#op is really kind and shares it to everyone who asks!!!!

[accio-victuuri]

i am enjoying going through this tag on weibo #王八好好吃饭大赛# or turtle eating contest. it’s basically cpfs sharing cpn/candies/rumor. it’s a common expression among us that when there is a good cpn shared, comments will say something like : “i have eaten well.” so that’s where the tag comes from. i have to agree with the posts on this entry, it’s a paradise for cpn lovers.

i’m gonna share a few on here for everyone to have a good meal. i picked out more of the fake rumor kind of things, cause that is the majority and in shorter form that i can compile it. tho some did share proper cpn posts with explanations and all but i feel like i already have shared those here over the years. i can’t possibly put everything in that tag here, so i shared the web link for others to visit it too. ✌🏼

so anyway, enjoy! 🍚

⬇️⬇️⬇️

• When I graduated in 2021, my roommate went to Beijing for an internship, and their company took on an event and had contact with Bo. One day, she tagged me in a group of friends that she heard Bo send a voice message: Baobao, I'm going to work first, I'll call you after I finish (in a while)~ Then my roommates didn't believe it, because Bo was very cold on the surface, and then I dug out the behind-the-scenes footage: “Then you have to be nice to me~” and our group exploded.

• My friends, I brought it up again 😈 The original picture is from (2020) years ago, I can't stand it anymore - but I can't directly post the original picture of gzry sister, so I will just transcribe both pictures and relay them in text:

Wang Yibo is so bad. He was talking on the phone with Xiaozhan during dinner, and he deliberately turned on the speaker of his phone to play the game, and he was eating and teasing Xiaozhan.

Xiaozhan didn't know where he bumped into something, and he was still complaining to his husband on the phone when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was in a daze and had no idea that he turned on the speaker. Her voice was soft, and he spoke to Wang Yibo like a spoiled child: "It still hurts, it hurts so much"; Wang Yibo said: "I'll blow it for you", but Xiaozhan was still unhappy, and said directly: "Then you can't come..." His tone was even roundabout, and the rest of the staff who were eating lunch boxes at the table didn't dare to breathe.

This is exactly the daily complaints of gzry on both sides, hahaha [Too disgusting] [I really can't stand it] [Whoever wants this job can get it] [Ten thousand points of harm to single dogs]

FYI: for those who don’t know what GZRY means ⬇️

• W bought a new car some time ago. But X used this brand when he was working in Shanghai. The same car. It is not clear whether W bought the car for his wife.I'm going abroad to travel and temporarily give the car to my wife.

( basically saying that when WYB was away, XZ used his car for work. ya know. married behavior. also, it’s OP who used “wife”. I don’t see XZ as a wife. )

• Let me tell you an old story first. My best friend's friend (not a fan, just a good friend, but knows her best friend loves him very much) family is very powerful, living in the area where my IP is the highest level, just happened to be with that super famous host, everyone knows him, if Chong Er wants to release it, please help me to blur his name, otherwise this information is too directive, and you can tell who leaked it at a glance...

They are neighbors for many years, and the two families have a good relationship. One day, the host (this specific event should also be coded), invited this woman's family to a dinner party. This woman was curious because her best friend kept talking about it, so she couldn't help but ask the host if BoXiaowas really together, and then the host smiled, nodded to show affirmation, and said that their relationship was stable and they were living well now (2021 at that time). (I feel that the host probably thought she was a fan. At that time, because of the aftermath of the previous year, the situation was actually a bit subtle, at least not as good as it is now, so the host also specially comforted her and said not to worry, they are very happy now... Oh, I really feel bad for you again.)

• My good colleague told me that she had taken over a project and had a good relationship with one of the junior leaders of that project (they often worked together).

The project filmed an advertisement with Bobo. The young leader was standing not far from Bobo during the filming. He saw Bobo replying to WeChat messages, raised his phone, took a selfie and sent it to. The young leader saw that the WeChat note of the person Bobo was chatting with was Zhan Ge.

He said he knew something, but he signed an NDA. But he said, you can chase stars now.

• XZ makes cupcakes for WYB.

• My roommate's friend used to intern at a TV station and accompanied an artist (artist's name is sk) to record a program. My roommate asked her what was going on with Bo Jun Yi Xiao. The friend didn't support it, and replied very calmly, "Oh, no need to ask about them, it's true." Then the roommate asked her if Bo Jun Yi Xiao was a secret show. The friend said it was actually quite obvious, and everyone in the circle knew it.

• XZ cooks for WYB, and he shows it off among circle of friends. like the one below, it’s clearly for two people. caption is “do it yourself and live a comfortable life”

• XZ really likes WYB’s look in LOF. He often asked WYB to send videos when he is doing something on set and send it to him.

• I remembered another one. I was browsing Xiaohongshu and saw someone took a photo of a motorcycle on an elevated road in Beijing. Many people said it looked like Wang Yibo. I looked through the comments and there was a reply that said it was not Wang Yibo. Many people asked why you said it was not Wang Yibo. The blogger of that comment said that the license plate numbers of Wang Yibo's two motorcycles did not match. Then some people went to his homepage and found out that he was a CP fan (in fact, he just posted a human-shaped stand of cql). The person’s homepage looked very rich. Some people said that the sister was stupid and had a lot of money, but she still supported this kind of CP, which was obviously fake. The sister replied that she was sick. Who would support the CP of their colleagues? Bao Bao, think about it carefully.

Another one is a stalker I followed before who only had a few fans. His Weibo location was also in Beijing. He had previously sent a bouquet of flowers saying that it was received by XZ on Chinese Valentine's Day. Later I checked and found that the flower shop was less than 1 km away from Wang Yibo's home.

( the OP is implying that these fake accounts are yibo. especially the 2nd one. )

• Last year, I was in charge of operating their Weibo account ( company name redacted ) . My mentor once noticed that I was wearing the same short-sleeved shirt as Wang Yibo and asked me if I was his fan. I said that I was not only his fan... He immediately understood and said that what you like is quite accurate, and that he has a really special relationship with that person (XZ) . I got excited and asked him why he said that! He said that he only jumped to it in 2023, and had been there before. He also participated in the interview for The Untamed in 2019, and he even found a picture of him and Bo Xiao in the same frame and showed it to me. During the promotion of the drama, their colleagues discussed their relationship with each other. A male colleague who had been in the group before said that they had dated, but he didn’t know what happened afterwards.

• I'm here! Although it's not very direct information, I just want to talk about the semi-publicity of the two of them in the industry.

I used to work in the industry. Because I was in an art school, many of my classmates were in the industry. I first knew about them in 2019, which was relatively early. At that time, 9xue was on the hot search, and I clicked in to take a look, but I didn’t think that their relationship was bad, I just felt it was weird. We even discussed in the dormitory whether this was a good relationship or not, and finally concluded that they couldn’t be pure colleagues. After a while, my college roommate went to an internship at a production company. After a period of internship, he came back and suddenly said to me: My God, do you know who is real with whom? I said, are you crazy? She said it was the producer sister of their company who said it, and she directly said that they lived on the upper and lower floors (now I think it should be jmf) Then I was very curious because I really hadn’t seen a real gay in the domestic entertainment industry. I watched the materials all night and officially fell in love with it.

Later, I found a job in the industry. I can only say that if you reveal your fan status a little, someone will suddenly say to you in casual conversation: "Oh, you like him, hey, did you know that he and that person are really together?" "Did you know that they were really dating?" "Did you like them before you knew they were really together?" There are so many things like this.

• When Xiao Zhan was on the set of The Untamed, Wang Yibo brought out a box of self-heating hotpot to eat. Xiao Zhan was afraid of getting fat and didn't dare to eat it. Wang Yibo prepared a box and was ready to eat. At this time, Xiao Zhan took Wang Yibo's chopsticks and said he wanted to taste it. Wang Yibo asked Xiao Zhan if he was hungry and if he wanted him to get a box. Xiao Zhan said no, and then you and I ate half of Wang Yibo's box of self-heating hotpot... In the middle, Wang Yibo said that he would gain weight~ Xiao Zhan pretended not to hear it. At the end of the meal, Wang Yibo wanted to drink the soup. Xiao Zhan said don't drink it because it's too oily. In the end, the two of them ate it all.

( lol this one is funny 😂😂😂 )

• Aren’t there a lot of bugs in the crew? I like to play with bugs. One time, Bobo ran and said, “Take it away, take it away.”

XZ said to WYB as a joke: "If you say that, the little bug will also feel sad."

In fact, hus tone was obviously teasing, and WYB was stunned for a moment, thinking. Seeing that WYB was stunned, XZ quickly said to him, "Okay, let's let it go back. Do you want to say goodbye to him?"

Then WYB said: Goodbye (waved)

XZ smiled and said, "Don't you have anything to say to it?" WYB: "Then you better not come tomorrow."

( WYB is so cuteeee 🥹🥹🥹🥹 )

• My friend is doing postgraduate study at China University of Political Science and Law, and her classmate is doing internship at a small court. A few days ago, I found out that her brother and younger brother sued the same company together and used the same agent. Since it's not an online infringement case, I guess XZS and YBO won't issue a statement.

• They were all from Day Day Up in 2019. I had a sister who was an agent. She was familiar with gzry from Mango TV in 2019.

Then they said that the two of them were very sweet backstage, and the gzrys commented that it was filled with the sweet atmosphere of bringing a wife home. At that time, it was said that Wang Yibo twisted the bottle of mineral water for Xiao Zhan and handed it to him, and many people were cheering. Then it was said that after the rehearsal, Wang Yibo took Xiao Xiao for a ride on a small motorcycle. That motorcycle had only carried Han Ge before.

• My sister is an advertising employee. It should be in 2020, when her colleague was sending products, she found that Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan’s external delivery address was the same (they were not endorsements in the same period, and when sending to one person, they found that the address was duplicated and sent to another person)

• they have been playing tennis together in a club in Beijing. Also played badminton. It's not this year, it's the first half of last year.

sources: one and two

[jubileeeeee]

I realized I was being a hypocrite by always drawing and encouraging people with their tf ocs and being too shy to share my own soooo.

this is Peril !!! She's an autobot special ops agent who deals in espionage and lives for the thrill of the hunt. Her design is meant to convey a nonspecific predator, though I like to call her coyote-like. Her alt-mode is a stealth bike ! she looks kinda scary and mean but actually she's the chillest ever, has a great sense of humor and knows how to have fun. She's also just really good at her job and takes it very seriously. (and she likes intimidating people bc she thinks its really funny that they're scared of her)

Peril works in a team of three, consisting of herself and 2 minibots she's taken in and personally trained- Kit and Spotter, who act as combat medic and reconnaissance respectively !

Kit is curious, soft-spoken but easily excitable, and always strives to make the lives of the bots around them a little bit easier, any way they can. When not acting as a battlefield medic, they serve as an assistant to the bigger medics. They turn into a medical droid that can compact into a portable med kit to be carried! They're loosely designed like a beetle

Spotter is incredibly observational, notices everything, sees all, and uses it to absolutely terrorize everyone. A horrible little prankster, he gets along well with Whirl. She didn't undergo empurata, she just looks like that lol. Her eye functions like a camera shutter. His favorite activities include lurking in shadows, annoying kit, and driving everyone insane. And then acting like a perfect angel in front of Peril. She turns into a security drone/camera and is designed after dragonflies !!

there's my team !!! They're a found family and I love them dearly <333 if you would be so kind as to prompt me to yap abt them more, my ask box is open....

[moxanji-real]

💖Introduction 💖

Banner arts are made by grubcakes

Before you interact PLEASE remember OP is very uncomfortable with NSFW. No NSFW jokes on OP’s posts or NSFW dm’s. Please respect OP’s BOUNDARIES.

Hi there! Welcome to my blog! I’m probably one of most dedicated Sanji selfshippers you’ll ever come across. This space is entirely centered around my relationship with Sanji, so thank you for stopping by and checking it out!

💖 Hi! You can call me Moxie or Fork

| they/them, she/her| 18 | Bi ficto | irl lesbian | autistic | Extrovert ☀️

Self shipper • Artist • Writer • Sanji lover since 2014

(Disclaimer) If we were mutuals and you noticed I have unmutualed you it’s probably because you were interacting with that one Goemon double of mine who makes me super uncomfortable. I’ve unmutualed a lot of people recently because of that. I’m not gonna let people break my boundaries any more for them. ^^

💘 I’ve been in love with Sanji since I was 8. He’s my F/O, my soulmate, and the heart of this blog. I truly believe I’m Sanji’s partner. If that bothers you, please just block me. No hard feelings, I just want to keep this space safe and comfy.

🍓 I kin my OC Moxie, who could also be considered a self insert, but she was originally created as an OC. I post from her perspective often because it makes my self ship more personal and fun.

🧁 This blog is completely SFW. I do not want sexual comments, jokes, or DMs. I’m not comfortable with that kind of content. Please be respectful. I’m okay with interacting with blogs who post nsfw things as long as they tag their stuff properly.

🥐 I’m non sharing with Sanji when it comes to people I don’t know and mirror sharing to people I’m friends with! Or people willing to be friends! If you’re my friend then I have no reason to be uncomfortable with you liking Sanji. But if you’re not I’ll be SUPER uncomfortable. (Also if I reach out to you first that means I think you’re chill and wanna be friends) That’s how my brain works. I only feel comfortable sharing Sanji with people who see me as a friend or want to be a friend. Doubles can interact if you’re kind and respectful, but do not interact if you’re another non sharing Sanji self shipper or if you’re mutuals with one. Also DNI if you make or reblog OC x Canon ship art of Sanji (unless they’re my mutuals I share with then it’s chill!) but yeah I sorta have this unspoken rule with my closer non sharing mutuals. I won’t reblog or interact with their doubles if they don’t reblog/interact with mine. Cause I think it’s kinda dumb if I ask this of people and I don’t return the favor. Just wanna keep everyone happy and also myself <3

🌷 I reblog my mutuals often, create F/O imagines, and love making community-based content. I’m a very loving and supportive person—if you support me, I’ll support you right back.

👐 Mutuals are allowed to dm me! It doesn’t have to be for any big reason! I’m free to chat and I won’t get weirded out, I promise! I appreciate you all so much!

🫶 Asks are open! I love meeting fellow self shippers and One Piece fans. Don’t be shy, I’m super friendly and always happy to chat.

