 15-year-old, Amare out of school and down to Atlanta. Within a matter of hours, Amani had to decide who would take over the company in her parent's absence. She promoted her father's CFO, and her mother's assistant. She made sure that she put money away for her and Amare to live on. Then she handed the company over, operationally at least. She and Amare were still obligated to show their faces, and be present at board meetings. They weren't required to vote, but when they did, their word was law. Hence the groveling, and somewhat misogynistic, man standing in front of her.

She nodded along, taking to chance to glance at her side, where she saw T'Challa. His suit immaculately pressed and tailored. A ring flashed on his left hand and Amani felt her heart drop slightly. She blushed when he looked up and noticed her staring, she waved before tuning back into Harold.

"Brookman's first-quarter report does not look like it will be that promising. I think that if I were in that position I would avoid this merger with Wakanda and their king-" The man faltered, and tripped over his words. His eyes going wide at something behind her. Turning to look Amani saw T'Challa walking towards them. She returned his smile when he moved to greet her. "Amani."

"T'Challa-"

"Your highness." Harold quickly dropped into a stiff bow. "There's no need for that. Mr.-" T'Challa laughed.

"Armon" Harold stuck out a hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Armon," T'Challa placed his hands behind his back, forcing his posture upright. Harold brought his own hand back into his side. "Do you mind if I borrow your conversation partner?"

"Oh well, we were-"

"I will make sure you get to see her before the night is over," T'Challa gripped Amani's hand and pulled her away. She gave Mr.Bowdman a quick goodbye before falling into step with T'Challa. "Thank you," Amani laughed while strolling with the man.

"I can always sense a damsel in distress."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. It's my superpower," the businessman whispered. Amani chuckled as she wrapped her arm through his. "Though I am surprised to see my waitress here. At the Okeke Tech Industries donor party."

"Are you suggesting that I cannot contribute based on my meager salary?"

T'Challa raised his hands in defeat, "I am merely suggesting that there is something you are not telling me, Amani." The undiscovered royal laughed.

"I believe that Ms.Okeke would be more formal T'Challa."

"Ah, you are the mysterious, and rumored to be beautiful, Okeke heiress.

"I wonder which of those intrigues you more. Beautiful or mysterious?" she teased.

"I quite prefer mysteries. Your beauty is just a bonus." The two smiled at each other. "It is nice to formally meet you, Ms. Okeke."

"What are you doing here?" Amani asked, grabbing a flute of champagne from the passing waiter. "I am here to check on my future assets. Make sure everything runs right."

"You're the one buying my parent's company?"

T'Challa winked, grabbing the flute of champagne from Amani and taking a sip. The woman blushed as he handed it back. "I was never told who the buyer was," Amani added, taking another sip from the same place on the glass. "His Majesty King T'Challa Udaku, at your service Ms. Okeke," the king bowed to kiss her hand. Amani choked a little, as the news slammed into her. "King?"

"Yes, please do try to keep up Ms.Okeke," The king chuckled while he grabbed a flute of champagne for himself. He extended his arm once more for the heiress and they continued to stroll about the room, eventually ending up on the balcony. They sat next to each other on a stone bench, each admiring the night sky. "You look beautiful tonight," T'Challa turned, staring at Amani's profile. "I've always been told starlight is my best light," Amani teased, blushing once her eyes met T'Challa's. She grabbed the king's cup and took a long drink.

The sounds of the party wrapping up brought both of them out of their isolated dream world. "May I walk you to your car?" T'Challa extended a hand to help Amani up and off of the bench. "If you would like," Amani smiled. The two walked side-by-side, bypassing anyone who wanted their attention. "Are we still on for tomorrow?" Amani broke the silence.

"Of course. I await our reunion with earnest."

"I guess I should text you my address then."

"I guess you should."

Amani pulled out her phone and quickly sent a text with her information. Placing her phone back in her purse, she looked up at the king. The valet pulled up with her car and she let her smile falter. "I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"I'll see you in the morning, Ms. Okeke." T'Challa smiled, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. She got into the car and sighed as it pulled away from the curb.

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