🎀 I’m a very easy person to mutual with. You don’t need to be intimidated with me XD. BUT- I will say I only follow back self shippers. If it’s not clear you’re a self shipper in the account you followed me with I won’t follow back. Also I rarely follow people first because I hate the horrible feeling of people not following me back. (Literally ruins my self esteem) But I promise if you if you read my bio and respect my dni I will probably mutual you, however I am super loyal to my nonsharing friends so if you are a double of them I might not follow back. Anyways yeah you don’t need to be super popular or whatever to be mutuals with me. I really don’t care if I’m being honest. I just like nice people shshs.

🩺⚔️ I also have two other F/Os: Leorio (HxH) and Goemon (Lupin III) — they’re both my mains too!

I made dedicated accounts to gush about my self ships with them:

Leorio account: leorioscanonwife

Goemon account: samurai-wife

I’m HARDCORE non sharing with both of them, and I ask that anyone who ships with Leorio or Goemon not interact with this account or my other accounts too. I might be more lenient with Sanji and will share Sanji with friends or people willing to be friends but I don’t make exceptions with Goemon or Leorio. Sorry.

🛑 Do not interact if:

• You support incest, zoo ships, or pedo ships in fiction (and of course in real life too oh my gosh)

• You are mainly a NSFW blog and don’t tag your stuff

• You make or reblog NSFW content of Sanji especially without tags

• You reblog OC x Canon or self ship art of Sanji (if the person is my friend it’s okay. If they’re not I’ll probably be uncomfortable) Canon x Canon ships with Sanji are fine! Except Sanji x Pudding. (That ship makes me very uncomfortable)

• You are or are mutuals with another non sharing Sanji self shipper (please please please this is a big one. My non sharing Sanji doubles make me incredibly uncomfortable and I wanna stay as far away from them as possible! Please don’t expose me to their content! Also I’m sure that being my mutual makes them uncomfortable too. I doubt they wanna see my stuff as well 😭💔)

• You are a Leorio Paradinight or Goemon Ishikawa XIII Selfshipper or do oc x canon with them. Also if you reblog content or are friends with other Leorio or Goemon Selfshippers. People keep ignoring this one. Please this is the most important one. And yes this still counts even if you reblog stuff that’s not of their ship with Goemon or Leorio. You are exposing me to doubles. I don’t wanna be exposed to doubles. I will FREAK out. Not doing this to be gatekeepy, but to protect my mental health. I wanna be as far away from doubles of my f/o’s as possible.

• You hate non sharers. I’m a non sharer and I hardcore support other non sharers. Please don’t follow me if you are against us.

✨ Tags:

#moxanji (self ship tag)

#moxie rambles i guess

#moxie gushes

#moxie art

#moxie’s platonic f/os

#my otp (others self ships)

#my three soulmates🌟 (when I post about all 3 of my men at once)

⭐️ My platonic F/Os are:

Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe, Zeff, Ivankov, All of Moxie’s brothers

Tagged under:

#moxie’s platonic f/os

#moxie’s brothers

#moxie loves her crew

⚠️ If I ever say or do something wrong, please kindly tell me. I prefer communication over blocking. I’m always open to growing and being better. Also 9/10 times I will admit I’m wrong. So if i did something to upset you please let me know so I can apologize to you. I genuinely HATE getting blocked especially if there’s a way I can avoid it and make you happy instead. And yes this applies if you are a close friend or a stranger. Even if I don’t know you this rule still applies. I’m a super flawed person, so of course I’m gonna make mistakes from time to time, but please help me learn from them if you can. :’}

Moxanji fanfics

Forever Yours,Stinky Baby

The Touch Starved Firecracker

A Confession I Couldn’t Take Back

Aurai Island: Love, Lizards, and Longing

Love At The Floating Restaurant (Part 1)

Love At The Floating Restaurant (Part 2)

[ihavesimpedovermanyfictionalmen]

Hi can you do a fluffy where austin and reader fell in love while shooting caught stealing and they are on their press tour together and the people are starting to speculate about their relationship through their chemistry and when austin is in a talk show to promote he gets emotional while talking about her which basically confirms their relationship and please make it in an austin pov

I can certainly try! I hope I did you justice!? 🙏

Unscripted

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ᴀᴜꜱᴛɪɴ ʙᴜᴛʟᴇʀ x ꜰᴇᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: fluff... i think that's it

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: The Request :)

a/n - the fact that i started writing on tumblr because I wanted to write smut and I don't know how to is crazy. so you're all getting fluff and cringe for a while. :)

 °。°。°。°。°。°。°。゜。°。°。 °。°。°。°。°。°。°。゜。°。°。

The press tour for Caught Stealing has been a whirlwind. Every red carpet, every interview, every photo op feels like it's a blur of bright lights and eager questions. But amidst all of that chaos, there's one thing that keeps me grounded: her. Y/N.

When we first met on set, I didn’t expect what would come next. Sure, I knew we’d have a strong connection, we always do when you’re working with someone as talented and as easy to talk to as her. But it wasn’t just chemistry in front of the camera—it was real. It was magic. And now, with every interview we do together, it’s hard not to notice the way our laughter feels a little louder, the way our conversations drift from script lines to something more personal. The way I can’t help but look at her when she speaks, the way she’s become my favorite person to share a quiet moment with.

But the thing is, we’ve been so careful. The fans—they are the ones who have started to notice. The way we interact on stage, the shared glances, the subtle touches. They’re picking up on what I’ve been trying to keep under wraps, trying to protect. I know it's not like we’ve been hiding it—it’s just... complicated, you know?

So there I am, sitting on a talk show, trying to keep it together. The host, ever the professional, starts talking about our on-screen chemistry in Caught Stealing and then... then she brings up the rumors. The fans speculating. The comments flooding in on Twitter. She flashes a cheeky grin, making some joke about whether or not there’s something more between Y/N and me, and I can feel the heat rising in my chest.

And I try to laugh it off, I really do. I say something about how we’re just great friends, how lucky I am to work with such a talented actress, but my voice shakes a little. Damn it, I can't lie about this. Not when she’s sitting in the room, when all I can think about is her smile, the way she makes everything feel light and easy.

The host presses on, asking if there’s any truth to the rumors, and suddenly I feel everything I’ve been holding inside come rushing to the surface. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but then the words come tumbling out—unfiltered.

"I—" I pause, swallowing, my heart beating too fast. "I don’t know how to explain it... But, yeah, we have something special. I think anyone who’s watched us together can see it. She’s... she’s the kind of person that makes everything better. She’s been my support, my best friend, and, yeah, I’m in love with her. I’ve been in love with her for a while now."

The room is still silent for a beat, and I can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. It’s the kind of silence that feels like it might stretch forever. I glance towards the camera, then back at the host, trying to collect myself. But then I see her face in my mind—Y/N’s. The way she’s always been there for me, not just on set, but in every small moment. The late-night talks, the quiet moments when no one’s watching, when we can just be ourselves.

But then I see it. See her. Y/N, watching from backstage on a monitor, her eyes wide and bright, her lips curving into a smile. I can practically hear her laugh, that soft, sweet laugh I’ve come to adore, and I don’t know how to stop the rush of emotions that flood my chest.

She’s the reason I’m here, the reason I can’t stop smiling no matter how crazy this all gets. The fans might have known before I did, but now, there's no hiding it anymore.

And then the host smiles, breaking the tension, her voice soft but knowing. "That’s beautiful, Austin. And I think we can all see it—the chemistry between you two is undeniable."

My breath catches. She’s not wrong. The way we laugh together, the way we finish each other’s sentences. It’s like we’ve known each other for years, and yet it feels so new, so fresh. I catch myself grinning at the thought of her, wishing she were here right now, maybe sitting right next to me.

“I think I’ve said enough,” I say, my voice softer now. "But the truth is, I’m lucky to have her in my life. I never expected this to happen, but I wouldn’t change it for the world."

There’s a pause, and I see the host nodding, clearly understanding what I mean. The camera zooms in just a bit closer, as if trying to capture every word I’ve said, but for some reason, it doesn’t matter. All I can think about is her.

And then the show moves on, as it always does. But as the lights dim and the interview wraps up, I know one thing for sure: this isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.

And when I see Y/N later, when she steps into the room with that familiar smile, the one that always makes my heart skip, I know she feels it too. No more hiding, no more pretending. The world might’ve just found out, but we’ve been living this truth for a while now, and nothing else matters.

I’m in love with her. And it’s the most real thing I’ve ever felt.

[shinwonderful]

Freedom of Choice

prologue to Heavy is the Heart (That Wears the Crown) [masterlist coming soon]

part of you hoped you'd be able to avoid this aspect of royalty, but it was inevitable. they would never allow the sole heir to the kingdom of evermoor to remain unmarried. all you can hope for is that one of the suitors you meet will be the true love you've always dreamt of.

⁺✦ seventeen x reader (cyoa style!) ⁺✦ word count: 3.3k ⁺✦ genre: historical, kind of a mix of everything lol ⁺✦ warnings: shitty parents, forced marriage, mention of being pressured into intimacy, i promise i'm not a royalist i just think historical stories of nobility are v romantic

જ⁀➴┊ [🐈] happy valentine's day!! this series has been in the works since november, and i'm so excited to finally post the prologue! this series has come to be very close to my heart, and i'm really excited to share it with you guys!

special thanks to @lovewithoutresin my beautiful bestie for editing and writing the dialogue for the reader's Handmaiden! I love that this series has a piece of you in it too MWAH!!

the prologue and a certain upcoming chapter are dedicated to the lovely @ylangelegy for inspiring me to pick up writing (on tumblr) again after nearly a decade (christ alive i'm old. 💀). if they hadn't been so supportive and expressed interest in this story, i'd likely not have written it. happy valentine's day ilysbbbb

dividers by saradika!

each chapter of this series will have a (relatively lol) period-accurate theme and costume.

this chapter's theme is Fauré: Après un Rêve (ca. 1870).

"A song about devotion and passion. The dreamer yearns for the return of her dreams, in which she met her love: ‘In sleep made sweet by a vision of you’."

the costume for this chapter is this gorgeous afternoon dress (ca. 1835) from the met museum archives.

“All we ask is that you keep an open mind.”

The rattle of the carriage wheels against the meticulously hand-paved road beneath your fancifully cushioned seat was, perhaps, the only thing keeping you grounded at the moment. You could do little but curse them internally, knowing putting up a fight was… tragically futile.

“How do you mean, Mother?”

You already knew the answer to this question, but it bought you a bit of time to school your reaction, to use your decades of lessons in decorum to keep your actual thoughts and feelings from clawing themselves out of your mouth.

After all, for God’s sake, how could they expect you to choose a husband on this supposed ‘diplomatic tour’?

You’d, of course, rolled your eyes when your Handmaiden had told you of their plans (though a much more tumultuous emotion stirred behind your sardonic response). Your parents hadn’t even afforded you the courtesy of a conversation before making arrangements for the tour. Instead, the news was broken only after your Handmaiden heard the rumors in whispers that echoed through the long, hollow halls of your castle. (Pro Tip: Having a best friend on your staff never stops being helpful.) You knew what this was, and it wasn’t simply diplomatic. At least, not in the usual sense.

You knew what this was– everyone did. You were of the age where courtiers began to whisper about your lack of husband, gossiping about why the Crown Heir of Evermoor had yet to even begin the courting process. Why so many requests for meetings had gone politely rejected.

The truth was much less salacious than popular theory– as is usually the case. Quite simply, you’ve just yet to meet an eligible bachelor that doesn’t make you physically recoil at the prospect of being wed to them. Between the Dukes whose eyes on your female staff were… less than respectful and Counts who couldn’t make it longer than thirty seconds without saying something to stroke their own egos, you’d rather shovel the stables by hand than meet with any prospects for the time being.

There had been a close call once, just a few months back, where you’d met with a neighboring King who was charming enough at first. That is, of course, until the bastard had tried to pressure you into necking with him after dinner one night. You sent him packing on the spot. And your parents, the Queen and King, were irate. Apparently, not offending the royal family was more important than your honor.

Which, tragically, prompted them to force your hand into embarking on what would be your ‘grand tour’ throughout the nearby kingdoms. Officially, it was a tour to introduce you as the Crown Royal to your (pre-established and potential alike) ally’s own Royal Families. To establish a line of communication and get to know each other sooner rather than later. But none were gullible enough to miss the writing on the wall. You were unmarried, and most of the kingdoms you’d be visiting had unmarried royal sons of their own to offer. After all, for a royal as high-ranking as yourself, it’s most appropriate for you to marry other ‘high-value’ royalty. Those who would be Counts in their own right someday, some even Kings. Any children born would rule over both domains, doubling your families’ power and influence in the realm. (And that was all anything was ever about. Cue eye roll.)

Perhaps you’d have fought harder if you thought there was the slimmest chance of getting your way, but… why kid yourself? This was an inevitable. Since you were young, you’d known your fate would be that of most born of noble blood. To be used as a bargaining chip, a pawn in someone else’s game– one neither of you had elected to play.

Sure, there had been a time many years ago where you’d find yourself in despair over this. Growing up, your favorite stories were the ones told of love triumphing over all. You’d go to your balcony in the dead of night, wishing to any power that could hear you to be one of the lucky ones. For you to have the chance at a marriage of love. A husband you chose not because of the family crest he bore, but for the tender affection he showed you. The way he lit up your world, coloring your bluest nights into the tender pinks of the sunrise. Someone who was well and truly yours, divorced from the way nobility are traded like commodities, but how love brings two souls into one, merging until you can’t remember where you end and he begins. A love like poetry. A love worth writing about.

But those days were long behind you. Even the most hopeless of all romantics can’t resist the effects of erosion, the cynical waves of the ocean clawing at the coast until even something so eternal as the Earth itself gives way, becoming part of the ocean it once fought to resist so vehemently. Holding onto that optimism… at some point begins to hurt you more than it helps you. And so you, once as steady as the Earth in your quest for love, you surrendered to cynicism just as steadily, until you, too, found it hard to believe that love in the pure sense even existed at all. 

Of course, those were the times when your Equerry would ask you to accompany him on a trip to the local market. After all, none could read you quite like him. It came with the territory– his job, of course, to be your shadow. To care for you, and to watch over you. And he took his role very seriously. To him, this meant to help you through not just your meetings with the steward, but also to watch for signs that your spirits need lifting (despite this not technically being in his duties). And seeing how your mouth twitched into a frown any time someone mentioned the concept of love the past few months? He didn’t have to be a scholar to read you.

So he pulled you into the castle’s preferred bakery, calling for Mister and Missus Kim and producing a beaming smile when the pair came out from the back to say hello. The couple’s eyes shined every time they looked at one another, and the three of them talked about the castle’s weekly order as you watched from near the door, mindlessly eyeing the pastries on display in the cabinet, trying to ignore the way your chest fluttered just being around something so beautiful. She held a toddler on her hip, and the moment it crossed your mind that she was looking tired from holding the boy, her husband instinctively grabbed him, placing him to lay upon his own chest instead. It was as if they had their own language, something silent but incredibly tangible that tied them together. And it was a sight to behold.

Your heart felt much less heavy on the ride home, your eyebrows quirked in thoughtful wishing instead of the bitter resignation they tended towards. Your Equerry said nothing, his hands smoothing against the hat he’d placed on his lap as he smiled softly. He didn’t need your words to know he’d done well, even if he would love to hear them. But alas, the you of the present day was much too timid to speak what was on your mind. The thoughts were much too soft for someone who was to someday rule over this nation. But maybe, you thought, maybe you were what was too soft. Maybe fate had played a cruel joke in making you the only one who could govern your beloved country once your parents no longer could. Maybe it was all a fool’s errand.

Because you couldn’t help but feel that… perhaps you’ll never be lucky enough to possess a love of your own, but you’re more sure than you’ve ever been that love is one of the finest things humanity has to offer– so real, so tangible that it shone through the dark clouds hanging over your head. And you’d do anything it took to feel its embrace, even for the smallest moment in time.

It was hard to contend with the idea people had in their head about you at times. To them, you were the Crown Heir of Evermoor. Sole Heir at that. Flowers bloomed bright the day you were born, and (according to folklore) it’s impossible for a flower to wilt if it’s been blessed by your presence.

You care deeply for your nation, making certain your Equerry schedules an allotment every few weeks for you to visit the capital’s town square, relishing in the bustle of the city and the chatter of those hard at work, or those working to forget their hard day at work. But when they notice you, they’re quick to forget what they were doing. Instead, they either gawk openly, or rush to have their moment with you. Something they’ll remember for a lifetime; ‘the time the Crown Royal complimented my pelerine’ or ‘the time I made the Crown Royal smile by presenting them with a rose’. 

But at home? You’re just… you.

You’re sprawled out over your plush bed, dressed down to your chemise and pantaloons as your Handmaiden helped you sneak a second dessert to share, shutting the door to your quarters quietly as she, too, leapt to join you in your bed with a mischievous smile (though there was an unspoken tension in the air that neither of you cared to address just yet). Your hair hit your shoulders in what were once carefully-manicured curls that had loosened throughout the day. If it were anyone else, you’d be shamed for the lewdness of this moment, but this was another perk to having your best friend as your Handmaiden. With her, this was perfectly appropriate. Even if it wasn’t technically in the spirit of the rules.

The upcoming months hung over you like a death sentence. Tonight would be one of your last as a single person, one of the last you’d not be betrothed– or worse, married. At the end of the week, you’d be leaving on your tour. Leaving the only home you’d ever known to stay at palace after palace belonging to strangers who intended to sell you on their sons. And if there’s one thing you knew; the only thing more formidable than your citizens competing for your attention is dozens of nobles doing the same. At least your people had some sense of dignity.

Today was one of the last nights you’d be free to kid yourself into believing that, by some miracle, you’d get the fairytale ending you’ve always dreamed of. Because once you left the borders of Evermoor, there would be no returning without the burden of a ring on your finger, its center stone heavy with insurmountable expectations and a destiny you’d never get to seek.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the loud clink of a fork on your Handmaid's plate– a clearly theatrical gesture. 

“So?” She sat her plate aside without looking away from you. When you gave her no indication that you knew what she was about to broach, she continued, her voice casual and innocent. “How long were you planning on moping about for? I just mean to ensure we stay on schedule.” 

Eyes still trained on the plate of Ratafia Cake in front of you, you couldn’t help the smile that tugged at one corner of your mouth. You gave her a thoughtful hum. “I was thinking… maybe a couple more decades? Don’t want to overdo it, of course.” You looked to her with a facetious grin.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t buying it. “That sounds about right. I wouldn’t want to waste any more precious time I can’t get back either.” She kept the dry tone, but there was evident concern on her features. Perhaps a bit of frustration as well. 

Your smile faltered, the truth in her words hitting a little too close to the truth for comfort. You resorted to pushing your cake around on the small saucer, the prospect of eating suddenly much less alluring as the truth settled in your stomach like a stone. Your voice came out barely over a whisper; “What else can I do? It's not as if I have any say in the matter. I've pushed this off as long as I can. My parents…” You take an exasperated breath, “They aren’t going to budge this time.”

The pretense was dropped then, and she shifted to get comfortable, tone more serious. “I know. It's not fair the way this is happening. I hope you know I am really sorry about that.” 

“I just… don't think that the way you're thinking about this is really helpful to you.” She looked off, thought for a moment, then turned back to pick the situation apart. “We can't change the situation. So the way I see it, you have a few options here.”

You placed the cake to the side then, shifting to lean against the bedpost. Part of you felt the urge to dig in your heels, to protest, but unfortunately one of your best friend’s qualities happens to be that she’s almost always right about these things. So instead, you bite your tongue, nodding for her to continue.

“Option One; you go on the tour. You grin and bear it with the suitors. And really, you’ll only be with each of them for a short time. So if they’re that terrible, you’ll be out soon enough. Don’t worry about months or years from now– just focus on getting through this part. One step at a time.” She picked up her cake again, taking a shamelessly large bite and swallowing it quickly.

“I hate that you’re being made to choose this. But think of it this way: you do get a choice if you go. You can at least focus on trying to influence things to make your life easiest. And maybe you will end up liking someone, at least enough to try. I mean, the odds are one of them won’t be completely insufferable. And if they all are, I promise to let you mope until the end of time, okay?”

That has you laughing again, turning to look at her fully. “Careful; I may actually take you up on that. I really think I’ve yet to fully realize my true potential in the field of being annoying. And as my Handmaiden, you have special privileges as my guinea pig for just that.” You give her an easy smile, leaning on one side while you pick up your cake once more.

But as you take another bite, you ponder her words carefully. As suspected, she was right once again. Most noblewomen are not as lucky as you’ve been. You made it this far without being betrothed, and even then your parents are still allowing you the choice of who to marry instead of forcing someone upon you. So while the situation is certainly unideal… she’s right to say that you still have some freedom of choice. And while small, it’s best to count your blessings whenever they come, lest it drive you mad.

“You’re right.” You pause, trying to find a way to say what you mean without sounding naive. Or worse, corny. “What I want may be out of question, but I suppose any choice is better than none.” You furrow your brow for a moment, lost in thought. “Perhaps… some of these suitors also mourn this choice. Love may be off the table, but… perhaps we can be friends–” You pause once more, laughing softly. “–who just so happen to be married.”

You’re not sure why it took you so long to reach this conclusion. After all, noble as they may be, these suitors are human just as you are. Each of them have their own thoughts, goals, desires, dreams. And perhaps, like yours, theirs is also stifled by this imposed choice. Perhaps.

“Exactly,” she replied, face brightening a bit at your change in tone. “And… well, who knows?” She shrugged, not going any further into the thought. “At any rate, it won’t necessarily hurt to have a partner in crime.” 

“My, my– are you suggesting that I replace you now?” You tease her.

“Right. So what's Option Two, then?”

“Option Two; we let the kingdom burn, run away in the night and live on the lam. That one has a few kinks to work out.” She played it as straight as she could, but it was obvious from her face that she was trying to be funny. 

Your laughter comes out in a snort, her words catching you by surprise. “You know what? I'm half tempted to take you up on that. But I don't think Mr. Stick-in-the-mud Equerry would go for it. Tragic.”

“Oh, forget him,” she said lightly. “We can do it on our own.” She finished the last bite of her dessert.

You try to ignore the way you immediately feel guilty imagining the expression on your Equerry's face if he knew the details of this conversation. Even tonight, you had to practically beg him to take the night off so you could have this time with your Handmaiden. He's been practically glued to your side since the news of your fate reached him, ever protective of you. He means well, but… a girl needs to breathe sometimes. You can only imagine what he'd do, how he'd feel if you fled. You scrunch up your face apologetically at your Handmaiden, still smiling. “Sorry. Maybe next time.”

She laughs, shaking her head at you softly. “Seriously, though. Just try, okay? There must be some part of this that could work out for good.”

As you, too, finish the last bit of your cake, you nod solemnly in return. “Alright. I'll… try. But only because you asked me to.” You answer with an air of drama. “We should both hope this goes well. After all, he’ll soon be your problem just as much as he’ll be mine. It's your neck on the block too,” You joke.

“Don't I know it,” she replied, and collected the dish back from you. “And God help us both.”

“We just don’t want you to be so… dismissive. Alright, dear? Give them a chance. They just might surprise you. You’ve been so picky, and we won’t tolerate a repeat of last time.”

The words of your Father hit your ears like an arrow, and you’re rearing back to spit a harsh retort when you feel your Equerry place a steadying hand on your shoulder, just out of view of your parents across from you both. Looking at him, he gives you a sympathetic smile that does little to alleviate your anger, but it succeeds in holding you back if only because you hate fighting with your parents in front of him. (It stresses him out having to play the middle-man when he wants to have your back with no question.)

So you take a deep breath, letting your Father’s words linger in the air of the carriage, which suddenly felt hopelessly stuffy.

It wasn’t fifteen minutes later that the carriage slowed to a stop, signaling the end of your journey to meet the first of your suitors. Your heartbeat quickened, and as your attendant opened the door to the carriage, the sun pricked at your eyes.

While you waited as your eyes adjusted to the darkness, you noticed an unfamiliar hand reaching into your carriage, offering for you to grab to assist you out. “May I help you, Your Highness?”

And though it felt like diving into frigid waters in the black of night, you took the stranger’s hand.

[tenjikufag]

Silly ask but, is it alright to request to see a Laios x male Reader story, where the reader is a transman? Maybe to how Laios would react to that information or how the reader would go about/could bring that up to Laios, esp for how scary it is to bring it up to a loved one. …and possibly for it to be fluffy/smut (stupidly sweet kind…?), fluff (maybe angst if you wanna throw in some tussle XD) will do just as good :}

Thank you if you see this! I enjoy what you make!! :D

No Problem.

Laios Touden x Trans!Male Reader

-fluff, light angst, comfort, ftm!reader, afab anatomy mentions, coming out, pre-op reader (no top/bottom surgery), hrt characteristics (T-Dick), fluffy smut

-(please proceed with caution if you are uncomfortable with said topics x.)

-thank you for the request, sorry it took so long to get around to. This man would be the most supportive and loving partner.

Listen, in a world where there are a thousand or more different races, anthropomorphic beings, monsters, magic, cults and guilds- being trans really isn’t that big of a deal or even something to blink twice at.

That doesn’t make it any easier though, coming out, even with all the “diversity” an ever present looming prejudice and bigotry was held among the heads of said margins- the ones who have managed to fall through the cracks of what had been somehow deemed ‘normal’ in this world..

It’s scary.

Especially when it comes to your relationship with Laios.

No, you doubt he’d hold any form of hatred or even really.. care about someone coming out to him. But that was just the problem, it almost felt like an unpredictability in his ways of emoting or showing how he reacts.

What if he didn’t accept it? What if he really did care about you not having “the right parts”…

You weren’t sure, really.

And that’s why you’d put it off for so long.

You’d been with Laios for some time now, but most of it was spent in dungeon and when you’d resurface neither of you had any of the energy to actually get physical aside from hugs and brief cuddling before he overheated and moved away in his sleep.

He hadn’t felt the layers you wore to conceal what you deemed a “secret”, neither him or the party ever seeing you without a shirt or even naked despite all the shared baths and such. Never once had they’d managed to catch you in a “slip up” of revealing yourself.

Also, why the hell would you drop such a comment and come out in the middle of the dungeon?! Who does that? Definitely not you, if it were to go sideways who’s to say they wouldn’t tie you up in vines and leave you to the giant frogs to eat?

None of them would be that cruel, you knew that. It was still hard, though.

Everyone knew you as a guy, you are a guy, your secondary characteristics prominent from the lapsed time on testosterone. It was easy to “pass” and you were worried.. really. It ate at you, even if in reality you didn’t exactly owe non-intimate partners your bodies explanation, Laios was the outlier.

An intimate partner, a boyfriend.. you’d wanted more and you knew he did too.

It felt all too difficult to do, dozens upon dozens of scenarios playing out in your hypothetical coming out but you wouldn’t know the true outcome until you actually.. told him.

—

Picking at the hem of your shirt, Laios came into your bedroom changed into his freshly washed sleep wear. His eyes scanned you, a soft smile on his lips as he slid into the bed- laying himself beside you.

You knew his next move was to wrap his arms around your waist but you needed some space to tell him. It hurt your heart a fair bit when Laios looked up at you like a whining puppy when you moved away from him..

“Are you okay?”

He asked, eyebrows crossed in concern.

“Yeah.. I just.. there’s something I need to tell you.”

The blonde sat up, crossing his legs and leaning forward towards you intently.

God, he didn’t make this any easier. His dumb almost dog like demeanour with bright golden eyes boring into you.. it sent a jolt up your spine.

“What is it?”

After all this time, rehearsing it over and over again, memorizing how your body would move and react to emote yourself to him and when he’s sitting here waiting patiently for you to tell him-

The words failed to find themselves on your tongue. Instead your throat felt tight, almost hard to swallow the word vomit that itched instead.

Your fingers continued to play with your shirt hem, trying to distract from the obvious tension.. sighing, your body decided on its own and through an incredibly impulsive action

You now sat on the bed without a shirt, binder on display.

You’d shocked yourself with the move, face burning and tears pricking at the corner of your eyes and catching on your eyelashes. Only flinching when Laios thrummed his finger on the clothing.

“You got hurt? When? Are you alright?”

He got closer, trying to inspect further but eased up at your clear discomfort.

“No. I’m not hurt!”

Unable to control your tone or volume, Laios flinched himself and moved back just a bit.

“Oh. Then what is this?”

Biting your lip, you could’ve guessed Laios wouldn’t have been familiar with these types of undergarments. With a deep, heavy sigh, your hands pushed themselves pressed into your cheeks and your neck dragged your head down to stare straight at the bed.

“I’m trans. That’s it. It’s a binder.”

It was quiet, just barely audible to him. The churning in your stomach twisted and ached, feeling like it was taking him a hundred years to respond..

Having enough with the silence, your head slowly tore itself away from your hands- Laios was still staring at you with the same care and concern he held before you came out with it.

“So? What.. what do you think?”

He blinked, tilting his head quizzically

“That was it? I thought it was something.. more? Not to uh, be mean or dismissive but-“

An amused laugh left your lips, startling your more conscious side of mind- what did he mean expected more? You didn’t want to guess, but the look of relief that washed over him told you all you needed to know.

“Are you okay with it? Okay with.. me?”

His bright eyes widened, realizing what you had actually wanted as a response

“Yeah! Of course, I love you.”

He loved you? You covered your blushing face with your hands, Laios was far too nonchalant with his words but they were sincere.

You hadn’t known why, well you did, but you had for some reason expected an explosive or more emotional response? But again.. it’s Laios. He’s not that kind of person.

“Is that why you never let me hug you for more than a few seconds?”

Pulling away from your hands, Laios sat there pouting. It was a fair question and he was right..

“I thought you didn’t like my hugs..”

The poor man seemed so upset! Sighing out a laugh, your body moved to hug his large frame.

“I love your hugs, it’s just scary.. I wasn’t sure what you’d think.”

His large arms wrapped around your body tightly, a satisfied hum escaping his chest. All this worrying, all this pent up stress.. all for nothing basically. Still, this was a big moment.. Laios knew what he would see when the time came.

You felt fingers inspect your binder, one slipping under and pulling it back- losing grip on it and accidentally letting it snap back onto your skin.

“Hey! That hurt!”

Shoving him away, you rubbed the spot where it snapped back.

“Wow, it’s really tight..”

“That’s the whole point Laios.”

He pursed his lips, hand scratching his chin as he thought for a moment. Eyes glowing at whatever epiphany he had

“Why don’t you take it off? I read somewhere you shouldn’t wear it for too long and I’ve been here all day! Take it off!”

Panicked, he moved and grabbed one of his shirts from your drawer and tossed it to you.

“Someone also said you could asphyxiate yourself! Were you wearing that the whole time in the dungeon?!”

Genuine concern oozed from him, stress in his knitted brows. You motioned for him to calm down, reassuring him you were fine and that you would not get asphyxiated from wearing it- giving him a brief lesson on binders and that you made sure you were absolutely safe the whole time.

It did calm him down, but he still told you to take it off. You agreed, the tightness a tad more noticeable since Laios so rudely pulled it back..

He offered to turn around or leave, but you let him watch. Even if he was turning red the whole time, shifting awkwardly while you changed.. he’d never seen your bare skin before now and it had him feeling hot and bothered.. your skin was smooth, aside from the faint pink outlines of where the seams laid on your skin.

Smiling up at him, you changed into his oversized sleep shirt and took a deep breathe of relief.

Laying back down on the bed, arms stretched out to let the large man cuddle into you. You could feel his attentive gaze on you, and you knew that meant he had a couple questioned festering in that ever-learning mind of his.

“What’s on your mind?”

He flushed, shoving himself further into you before he brought up his courage.

“Can.. can I see? I know you get facial hair and I am curious to see how it effects the rest of your body..”

Ah. Of course. Whispering a small sound of approval, you let him lift the shirt.. feeling yourself heat up again when he started fondling your chest.

“They’re not big, I think you can do without your binder in colder months.”

“Uh.. yeah. Thanks?”

He hummed, large hands exploring your torso and tickling along your skin. The motions he made, how his hands managed to squeeze just right in the more sensitive places had the space between your legs warming up and getting wetter by the second..

Laios was getting excited too, with the way he was cuddled up his hard on brushed against your leg. He shifted upwards, kissing your cheek and then the corner of your mouth. You were quick to grab his face and kiss him fully, slipping your tongue into his mouth- his hands now tightly holding onto the plush flesh of your chest.

Moaning out, you pulled away breathlessly. Laios’ eyes already hazed over, a hungry look you’d only ever seen in dungeon trickled over his features. He moved to cage you between his arms, hovering over you as he caught your lips with his again before leaving wet kisses along the side of your neck.

“Can I go further?”

His words laced with lust reached themselves between your legs, for sure leaving a wet spot in your underwear. An excited arousal festered in your abdomen, nodding at his question of consent.

With a smile, he pecked your lips before throwing off his own shirt and shimmying down to where your boxers peaked out from your pyjama bottoms. Golden eyes looked up to your own, checking to see if you were still okay with what he wanted to do.

You wanted it bad, he knew that. He felt it. Pulling down your bottoms, his eyes widened in delight. Admittedly you felt shy and kind of insecure, never being this exposed to him before but before any of your worries could settle into the pool of your arousal-

He took a long, striped lick between your folds, flicking his tongue when it met your clitoris.

Shuddering at the sensation, your legs instinctively tried to close but he remained steadfast inbetween your legs. Taking experimental licks around your folds, suckling on your tiny dick. It sent electric shocks of pleasure up your body, making the heat in your abdomen burn even more.

The man smiled at the reactions, licking and kissing your inner thighs, up your stomach, lips tracing their own path on your happy trail. He pushed your thighs back, exposing more of you and really dove in.

It was wet, the sound of slick between each lap and suckle from his mouth made blood pool in your cheeks. He had you gasping, stomach rising and falling with each groan and grunt from you.

When he pulled away, a faint sheen on his lips and chin remained. He was happy, satisfied with his warm up on you.

“Can I-“

“Yes. Please.”

You needed him, it was your first time with him and you wanted it all. He could play with you all he wanted after but for now the two of you ached and craved to feel each other whole.

While he slipped off his bottoms, you caught your breathe and ran your fingers through your hair to ease yourself into it.

You knew he was big, above average, and even with how wet you were it was going to be a stretch.

Sighing in content, you hadn’t realized he already had a condom on and was aligned with your heat until it poked just at the entrance.

Startled, you looked down between where your pelvises met.. he looked up at you with a soft smile. With a hitched breathe, he positioned the head of his dick to lay just inside the entrance. His eyes focused on yours, leaning down to kiss you.

Slowly, as he deepened the kiss he slid in. The stretch was tight, making your nose scrunch with the building pressure.

Until you felt yourself finally accommodate for his size, a wave of pleasured relief heating your whole body.

“Fuck..”

Groaning into the kiss, he rocked his hips slowly. You could feel his own muscles tense under your grip and he shared his own grunts of pleasure, letting them pool into your mouth.

The two of you weren’t going to last long, no matter how much control and how slow the pace was.

It was all overwhelming, emotions at a peaked high from what happened before and it being the first shared time.

The coil that sweltered in your pelvis was quickly coming to its end, feeling yourself clench around him and making more slick sounds with every thrust he made.

“Laios, I’m close.”

“Me too..”

It was almost a whimper, his mouth near your ear as he shyly buried his face into your neck, pleading with himself with every rut he made inside.

Your orgasm washed over you without warning, moaning out and gripping the blondes shoulders tightly- with your high almost ending, he came quickly after from every tight pulse you made on him.

Laying there breathlessly, he slumped onto your body. The two of you both smiling like idiots.

“You’re.. so.. handsome..”

His soft dick now pulled out, he caressed your ribs and kissed your cheek.

“I love you no matter what.. thank you.. for telling me..”

His post orgasm clarity made him say what he hesitated or couldn’t find the words for earlier, though it was through soft yawns and slurred sleepy words- it was what you needed to hear.

All your hypotheticals and nightmares fluttered from your mind, you almost had to pinch yourself for ever thinking the man would be anything but loving and accepting. He loved you for you, and you loved him for him. Quirks and all.

[pansy-picnics]

Americans who are worried about bird flu and/or are struggling to afford eggs the next few months- find someone in your local community who has chickens.

It is winter right now, so most backyard hens won’t be laying, but come spring, they’ll be laying so many eggs a lot of chicken owners don’t even know what to do with them all. They’ll often sell you a whole carton for like, 2-3 dollars. a backyard flock owner might even give them away for free if they’re desperate.

frankly, if you start buying fresh eggs, you probably won’t want to ever go back. farm fresh eggs taste better, last longer (sometimes without even being refrigerated), and have tougher, denser shells. not to mention they’re beautiful considering they come in all different shapes, sizes and colors!

in general though, farmers markets are HUGE. the cororate meat and dairy industries are breeding grounds for disease right now, and grocery prices are skyrocketing. local farmers markets and community owned grocery stores can get you better prices on better food, from things like eggs to produce, meat, and dairy.

i see a lot of people talking about community but i think a lot of people still don’t know where to start….since food is a big one, i want to share some resources. its important to remember that we don’t need these corporations to survive. they need us. even if you don’t make a lot of income, there are ways you can support your community and get better deals than at corporate owned grocery stores.

Most states have a farmers market network/association, or you can find local markets through your state’s department of agriculture website. heres a list of resources by state on the farmers market coalition. some of these links might be broken or outdated, but just looking up the name should bring you to the right page.

here’s also a list of food pantries and grocery co-ops per state. keep in mind these might not encapsulate every resource available, they’re just jumping off points in case you aren’t sure where to start, since i know things are really overwhelming right now. but even just looking up “farmers market/food pantry” and your county or city will come up with plenty of results.

I know that not everyone can afford farmers markets, there are cases where they’re more expensive than regular grocery stores. it 100% depends on the situation. but most areas usually have at least one local food bank or community group where you can get some assistance if you’re struggling. start to get to know your neighbors, too. you know how older folks will say that back in the day, you could go ask the neighbors for a cup of sugar and they’d give it to you? That kind of basic community is exactly what we have to go back to in these next few years. That is what is gonna keep us alive.

[luciaintheskyainthi]

Hi!!! I LOVE ECM!! I'm completely down this rabbit hole now, (spider web?) And I'm reading jason/peter fics 🫠 I'm not really a fan of DC so this is a 1st for me to love 🫠 I initially went through a peter/danny phantom thing then peter/harley mostly because tom's been my person for spidey now, you can imagine those pairings wouldn't necessarily deal with the morality debate like it does with jason/peter so this really made me think how they'd work

But then, in my personal thing, for the DC, it's not really a question of who's right or who's wrong or who deserves the privelage to live or how to solve the question of who's morally superior but who can endure and live with the decisions they make you know?

One thing i see in like my general knowledge of DC and what you've opened my eyes to regarding Jason and Peter, is that they're the type of people who mingles with the community. They want to save or help people because these are THEIR people u know? They grew up in these streets, mingled with what would constitute as background characters and npcs at most to the dc world, just statistics as u say, but they're people to them even the villains

Jason in my head in these case, will understand that while the 'bad guys' can be redeemed, he's not willing to take a chance that it will cost other people's lives. Innocent people that don't deserve to be just part of a redemption arc of a criminal and he can endure killing, what that does to him and other's views of him but he's someone who survives and can do this as long as it saves those future victims

Peter on the other hand wants to help everyone because he believes and has seen those that can be saved from 'villainy'. He can endure continuing to try and continuing to save possible victims but that's because to me, he's kind of op in his possible abilities and smarts u kno, he has the option to think of a way to help both 'villain' and victim and keep standing up after he's hit. In a way that Jason, as a relative normie can't. I think peter's experiences and what he witnesses in marvel verse shows the type of power and ability that allows them to help what other's would call iredeemable, like how he did in nwh.

It's a matter of how well they'll be able to endure either killing someone who could've been redeemed or allowing someone to live who continues to kill.

They're both stubborn tho, so I imagine in these scenario they'll just be each other's support 😃 in a happy place, that's what I want to think anyway.

How would you happen to see them in this context? 'Cause honestly, in bruce and tony's case as people who don't technically mingle with the community the way the other 2 do, they kind of come off as sanctimonious pricks who has a privelaged view of how to handle their criminals.

Considering they think that the people they fight with will target them and everything they may or may not do is associated with them, they certaimly don't think about the 'background' people affected in their actions the way I imagine peter and jason do. Sorry I rambled too much I'm not even sure I explained mythoughts properly 😃

Still ur an amazing writer 🥹 thank you for your generosity in sharing your worls with us

Finally getting to this ask! 🫣 I loved it very much and have been waiting for the right bandwidth to respond because I knew I'd end up writing a damn essay ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 (and would you look at that? I HAVE)

Let me start by saying I LOVE how you've put the moral debate that lies at the heart of Jason (and of course the Jason/Peter pairing!):

it's not really a question of who's right or who's wrong or who deserves the privelage to live or how to solve the question of who's morally superior but who can endure and live with the decisions they make you know?

I DO know and it's something that I've had Jason touch upon a few times previously (but also more in later chapters). He's long since accepted that burden - in some respects, because of his training with the All Caste I think he sees it in part as a responsibility, too (the All Caste kind of exists to fight against the Untitled, who are meant to embody evil, so there's a bit of that going on with Jason, too).

At this point, I think Jason understands that Bruce isn't someone who should take on that burden like Jason has. And he understands too, that the world is better without a Batman that's willing to kill. But at the same time, he also sees Bruce's 'inaction' as hypocritical and harmful because he DOES prioritise the lives of mass murderers over the lives of their inevitable future victims. Unlike Bruce, who is an optimist, Jason is a realist and a utilitarian. The greatest good and all that.

(Of course, I don't think that was entirely his motivation throughout the events of Under the Red Hood, but I'd like to think he's matured in the 4 years since then... Of interest: the Batman: Urban Legends issue covers pretty well the reasons why comics!Jason would stop using guns, after he lets his temper get the better of himself and he kills an admittedly shitty guy, but someone he knows shouldn't have been killed. While I still have Jason use guns here so that event's non-ECM canon, I do think it made a good argument.)

I do see Peter as a hero who should be very firmly community-minded (certainly far more than he was set up as in the first few showings of MCU Spider-Man), which does bring him into alignment with Jason, despite their differing views on killing villains. The thing is though, and I said this in an earlier ask, Peter's recent villains have been men who have been changed/altered, and its primarily this alteration that led to their villainy (with the exception of Beck and Toomes). Likewise, Peter is stronger, and that's meant he's not been made a victim in the same way that Jason has. So the way he views villains has been tarred by the belief that they can change.

But the thing is... while, sure, there are Gotham villains who are like that, there are also some who are just... irredeemable assholes. There's no 'fixing them' because there was nothing 'broken' about them. Or not broken in the way Peter's used to....

I think you also bring up a great point about the fact that Peter and Jason, living in the heart of Crime Alley, and community-centred heroes, would see Bruce's POV as sanctimonious because those future victims aren't just faceless victims, they're their neighbours. They're friends. They're the petty passive-aggressive arch-enemy whom Jason's in a constant battle with for the final parking space on the street.

There's no ivory tower for Peter or Jason. And that means something. To both of them.

I would also note, that while Peter's against killing and certainly would never bear the knife himself, he's capable of nuance. Because LBR, both MCU and comics Peter has associated with characters who've killed. MCU Tony killed Thanos, yet Peter never decries that decision. He still hero-worships the man after death. Same goes with all the Avengers, which there's no doubt Peter was aware of, yet he still wanted to join the roster in Homecoming.

Likewise, comics Peter still associates with killers like Deadpool, and though I've not read the comics, from what I'm aware it's not so much that he's antipathetic towards Deadpool because he kills but because he's a mercenary.

(Of course, one could make comparisons between Jason and the Punisher, who Peter canonically hates, and thinking of the Jason from UTRH, there's no way Peter would associate himself with the Red Hood then. Because like the Punisher, the Red Hood was indiscriminate when it came to killing 'bad guys'. But the Jason of now is a very different beast from the Jason of UTRH.)

To me, that says that the motivations behind having to kill someone matters to Peter. As of course, do the circumstances. Though you never saw that conversation from Peter's POV, he was immensely relieved when Jason confirmed that he wasn't interested in just breaking into Arkham and killing the villains inside executioner-style, even if that would still prevent them from creating any more victims.

Anywho, all of this to say, that while Jason thinks himself capable of taking on the burden, he doesn't think that should be the case for every hero. Likewise, while Peter would never allow himself to kill someone, even in the heat of a battle, that doesn't mean he's going to immediately condemn someone else for being forced to do the same.

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Oct 16th

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1. Hello! I would like to reread a story but forgot the title. It’s a fix-it I think lan zhan was thrown back in time in CR study arc and wei ying saw it because there’s a light and he hear a shout then Lan Zhan was unconscious. Thank you so much

FOUND? in a dream, i was home by thelastdboy (M, 25k, WangXian, POV LWJ, Canon Divergence, Post-First Siege of the Burial Mounds, Time Travel Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Different First Meeting, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers, Sentient Burial Mounds, CSSR and WCZ Live, Families of Choice, Protective LWJ, Everybody Lives, Temporary Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, WWX Leaves the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Golden Core Reveal, Fluff, Developing Relationship, Wen Remnants Live, WQ Lives, WN Lives, No Sunshot Campaign, BAMF WWX)

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2. Hi I saw someone ask this here but never saw the fic. I'm looking for a fic, It's where lwj leave the sect gives money and valuables to the wen remnants and lxc ask for rabbit as some kind of compensation. Op said some girls were braiding lwj hair by the end being vain and lan sect saw this. Thank you so much I hope you help me

FOUND?🔒Unpack Your Heart by Terri Botta (Isilwath) (T, 22k, wangxian, Romance, Everybody Lives, Canon Divergence, LWJ Has Feelings, Protective LWJ, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, LWJ Stays at the Burial Mounds, Burial Mounds Ensemble as Family, Wangxian in Love, YLLZ WWX, Lan Clan Elders are Assholes, Minor Transgender Character, Qiongqi Path Divergence, LWJ loves his bunnies)

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3. hi there!!! this is for the next fic finder. i am looking for a twt threadfic which had wwx and lwj as academic rivals. i really don't remember much of it except there was a moment where lwj says smth really mean to wwx after he got lesser marks than him, and wwx starts crying a bit (???) and lwj is like Oh No What Have I Done. that was the last update that i read and idek if there's more or not. can anyone help?

thank you everyone!!

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4. I am trying to find a Fic where Lan Zhan goes to Lotus Pier to ruin them for being rejected. He learns that Wei Ying never rejected him but Madum Yu did. She is punished and Lan zhan asks Jiang Yanli permission to marry Wei ying.

FOUND? Warrior Prince by QteCuttlfish (M, 3k, WangXian, Threats of Rape/Non-Con Angst with a Happy Ending, Omega Verse, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, Implied Mpreg, Not Canon Compliant)

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5. Hi! I’m looking for this modern college E fic where WWX is like a tatted punk and he overhears that LWJ is basically a sex god who didn’t do seconds. He hears that LWJ is into a guy in his department with last name Wei and confronts him. They bone and he sees that LWJ has a nip piercing and a tattoo that WWX designed a while ago tysmia

FOUND? So I love you because I know no other way than this by Trueredhearts (E, 20k, WangXian, Modern AU, CSSR and WCZ Live, College/University, Tattoos, Nipple Piercings, Genital Piercing, Law Student!LWJ, Engineering Student!WWX, Childhood Friends, Explicit Sexual Content, Graduate School)

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6. Hi 👋 a ff where lan Zhan give wei Ying name wei Wuxian. Wei Ying lock BS in her mountain. Wei Ying Sect leader. BM all clear. JC lock his parents. Save XY . Wei Ying make JGY Sect leader of jin . Yiling best city. Control world . Slap Tham in there language. @richie-234

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7. Hello I'm looking for a fic where wwx is a god, a prince to be exact. He meets lwj while visiting. I think they get betrothed but lwj does not know his real identity. I think by the end wwx and his entire family came down an while they were in line he was waving at lwj.

FOUND? cloudy autumn heaps the sky by anatheme (T, 23k, WangXian, Fantasy, Universe Alteration, Secret Identity, Dragon LWJ, Fox WWX, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Timeline What Timeline, wwx is a little older here, wwx piling gifts on lwj and encouraging hoarding tendencies, Sharing a Bed, Literal Sleeping Together, Arranged Marriage)

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8. Fic finder plz!

LQR owns a cat cafe and LWJ and LXC are like very pretty ragdoll cats and WWX is this gremlin sphinx cat that eventually wins over LWJ.

LQR isn’t happy about this though and has JC keep WWX locked up so he can’t come and bother LWJ but it all ends happy. I’ve tried searching cat LWJ and cat WWX and nothing comes up. Help! 😭😭

FOUND! allopatry by Anonymous (T, 4k, WangXian, Modern AU, Cats, not in a catboy sense they're actual cats, wwx's propensity for annoying lqr transcends species, codependent cats as a catalyst for, lqr + jiang sibs friendship) I searched cat Cafe 🐈 😻

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9. Hi! I'm looking for a fic similar to one I read called play fighting where Lan Qiren had adopted Wei Wuxian and they grew up together. Or like where Wei Ying ends up growing up in the Lan sect and he and Lan Zhan are like childhood friends or super close growing up.

FOUND? 藍色的花，紅色的蘭 {Lan se de hua, hongse de lan} by Admiranda, AshayaTReldai (M, 45k, WIP, WangXian, Orphan WWX, Friends to Lovers, Childhood Friends, wwx raised in the lan clan, softer lqr, Good Uncle LQR, Good lan clan, Good Older Sibling LXC)

FOUND? 🔒 Life is Like a Stranger by through_shadows_falling (T, 69k, wangxian, Kid Fic, Child LWJ, Child WWX, First Meetings, Canon Divergence, Cute Kids, Orphan WWX, Autism Spectrum, Fix-It, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Canon, POV LWJ, Growing Up Together, WWX raised at Cloud Recesses, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Puberty, Growing Up, Coming Out, teenage angst, Wet Dream, Pining, This fic gets a little raunchier as the kids become teens, But it won’t get too explicit, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Spanish Translation, Brief mentions/moments of WWX kissing others in chapter 22 but only on the cheek, also characters kiss WWX on the cheek in chapter 23, but his real first kiss is with LWJ, Перевод на русский | Translation in Russian)

FOUND? 🧡 All will be well when the day is done by abCEE (T, 76k, WangXIan, Canon Divergence, Fix It, Not Jiang Family Friendly, JFM & YZY Bashing, Fix it for our main characters, Time Travel, Butterfly Effect, Madam Lan Lives, No Sunshot Campaign, Artistic License, Unreliable Narrator, JC Bashing, non-yunmeng WWX, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Good Uncle LQR, OOC, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, WWX gets the love and care that he deserves from the very beginning, WWX Isn’t Adopted by the Jiangs, verbal and physical (c/o Zidian) abuse from YZY)

FOUND? safe here with me by xcourtney_chaoticx (G, 3k, WangXian, Family Feels, Good Uncle LQR, WWX Goes to Gusu, Fluff, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, Food Issues, Endgame WangXian)

FOUND? soft-hearted by sarahyyy (G, 6k, wangxian, alternate universe, childhood friends, hurt/comfort, getting together, first kiss, wedding fluff)

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10. Hello! I'm looking for this wangxian fic I don't remember the name, but it's based on a song by Olivia Rodrigo, there is no happy ending between wangxian 💔

FOUND?🔒 drivers license by AG1234VL (T, 11k, WangXian, WangMian, WWX/Other, Breakup, Hurt No Comfort, slight comfort, Non-Chronological, Song fic, Crying WWX, Driving, breakup weight gain, Lots of Crying, Angst, Modern AU, Homophobia, from lqr, wangxian breakup)

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11. Hi, I'm looking for a fic i read some time ago but i can't seem to find. Basically the great sects had isolated themselves for sometime and WRH still tried to burn CR but the Lan won that war , alone i think, and like they demanded a war prize/hostage/concubine? and YMJ with the other twos support , i think, sent WWX for the Lan's leader LWJ who was surprised by WWX's very feminine and very much marriage robes. So the Jiang and the Jin and the Nie got it wrong but LWJ lets him stay, I think it's been a while and they fall in love for real and LWJ reveals that his brother has been in a coma for some time. Anyway WX went to the Crowd hunt the Jin are trowing and YZY got very angry at like WWX being at her level socially, the spouse of a sect leader and then WX went home and LXC woke up and that's all i know because the fic had like 26/28/20 something chapters in total and it was a WIP and only one or two chpaters left till it was done. I don't know if it is still a WIP. @secretartquotes

FOUND? golden when the day met the night by glitteringmoonlight (Not rated, 95k, slow burn, sugar daddy LWJ, light, angst, fluff, developing relationship, eventual smut, WIP)

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12. Hello, thank you for your page.English is not my first language, so I'm using a translator .Wei Ying is a web novel writer, from a fairly prestigious academy. The web novel he writes is quite popular. He was hired for a reality TV show/music competition as a translator. In the end, he also ends up as a contestant because there are not enough competitors. Every week he tells the public to eliminate him because he's just there as filler. Lan Zhan, I think he's a music coach in the reality TV show @lilassoleil

FOUND! 🧡 I Don't Want to Debut! by countingcr0ws (G, 56k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reality show, Idols, Actor LWJ, Forced Contestant WWX, Tencent's 2021 Idol Producer)

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13. Hello! First, I really love the work you do. I'm looking for a fic I read and can't find it anymore. So it's Modern AU, set in high school. Wei Ying is a cheerleader who likes wearing skirts and Lan Zhan is athletic. They didn't like eachother if I'm not wrong but had a contractual relationship like fake dating(I think). The fic had beautiful fan art and in one of them Wei Ying wore a crop top and a cheerleader skirt. Thank you in advance. @mamaladeskies

FOUND! drop the game by martyrsdaughter (E, 28k, wangxian, modern, romantic comedy, fake/pretend relationship, sports, cheerleaders, flirting, sexual tension, dom/sub undertones, compulsory heterosexuality, crossdressing, dub con, under-negotiated kink, consensual non-con)

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14. The fic has Jiang Cheng preserving Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli's body, a magical plant and coffin used. this was a oneshot on ao3. but Wei Wuxian definitely had and older sibling vibe when he got suspicious on what Jiang Cheng was doing. @eclipse-summer

I remember some more details, it was a two-shot, and the magical plant was a mushroom.

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15. Hey, kinda a weird req, but I’m trying to find this wangxian fic where WW pretty much manages to get a dildo stick in his butt, and then he an LW have to go to the hospital to get it removed. Think it was modern au. Tysm for the help!

FOUND? can you feel it by lanzhancore (E, 5k, WangXian, Modern AU, Awkward Sexual Situations, Established Relationship, Hospitals, Slice of Life, Fluff and Humor, Idiot Lovers, Crack Treated Seriously)

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16. Hiii, for the next fic finder, there was a wei ying/lan zhan fic where they had a relationship around shibari + bondage and nhs tricked wy into walking right up to lz at a party and asking him to tie him up - it turned out that lz had always been super exclusive he had just been pining for wy from afar and agreed to do it and the rest is beautifully written, emotionally literate history. I read it about 17 thousand times but didn't bookmark or download it like a fool!! If its been deleted, does anyone know if the author is fine with people privately sharing? @lockandkeay

FOUND! Ember burning low by wanderingflame (E, 62k, WangXian, LXC/NMJ, BDSM, Dominant LWJ, Submissive WWX, Bottom LWJ, Kink Negotiation, Kink Exploration, Sensation Play, Kneeling, Rope Bondage, Aftercare, Non-Sexual D/s scenes, Non-Sexual Submission, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Public Scene (Non-Sexual), Minor Retrograde Amnesia, safe words, Use of Safe Words, JC is not the most understanding when it comes to BDSM, Orgasm Delay, Porn with Feelings)

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17. Hi!! Hoping that you can help me coz I’m really desperate rn 🥹🤧. I’m looking for a Xichen x Jiang Cheng fanfic where they had a daughter but lxc didn’t know cos he was in seclusion after the death of meng yao and when he got out of seclusion he help this little girl on the streets and the girl brought him to lotus pier to thank him and that’s when he found out the girl was Jiang Chengs daughter. 🥹 I’ve been looking for this everywhere but I can’t find it, please help me 😭🙏. Thank youuu @zosansss-blog

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18. Hiiiii! I hope you all are well! Boy it’s been a long time since I was here. I finally learned how to bookmark so I was not losing track *that* much, but today I was bored and tried to channel my inner MY/JGY and read at work. (Without logging to my account because i don’t want to give my co-workers another reason to think I am crazy).

But back to reason, i need your help lovelies. I am looking for a fic. LQR can read music and he bumped into NMJ and he heard the Turmoil song. He thinks LXC is poisoning him so he goes and ask WWX for help and basically it was a major Canon Divergence. That is where i had to close the tab. I would really appreciate all the help. THANK YOU!!

FOUND? Polyphonic by nirejseki (Not Rated, 14k, NMJ/LXC, WangXian, LXC & LQR & LWJ, WIP, odd abilities, Family Drama, Investigations)

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19. Hi! I'm looking for a fic where the best way I can describe it is WWX has a magic sex toy that is keyed into his own body which LWJ then confiscates and later uses not knowing it's keyed to WWX. I believe it's during the CR arc but not sure how the fic was tagged so haven't been able to pull it up and I don't remember much beyond that. Thanks for all you do!

FOUND? 🔒 The Golden Cutsleeve by syrus_jones (E, 77k, WangXian, Crack Treated Seriously, Fluff and Crack, Humor, Aged-Up Character(s), WWX POV, WWX is a gremlin, Internally Screaming LWJ, No Sunshot Campaign, First Times, Accidental Sex, Masturbation, PWP, Porn with Feelings, WWX experimenting with things he shouldn’t like always, Happy Ending, Porn With Plot)

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20. Hi! Thank you for your hard work! I'm looking for 2 fics today, but I really want to find the first one. A) It's arranged marriage fic, LWJ is some sort of royalty. After the wedding (I think?) WWX is sent to live in a separate palace (?) He and the Wens (I can't remember why they're there) start a farm to make money (and have food?) to fix up the palace which I think was in some state of disrepair. Eventually he LWJ notices and starts to send gifts and such. I feel like there's something about a dragonfruit? But maybe that's a different fic?

B) The second one I'm looking for is a modern mob au, wwx asks lwj to watch a plant and then disappears for a year, or something like that. I'm sure I probably found it on here, but I must be overlooking it @iluvshikamaru

Hi! 20a is definitely sowing seeds in the cold palace! Thank you so much, it was driving me crazy!

20b is not lightning in a bottle, but it was a delight to read so ty for the suggestion! I seem to remember that jc shows up to kidnap lz at some point, and that lz was also part of the mob/mafia but has retired from it?

20A)

NOT FOUND! The Legend of Moonflower by JJSIN2020 (E, 135k, wangxian, 3zun, A/B/O, Emperor LWJ, LWJ FUCKS, he has a whole harem of male omegas so of course he does, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Beta LXC, Omega JC, Omega XY, Omega XXC, omega SS, Omega OYZZ, Beta NHS, Mpreg, Wolves, Angst with a Happy Ending, Imperial China, Character Death, Fighting, Blood)

FOUND! 我的皇后是農民 | sowing seeds in the cold palace by sweetlolixo (E, 84k, WangXian, Imperial Palace, Emperor LWJ, Imperial Consort WWX, Farmer WWX, Angst, Romance, Wingman LJY, Wife-chasing-LWJ, Arranged Marriage, Best Boy A-Yuan)

20B)

NOT FOUND! lightning in a bottle by bigbabyjeno (E, 10k, WangXian, Modern AU, Photographer LWJ, Wedding Crasher WWX, Erotic Palm Reading, Fluff and Smut) fun fact I remembered the fic and that it was a ficus plant and the fic came up when I searched ficus 🤣

FOUND! See What I've Become by Vamillepudding (T, 24k, WangXian, Mob, YLLZ WWX, Hurt/Comfort, LWJ Needs a Hug, Sickfic, Protective WWX)

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[winteringdream]

STRUNG TOGETHER ──── park gunwook

Park Gunwook lives for classical music and his violin. When his final exam turns out to be a duet, he grows anxious about how well he's able to perform with a pianist he has never met before. With only one month to practice, will things turn out for the worse or better?

✩ ⋅ pairing. violinist!gunwook x pianist fem!reader ✩ ⋅ genre. fluff, angst, music school/conservatory!au ✩ ⋅ warnings. there's one scene with a jerk/creep ✩ ⋅ wc. 6549 ✩ ⋅ with zb1 hanbin & gyuvin, illit minju ✩ ⋅ a/n reader is more reckless, gunwook is more follow-the-rules

“A duet.” 

The class falls silent. Park Gunwook looks to his left, his eyes meeting Zhang Hao’s. They’re thinking the exact same thing. We’re screwed. 

Park Gunwook knows how to ace exams, he has consistently done so for the past two years. Music is something he considers a solitary activity: practice alone, perform alone, succeed alone. 

But, this final exam has changed everything he has once thought about music. A duet, sharing the stage with someone. 

“When I call your name please come up.” The teacher continues to speak, ignoring the soft murmurs of the class. 

“Park Gunwook and Y/N L/N.” 

Gunwook watches as you stand up and make your way towards the teacher. You look exactly like how a pianist looks like according to Gunwook. Someone who is elegant, introspective and knows exactly what they want. 

He flashes you a kind smile when the two of you are standing in front of the teacher. He’s nervous, even though you don’t seem to be nervous at all. 

The teacher doesn’t say a word as he pushes a piece of paper into his hands. Gunwook looks at it with a puzzled look before realising he has to choose one of these pieces for his final exam. 

Beethoven – Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 “Spring” César Franck – Violin Sonata in A Major Brahms – Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 “Rain Sonata” Debussy – Violin Sonata in G Minor Prokofiev – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a

“I’d like to hear your choice by the end of this week,” is everything the teacher says before motioning for the two of you to sit down. You look over his shoulder to see which pieces are written on the paper.

Gunwook sees how your face lights up, it catches him by surprise. And suddenly, he forgets he’s anxious about the duet. Maybe, things could work out better than he would’ve thought. 

You anxiously tap your feet to the sound that’s coming from your phone. You and Gunwook had agreed to meet after school to decide which piece the two of you would be choosing. Minju, who is sitting next to you, glances over. 

“Seems like a difficult piece.” She says, shuffling closer to take a look at the Youtube video. 

“That’s the problem,” you sigh as you put your phone facing down on the table, “all of them are like this.” 

“Well, is this violinist you got paired up with any good?” Minju asks, leaning forward and over the table to slide her cup of iced tea towards her. 

“I don’t know.” 

“Let’s search him up, if he’s a sophomore he must have his final exam from last year posted on the school’s Youtube account.” She suggests taking her phone out of her pocket before you can answer. 

“Tell me his name, I’ll search it up for you.” 

“Park Gunwook.” 

Minju types quickly, her fingers flying across the screen. “Park… Gunwook,” she repeats under her breath. A second later, the search results load. Only two videos seem to be posted, one being his entrance exam and one being his freshman final exam. 

She presses play and Gunwook immediately starts playing. The two of you watch silently how he moves, how his fingers press down on the strings with precision and control. 

“He’s … good.” You murmur, as you continue to watch the video, earning a chuckle from Minju. 

Minju raises an eyebrow.  “Why do you sound so surprised, it’s not like this school lets everyone in.” 

“I know, he just doesn’t really look like the type to play like that. I mean, so meticulously.”

 “You mean that you thought he was more the freestyle, I-do-what-I-think-is-right, type of guy?” You nod at her answer, but as the video continues to play you can only imagine how nice it would be to work with someone who seems to put a lot of work and effort into perfecting a piece. 

“Well,” Minju says, nodding toward the screen, “looks like you got paired with a perfectionist.”

“Before you start complaining,” Hanbin starts as he watches Gunwook’s frowned face, “you might actually like the pianist.” 

“In what way.” Gunwook replies dryly as he sets down his lunch. Gyuvin and Zhang Hao snicker at his reply. 

Hanbin doesn’t say anything, instead he holds up a video, the title reading: 

Y/N L/N | Freshman Final Exam | Prokofiev - Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28

The fast-paced and almost restless melody plays from Hanbin’s phone. Once again Gyuvin chuckles at how captivated Gunwook is. 

“She’s…” 

“She’s absolutely batshit crazy.” Gyuvin says, cutting Gunwook off. “She’s all gas, no brakes.” 

Gunwook doesn’t respond right away. He’s too focused on the screen, watching how your hands move with such reckless confidence, like you’re daring it to keep up with you.

“She’s not holding back,” Hanbin says quietly, as if reading Gunwook’s thoughts.

“Yeah,” Gunwook mutters, eyes narrowing slightly. “She’s not scared of it.”

“So, what do you think?” Zhang Hao asks with an amused smile on his face.  

“I have no clue,” he begins, “I’ve never met a pianist who plays like that.”

Hanbin grins. “At least you won’t be bored.”

Gunwook glances back at the phone as the piece races toward its explosive ending. The last few chords hit with full force.

And for the first time since the duet was announced, he feels something he hadn’t expected:

A flicker of excitement.

The music building’s small practice room smells faintly of rosin. You arrive a few minutes early, clutching the sheet with the five sonatas listed. 

Park Gunwook is already there, sitting on the edge of a worn wooden chair, violin case resting beside him. He looks up as you enter.

“Hi,” you say, setting your bag down with a soft thud. You take the chair across from him, leaving space between you.

“Hello,” he answers. You glance at the paper between you, the one with the 5 pieces listed on it. 

You clear your throat. “So I’ve been listening to all of them on repeat since the class ended.”

Gunwook nods once, folding the paper carefully. “I did the same, managed to take some notes.”

You try to imagine what notes a perfectionist like him would make. Precise fingerings? Comments on phrasing? How dedicated would he need to be to already have notes on pieces that just got announced today? 

“Which one caught your attention?” you ask, leaning forward slightly.

He taps a finger against his chin, considering. “Beethoven’s ‘Spring.’ It’s clean, a basic one. It’s hard to mess up.”

You bite your lip. “It does sound cheerful, but don’t you feel like we’re playing it too safe with something like this? The teacher must expect something unexpected if we end up choosing this one.”

He smiles faintly, a hint of agreement. “Yes. It does feel safe.”

“Safe isn’t really my style. I want something that challenges me.” 

He raises an eyebrow, amused by the way you think. For someone who looks like a textbook example of a pianist you sure don’t think like one. 

You grin. “Let’s do this one.” Gunwook's eyes follow your finger to the title you’re pointing at. Prokofiev – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a

It feels like his heart skips a beat for a moment. Prokofiev, of course you’d pick that one. A fast-paced, relentless piece that Gunwook is certain will sound less like a duet and more like a battle.

Gunwook’s fingers stop tapping. “That piece demands a lot. It’s easy to lose control.”

You shrug. “Exactly, but that’s what makes it exciting.”

He leans back, folding his arms. “You don’t sound like someone who holds back.” He smiles slightly, his eyes crinkling at the edges. 

“Neither do you,” you reply with a grin. It’s evident the two of you studied each other’s performances right before meeting up, but neither of you is trying to hide it. 

Gunwook nods slowly. “So…”

You meet his eyes. “Prokofiev?”

Gunwook gulps when he sees the sparkle in your eyes and looks down at the paper again, then back up. “Prokofiev.”

You smile, feeling a flicker of excitement you didn’t expect.

He stands, picking up his violin case. “We should start rehearsing soon.”

You grab your bag. “Can’t wait.”

Both you and Gunwook couldn’t wait to start practicing the next day. Is it because of your desperation to pass the year? Or is it because it is the first time in your life you get to take on such an exciting piece with someone whose skill matches yours?

“Should we listen to it first?” Gunwook suggests as he sets down his violin case on a chair. You nod, and take a seat next to him. 

The two of you watch in silence, taking mental notes of the trickier parts. Your eyes flick across the screen, focused, brows drawn together. Every so often, your fingers twitch against your leg, imagining how your fingers will press the keys of the piano.

Gunwook notices and glances down at your hand. He smiles, just barely. Then his eyes return to the video. 

It takes a while to get to know the piece, but after 2 hours of practicing the two of you have very slightly gotten the hang of it. 

Your fingers feel stiff from playing the same thing for 2 hours. The room is warm, and the piano’s once bright tone has started to blur beneath your tired hands. 

Gunwook leans against the edge of the chair, bow resting loosely in his fingers. You shake out your hands and exhale with a soft laugh.

 “It’s kind of insane how little progress that looks like for two hours of work.”

“Not really,” he says, heaving a loud exhale. “This piece doesn’t open up easily.”

You nod, stretching your arms above your head. “My brain is fried.”

Gunwook doesn’t reply immediately. He watches you, your hands red from playing, your eyes still scanning the sheet music like there’s something left to wring from it even now.

Most people would’ve called it for the day. Even through the fatigue, your curiosity hasn’t dimmed. Your frustration doesn’t come from impatience, it comes from wanting to be better. 

He sits back slowly in his chair, the bow now resting on his lap. He looks up when he hears the sound of the piano. It’s as if you’re unable to stop. 

“You really don’t hold back,” he murmurs.

You glance at him. “Isn’t that the point?”

The way you say it is light, almost teasing. It’s like you don’t fully realize how serious he is when he says it.

He looks away with a small breath of a laugh, unsure what to do with the way something like admiration has started to settle in his chest. For the way you throw yourself into the work without hesitation. As if it’s your mission to finish the piece with all you’ve got. 

It’s quiet for a few seconds, just the distant hum of other practice rooms beyond the door.

Then you speak again, your voice softer. “Want to run it once more before we call it?”

Gunwook meets your gaze, then gives a short nod. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

“You look tired.” You chuckle as you watch Minju slump down in the chair in front of you. Her dance bag falls off her shoulder and lands on the floor with a heavy thud, drawing a few glances from nearby tables. She doesn’t seem to care.

“Don’t even start.” She groans, letting her head fall onto the table with a dramatic sigh. “If you say ‘how was practice’ I swear I will cry.”

You can’t help but laugh as you slide your drink in her direction. “I was going to ask if you survived, actually.”

“Barely,” she mutters, lifting her head just enough to take a sip. Her hair is plastered to the sides of her face, and there’s a faint red flush in her cheeks. “We repeated the routine seven times.”

You wince sympathetically. “That bad?”

“She kept saying we were missing something, and then she made us run the duet again.”

You lean back in your chair, sipping your iced coffee. “I thought this was the piece you said you loved?”

“It was supposed to be fun,” Minju says, propping her chin in one hand. “But now, if I hear that first note one more time, I’m going to break my own legs.”

You laugh again. “Well, you do still look kind of graceful for someone who claims she got tortured in the dance studio.”

Minju narrows her eyes at you. “Flattery won’t make me forget you’re trying to dodge your turn. How’d your practice go?”

You cover your face for a moment, groaning into your palms. “It went fine, but I don’t know.”

She grins. “So? What happened?”

You lower your hands, trying not to smile too much. “The piece is insane, like, technically insane, but we started syncing up by the second hour. Not perfectly, but there were moments where I could feel it.”

Minju wiggles her eyebrows. “Oh? Feeling things?”

“Musically,” you clarify, laughing. “We were both exhausted, but neither of us wanted to stop. I think we played through the second movement at least ten times.”

“Did you catch him watching you while you played?” she adds.

“How’d you know?” you ask, looking up to meet Minju’s eyes. 

Minju leans forward again, her face serious now. “Listen. I’ve partnered with a lot of people in dance, but there’s a difference when someone feels what you’re expressing. That’s what makes a duet powerful. It’s not just playing what’s written on the paper, or dancing how you’ve been told.”

You’re quiet for a moment, letting her words settle, because you did feel something click.

Minju watches you carefully, then says with a teasing glint in her eyes, “So? When’s the next practice?”

You smile, unable to stop it. “Tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait for the updates.”

A week later, the room feels different.

The small practice space, once filled with the excitement of discovery, now seems suffocating. A metronome ticks faintly in the background and sheet music lies messily across the room, pencil markings growing more frantic with each rehearsal.

The two of you have been frustrated, though unable to express the frustration to one another. 

You stand by the bench, arms crossed, your jaw tight. Gunwook is near the window, back to you, adjusting his fine tuners again even though he did the same thing ten minutes ago.

“You’re rushing the tempo again,” he says finally, without looking at you.

A sharp breath escapes before you can stop it. “I’m not rushing. You’re dragging.”

That gets his attention. He turns to face you, eyes narrowed just slightly. Your throat tightens, you didn’t mean to snap at him. 

“It’s in the score,” he says coldly. 

You jab a finger at the marked section on the page. “You stretch it so far it loses momentum.”

He lets out a humorless chuckle and shakes his head. “You’re thinking emotionally, not structurally.”

That stings more than you expect it to. You’ve been told the same thing countless times by your first ever piano teacher, and now that these words have come back to you it’s like a slap in the face. 

Gunwook notices how your face falls, and suddenly he feels guilty. Maybe he shouldn’t have said it out of frustration.

“And you’re thinking like this is a math equation,” you shoot back after a beat of silence. “It’s music, not physics. You can’t follow the rules and expect to end up with the correct answer.”

Gunwook’s hands tighten around the neck of his violin. His voice is stable, but it’s taking him a lot more effort to maintain the stability. “Is this how you treat everyone you work with? Like they’re just background noise?”

You stare at him. Your chest feels hot, and you’re suddenly too aware of how close you are to the edge of your patience.

There’s a long, tense pause. The ticking of the metronome feels louder now, echoing between you like a countdown.

When Gunwook speaks again, his voice is lower and strained.

“I’m trying to hold it together, but if we aren’t able to perform this piece in 3 weeks we won’t pass the year. I’m telling you we need to play it like it says on the paper.”

You look over your shoulder, frowning. “You care more about being in control than making music with me.” 

The words hang in the air. You stare at him, waiting for him to say anything to you. Waiting for him to tell you that you’re wrong, that he cares about the duet and not only because he desperately wants to pass the exam. 

But he doesn’t. He turns away, still holding tightly onto his violin. 

Your throat tightens. “You know what? I thought this was supposed to be a duet,” you say, your voice low and trembling. “But it’s just you, trying to make everything sound the way you want it. I tried to share some ideas of mine but you won’t even acknowledge or at least listen to how it sounds. I’m not your fucking accompanist, Gunwook.”

He still doesn’t look at you. That silence is the final push. You grab your bag, the chair scraping harshly against the floor as you stand. 

“Figure it out on your own.”

Then you’re out the door, the sound of it closing behind you loud.

The hallway outside the practice room feels colder as you lean against the rough brick wall, heart pounding, breath uneven. You bring the water bottle to your lips, trying to swallow down the argument. 

Your eyes flick to the end of the hall where footsteps approach. You recognise the figure as someone you’ve had a class with in your first year.

“Hey,” he says, “You okay? You looked pretty upset back there.”

You stiffen, gripping your bag tighter. Your voice comes out sharper than you want. “I’m fine.”

He doesn’t step back. Instead, he leans just a little closer. “Nah, you’re not. What happened?”

Your heart thuds louder, panic rising. “I just want to be alone,” you say, trying to sound firm, but the words feel small.

His smirk deepens, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Talking helps, don’t you think?”

You swallow hard, heat rising in your cheeks. You take a cautious step back, away from him. Your entire body screams to run, but you don’t want to cause a scene. 

Then the door at the far end of the hall swings open. The door you rushed out of just a few minutes ago. 

Gunwook steps out, violin case slung over his shoulder. The moment his eyes land on the scene, his posture shifts. He knows he shouldn’t be protective over you, he has no reason to be. But still, looking at how uncomfortable you look in front of that jerk makes his heart beat faster. 

The stranger turns toward Gunwook with a sly grin. “Is this your partner?” he chuckles, voice dripping with mockery. “Looks like she’s struggling to keep up,” he says with a smirk.

Gunwook’s jaw tightens slightly. You want to turn away, to leave the hall, to escape, but your legs feel heavy, reluctant to move.

He steps towards the two of you to close the space between you and the creep. His grip tightens on the strap of his violin case, knuckles whitening.

“Why don’t you back off?” Gunwook says, voice low but firm. 

The stranger chuckles, trying to mask the sudden shift in mood. “Relax, I’m just joking around.”

You want to believe him, want to laugh it off like it’s nothing, but your heart pounds too loud in your chest, and your hands tremble slightly as you clutch your bag tighter.

Gunwook’s gaze flicks to you, scanning your face. Without a word, he subtly moves closer, positioning himself so that the stranger can’t get past him without stepping over you.

“Are you okay?” the stranger asks, leaning to his right to get a better view of you. 

You don’t answer. You don’t want to speak. You only want to disappear, to melt into the walls of the hallway. The stranger leans forward again, smirking, and you stiffen.

Gunwook’s arm moves like a reflex, shielding you behind his arm. 

The stranger’s smirk fades. “Alright, alright,” he mutters, backing off. “No need to get all serious.”

Gunwook doesn’t relax. His eyes remain locked on the stranger until he finally turns and walks away down the corridor, the sound of his footsteps fading.

Only then does Gunwook turn toward you fully. His expression softens just a fraction, but he doesn’t ask if you’re okay. He doesn’t say a word.

“I gotta go.” You quickly whisper as you break eye contact, and without saying goodbye you rush out of the door, out of the building. 

Gunwook watches your figure, exhaling loudly. His heart is still beating loudly in his chest, but is it because of adrenaline or because of something else?  

Gunwook slumps back against the hallway bench. Zhang Hao leans against the opposite wall, arms crossed, watching him with a hint of amusement.

“There is no way you’re giving up right now,” Zhang Hao says, nudging Gunwook’s leg with the toe of his shoe. “You two had one disagreement and now you’re acting like it’s the end of the world.”

Gunwook doesn’t look up. “It wasn’t just a disagreement,” he mutters.

“Oh right, because no one’s ever stormed out of a rehearsal before,” Zhang Hao deadpans, rolling his eyes. “Come on, man. You’ve dealt with worse partners.”

“This is different.”

Zhang Hao raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Right. Because this time, you actually care.”

Gunwook groans and tips his head back against the wall, shutting his eyes. “It’s not that. I can’t think properly when I’m with her. Whenever she looks at me and makes some absolutely crazy suggestion, I can’t help but feel like I want to comply.”

Zhang Hao straightens, intrigued. “So why don’t you comply with her crazy suggestion?”

Gunwook’s brow furrows. “Because crazy suggestions are crazy suggestions. I would never play the piece like that. It just doesn’t make sense. It goes against everything I’ve learned.”

“And yet you still want to say yes to her.”

Gunwook doesn’t answer, but his silence is enough. Zhang Hao lets out a slow whistle.

“You’re screwed.”

Gunwook finally opens his eyes and looks over. “Thanks.”

“No, I mean it,” Zhang Hao says, this time with more seriousness. “This isn’t just about the music anymore. You’re not used to someone pushing you out of your structure and you hate that you kind of like it.”

Gunwook’s jaw tightens.

“She challenges everything about the way you work, and you’d rather walk away than admit she might be right sometimes.”

Gunwook says nothing. His eyes drift to the far end of the corridor, to the door you had disappeared through yesterday.

He remembers how you looked, furious and tired, but also electric, as if even your anger was laced with passion for the music. He remembers the sting of your words: “I’m not your fucking accompanist.” 

After a long pause, he says quietly, “She’s not going to want to see me.”

“Then show up anyway,” Zhang Hao replies. “You already missed your chance to stop her from walking away once.”

Minju shifts on the bed, propping her head up with one hand as she watches you pace across the room. 

You stop in front of her desk, pressing your palms into its surface. “Minju, I can’t work like this. He acts like I’m an unpredictable storm he’s forced to survive.”

She smiles, unfazed. “Well, to be fair, you kind of are.”

You groan and fall onto the chair beside her bed, burying your face in your hands. “He doesn’t even try to meet me halfway. I suggest something new, just one change and he shuts it down. It’s like he’s terrified of playing it any other way than the way it’s written.”

You peek through your fingers, voice muffled. “He’s also smart, talented, and driven, and I hate that I respect him even when I’m mad.”

She chews thoughtfully on a chip, then asks, “How far are you guys with the piece?”

“Well, I’m done,” you say, sitting up straighter. “I wrote down all my ideas. I practiced every single section. I know how I want it to sound. Honestly, I hear it in my head all the time now, like a curse.”

Minju raises a brow. “Sounds like you’re married to it.”

You toss a chip at her, and she dodges, laughing. “We’re nowhere near performing together, though. Every time we play, it’s like we’re forcing our instruments to speak different languages.”

“So the only problem is your personalities,” she concludes.

“I guess.” You pause. “The weirdest thing happened yesterday, though.”

Minju perks up. “Weird how?”

You pull your legs onto the chair and wrap your arms around them, hugging your knees. “After the fight I stormed out. And I was just sitting outside, trying not to cry in public, and this guy from freshman year came up to me. I didn’t even know his name, but he gave me this weird vibe.”

Minju frowns. “And?”

“Gunwook came out of the room. And the moment he saw what was happening, he stepped in. He didn’t even ask what was going on. Just stood between us and made it clear the guy should leave.”

Minju sits up straighter now. “Wait, after the fight?”

You nod, eyes fixed on the carpet. “Yeah, like five minutes after I told him to figure it out on his own. He still came out and helped me.”

Minju’s voice is soft. “That doesn’t sound weird to me.”

You look over at her, confused. “Really?”

She smiles. “He clearly still respects you. Maybe even admires you a little more than he lets on.”

You stay quiet for a moment. “Do you think I was too harsh?” you finally ask.

Minju shrugs. “Maybe. But you’re not wrong. This isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about learning how to make music together, not just at the same time.”

You groan, flopping back onto the bed. “Why does music have to be so dramatic?”

Minju laughs. “Because musicians are dramatic, and apparently, very bad at feelings.”

The hallway outside the classroom buzzes with noise. Chairs scraping against the floor, students calling out to one another, the sound of someone’s ringtone. You keep your eyes down, weaving between people to quickly make it out of the room. 

The argument still plays on loop in your mind. You haven’t gone back to the practice rooms since. You don’t notice the figure rounding the corner until it’s too late.

A sudden impact sends a jolt through your shoulder as you collide into someone. 

“Oh my god, I—” You take a step back. Your heart stops when you realize who it is.

Gunwook.

He’s standing in front of you, holding a folder to his chest, brows slightly raised in surprise. 

You freeze.

He blinks. “Hey.”

Your mouth opens, but nothing comes out at first. Finally, you manage a quiet, “Hi.”

You both glance at the mess of papers scattered across the hallway floor. Students step over them carelessly, too busy in their own conversations to notice. For a moment, neither of you moves.

Then, almost in sync, you both kneel.

Your hands meet on the same sheet. The tips of his fingers brush lightly against yours before you both pull back, too quickly, like you’ve been shocked. You focus on collecting the pages, fingers moving just a little faster than necessary.

He clears his throat. “I should really stop walking while holding loose papers.”

You pass him a stack. A faint smile ghosts on his lips. When he stands up, you do too, brushing dust off your clothes.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he says, eyes scanning your face.

“You haven’t been in the practice rooms,” he adds after a beat.

You nod once. “I prefer practicing at home.”

He presses his lips into a line. “Same.”

There is another pause. He shifts the papers in his hands, gaze dropping to the floor for a second before returning to yours.

“I’ve been meaning to say something,” he begins, voice a bit more careful now. “About what happened.”

You wait.

“I was harsh. I didn’t listen. You tried to bring ideas, and I shut them down without even giving them a chance.” He looks down at his notes. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said. That this is a duet and that it’s not about control.”

“I’ve played a lot of music,” he continues, “but I don’t think I’ve ever played with someone who made me question the way I hear things.”

You fiddle with your phone as you listen to him open his heart to you. 

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like an accompanist,” he says softly. “You’re not. You never were.”

“I’m not good at this whole collaboration thing. I’m not good at letting go of what I think is right. That doesn’t mean I didn’t respect you.”

You study him, his eyes full of sincerity and the way he clutches his folder like it’s the only thing keeping his hands steady.

You believe him.

“I don’t want to give up this piece,” you say quietly.

“I don’t want that either.”

You’re both still standing in the middle of the hallway, the crowd thinning as most students begin to trickle toward the stairwell. You glance toward the exit, then back at him.

“So what now?” you ask, a small, uncertain smile tugging at the edge of your mouth.

He shifts his bag higher on his shoulder. “I was actually heading to the café. My violin is in the lockers near the practice rooms.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Are you asking if I want to come?”

He shrugs, a hint of playfulness finally breaking through the tension. “Well, I wouldn’t complain if I bumped into you and you showed me your ideas over some coffee.”

You roll your eyes, but the smile on your face betrays you. 

“Guess you’ll have to find out.” 

The café is quieter than usual for a Friday afternoon. You sit across from Gunwook at a small table in a corner.

You stir your drink absently, watching the froth on the coffee. Gunwook’s elbow is propped on the table, his fingers skimming the rim of his cup, but you catch the way his eyes flick toward you when he thinks you’re not paying attention.

Neither of you speaks for a moment.

Then, finally, you slide a small folder across the table.

“My notes,” you say simply, though your voice is quieter than usual. “On the Prokofiev. I’ve been writing down stuff since we started practicing. It’s what I was trying to do during our last practice even though you absolutely hated it.”

He doesn't reach for the folder immediately. His gaze lingers on it, thoughtful. Then he looks up at you.

“You kept working on this?” he asks.

You shrug. “It’s not like I ever stopped hearing it in my head.”

He opens the folder, carefully, like it’s something delicate. His brows draw together slightly as he flips through the pages. Lines of annotations in pencil, sketches of rhythm variations, even notes like ‘waayy faster’ are scribbled next to one section.

“I’m sorry,” Gunwook says then. It comes out low and clear. “Not just for what I said. For how I made you feel. I know I can be a lot, especially in rehearsal.”

You look at him, startled by the directness. “I wasn’t exactly graceful either. I should’ve tried harder to explain myself. I guess I just kept thinking you didn’t care what I thought.”

“I do.” He lifts his eyes to meet yours. “I cared way too much, and I didn’t know how to show it without trying to control everything.”

Something softens in your chest at that. You tilt your head. “Is that your way of admitting I was right?”

His lips twitch, and he sighs dramatically. “Unfortunately, yes.”

You both laugh this time, and something about the sound seems to reset the room, easing the tension.

Gunwook taps a finger on one of your notes. “This one, what do you want to do with this part?”

“I imagined it like a conversation, but not a calm one. Like two people arguing with notes instead of words. At the end there’s still harmony in it, like they reached an understanding, even if it was a messy one.”

His eyes flick up to yours again, and for a second, neither of you says anything. But you know he understands. You can see it in the way his expression softens, in how he leans slightly closer across the table.

“I like that,” he says. “I want to try it your way.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really.” He smiles, a little crooked this time. “Even if it’s a crazy suggestion.”

“You mean especially because it’s a crazy suggestion.”

He laughs. “Right. That.”

For a while, the two of you go through the rest of the notes together. You explain where you imagined slowing down or pushing forward, what you think would sound better for the violin part. 

Gunwook listens more than he speaks, but when he does speak, it’s thoughtful, engaged. He points out where your ideas could fit naturally with the way he’s been playing, and where they could challenge him in a good way.

It feels like the kind of collaboration you were hoping for all along. 

Gunwook leans back in his chair, stretching slightly. “You know,” he says, “I wasn’t kidding when I said your ideas got stuck in my head. I played it your way once. Just to see.”

You blink. “You did?”

He nods. “It sounded chaotic. But it was quite interesting.”

A slow smile spreads across your face. “That’s exactly what I was going for.”

He grins. “Of course it was.”

Then, a little hesitantly, Gunwook speaks again. “Do you want to, uhm, maybe stay a bit longer? We could try going over some of the phrasing again?”

You consider it for a moment. His ears are a little pink, and he’s not quite meeting your eyes. It’s as if he’s suddenly turned all shy.

You nod. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

His face relaxes, and the small smile returns.

As you pull the folder back toward you and start flipping to the next page, your fingers brush his lightly.

Neither of you pulls away immediately.

And while neither of you says anything about it, the two of you can feel it in the air. This duet is turning into something more than music.

The performance hall is silent.

You stand behind the curtain, heart beating fast but steady. You’ve practiced the opening notes of Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major so many times that you’re convinced you could play it asleep.

Beside you, Gunwook adjusts the collar of his shirt, then flexes his fingers once, twice, like he’s shaking something off. There’s a glimmer of nervousness in his eyes.

He glances over. “You ready?”

You give a small nod. “Are you?”

He lets out a soft huff of a laugh. “With you there? Yeah.”

Before you can reply, the stage director calls the two of you on stage. The stage stretches out before you, the lights soft and golden. Applause greets the two of you loudly. 

Gunwook walks first, bow in hand, violin tucked securely under his arm. You follow, your shoes quiet against the wood. As you settle in front of the piano and place your fingers above the keys, there’s a moment where your eyes meet.

And then, it begins.

It’s exactly like the two of you have practiced. The same familiarity of the piece washing over you. It’s like you’re back in the practice room with Gunwook again. 

You let yourself lean into the unexpected comfort of playing a piece you know inside out. A piece with phrasing you and Gunwook came up with. 

On stage, with everyone watching, the piece feels even more like it was made for the two of you. 

And you know he hears it too.

When it ends, the crowd is silent for a few seconds. You look over to Gunwook, who gives you a slightly confused look, before the applause breaks out. 

Your eyes meet your teachers’, who look at you with a look you’ve never seen before. 

You stand up from your spot and stop once you’re standing right next to him. The two of you bow. 

Gunwook turns toward you, and you toward him. His eyes are wide, lit with something you’ve only seen once before, during that rehearsal when you both actually smiled at the chaos of the piece. This time, though, the smile doesn’t stop at his mouth. It reaches his whole face.

You both walk offstage, the adrenaline still buzzing through your fingers.

Backstage is quiet, save for a few techs and students from other duets whispering about the performance.

You’re about to head for your things when Gunwook says your name.

You stop.

He steps toward you slowly. He looks extremely nervous, as if he’s about to go on stage. 

“I’ve been thinking about something since the day you walked out.”

You look at him, eyebrows slightly raised.

“I didn’t understand what this duet really was at first,” he says. “I thought it was about control. But every time we practiced, you kept pulling the music somewhere new. Somewhere I didn’t expect.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “I hated it, because it meant letting go. It made me feel things I didn’t plan for.”

His gaze lifts to meet yours fully.

“But it also made the music better. You made it better. And I couldn’t admit it, when I realized I wasn’t just playing for the grade. I was playing for you. With you.”

Your chest tightens. 

“I was scared that if I let myself follow where you led, I’d lose everything I’ve once learned about music.” His voice softens. “But now I think I’ve gained something I didn’t even know I wanted.”

There is silence once again. He steps closer, close enough that you can see the rise and fall of his breathing.

“So, if you’ll let me, I’d like to play with you again. Not just for school and for exams. But because you make me want to play. Because—” he hesitates for only a moment “—because I think I like you.”

For a second, the only sound is the distant murmur of the audience still chatting in the hall.

“You think?” You tease with a smile on your face. 

He exhales, laughing under his breath. “I know.”

You tilt your head slightly, something playful in your eyes. “Good. Because I didn’t go through all that fighting and storming out just for an uncertain confession.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Of course you’d make me work for it.”

You lean in, just enough for your shoulders to brush.

“Gunwook?”

“Yeah?”

“Next time, let’s pick something even harder.”

He grins. “As long as it’s with you.”

zb1 taglist: @tmrwsuns @lakoya @tanghuyuj

other tags: @wonnsluv @kaynunu

[jeonscatalyst]

https://www.tumblr.com/pjslight/765192589573079040/relationship-status?source=share

Just curious... I want to know your thoughts on this.

Hi anon,

I must say I actually really love reading from Jikookers who have very different opinions on what Jikook’s relationship might actually be like and I don’t know about others but I enjoyed reading OP’s thoughts on the whole thing as this was an angle I had never seen any Jikooker discuss before.

I have always said that, anything is possible because we unfortunately don’t know every side of their story and I have also always said that, there is a good possibility that Jikook didn’t have a conventional relationship, not because they didn’t want to but because their circumstances made it impossible for them to.

This is just my opinion obviously but I don’t quite agree with OP on the point that they might have never realized that they loved each other. 13 years is a very long time for people who have lived that closely and have been that close to each other, spending a lot of down and private time with each other to not realize how they felt for each other.

I think this is an argument we can make about fetus Jikook because I honestly believe that they (especially Jimin) didn’t understand he felt for Jungkook. This might be an unpopular opinion but Jungkook might have figured out first that he liked Jimin in a way he shouldn’t which would explain his hot and cold attitude towards him. You know ignoring him when Jimin payed attention to him and then sought him out when Jimin wasn’t paying attention. Shoving him in walls in front of the camera but going to cuddle him in his sleep and wanting to spend nights with him. Fetus Jk was the epitome of a hormonal teen with a crush on someone they didn’t want to accept that they liked.

Jimin on the other hand let himself feel what he felt for Jungkook but he just didn’t understand why he liked Jungkook the way he did. We heard teenage Jimin ask himself multiple times why he liked Jungkook so much and even mentioned how it drove him crazy how much he liked Jungkook. We had fetus Jimin openly saying that he thought Jungkook was really cute but he knew that if he said that, people would think he was weird. He was clearly questioning himself about his feelings for Jungkook possibly because these feelings for another guy like himself were not feelings he had had before but I think after sometime, he figure it out and knew that he had a crush on Jungkook or was in love with him. I think that even though Jungkook probably figured out that he was attracted to Jimin in a different way before Jimin did, I think Jungkook had a harder time letting Jimin see or know that he liked him.

Jimin in my opinion is someone who gives his all to the people he is in love with. He jumps into it with his entire body and completely lets that person know all his cards while Jungkook is one who feels these things but is more weary of letting the person know all his cards unless push comes to shove (hello rainy day story) Jungkook is a softy who desperately wants to act like a tsundere. He always wants to seem or come off cool so he plays the tough uninterested guy (I mean how do you explain him shoving Jimin away or ignoring Jimin every time Jimin was affectionate but at the same time went to cuddle him in his sleep or kept trying to touch him when Jimin wasn’t paying attention?) while Jimin is/was that person who loves like a fool. Jungkook wants to seem cool and like he is a “je m’en fous” kind of person but he is really a softy. Jk is the kind of person who would verbally deny how he feels just because he doesn’t want to lose points lol while Jimin is that person who doesn’t care if he loses points as he just wants to be able to freely talk about and express his feelings. It is kinda hard to explain but even though I find that Jk tends to act tough, I think he actually even loves harder than Jimin does but just hates to admit that he does while Jimin has no problem admitting that he is a goner.

I also don’t think Jimin and Jungkook haven’t acted on their feelings. Let’s be serious here for a moment we are not 12. Who honestly believes that Jimin and Jungkook spent all those long nights together so often just looking at each other’s faces? Over the years Jimin and Jungkook clearly liked going to spend their nights and downtime with each other alone and while this is partly because they had the same sleeping habits, there were definitely other reasons. We are talking about them constantly choosing to be together ALONE at nights and during other downtimes even though they usually spent almost all day together with the rest of the members. I know we have discussed this at length but who honestly believes that in LA, Jk kept going to spend hours in Jimin’s hotel room because he was too lazy to take 5 extra steps to any other member’s room? We are talking about boys who met and probably fell for each other while they were hormonal teenagers who barely had a chance to date because of their hectic schedules and because they weren’t even really allowed to because of the career path they choose. These two hormonal teens obviously feel attracted to each other and surprise, surprise love to spend a lot of time together alone, mostly at nights…..come on, do we really think their will power was tough enough to resist how attracted to each other they were? I am betting good money on the point that they definitely acted on those feelings.

Now where I do somewhat agree with OP is on the point that their circumstances may have made things difficult for them to have a conventional relationship. Sometimes we don’t get just how difficult things must have been from their pov. Now, this isn’t to say that there aren’t people who have made things work under the most difficult circumstances but I think that them being famous and all, made things a little more difficult for them. I also agree that there may have been points when things felt a little too serious for them and they panicked and took steps back from each other. I don’t necessarily think that they hooked up with other people though because not everybody turns to hooking up with other people just because they can’t be with the ones they love but it isn’t an impossibility.

I think Jimin and Jungkook’s relationship is a lot more complicated that any of us could even begin to understand and I think that within all the years of them being together, they have had a ton of ups and downs.

I think Jimin and Jungkook are together but I don’t know how together they are. I think Jimin and Jungkook love each other and are possibly in love with each other and have always been but I don’t know how seriously they choose to treat what they felt/ feel for each other. I think they both know what they feel for each other and regardless of how they agreed to deal with those feelings, I think they were moments where they wanted to just have a normal relationship and probably just date and let everyone know. I think there were moments where they got frustrated about not being able to love each other freely or be together like they wanted to be which led to them expressing those feelings in unconventional ways. Say whatever you want but JK’s GCFs to me was a way he found to express how he felt for Jimin. I think his GCFs were an outlet to release those feelings he felt like he had to hide from the world and he found a clever way to do it. I think that during Rosebowl, when Jimin and Jungkook kept shouting “I love you” and “Love You” back to back, I think those were not to the fans but to each other. The moment they stopped saying “I love you guys” and switched to “ I love you” while saying it right after each other, that was them shouting to the world that they loved each other but of course doing it in a clever way that didn’t make things obvious. I think those two have craved having a normal relationship where they could openly be together and tell the world about how they felt for each other but couldn’t and this made them sad and also put strains in whatever relationship they have with each other.

Things were never bound to completely make sense for the simple fact that we don’t have all the information. We are not always able to explain their happiness, sadness, coldness, aloofness, anger because we don’t know what happens in their lives everyday. I believe I have said this before but even though I had always been positive that Jungkook loved Jimin a lot, no other period showed me just how much he loved Jimin like the solo era did. I remember watching Jungkook’s actions in the solo era with my jaw touching the floor because he couldn’t be more obvious and watching the Jimin centric Live he did on March 27th 2023 always breaks my heart in so many ways,I mean who watched those lives and doesn’t see how much Jungkook loves Jimin? Who watched those lives and didn’t wonder why Jimin eats hot food on Suchwita and we have Jungkook repeating twice with obvious concern on his face that the food must be hot and going ahead to move his mouth like he is trying to cool down the burning sensation for Jimin? Who watched Jk and didn’t notice how obviously attracted he is to Jimin by how he went so still and almost stopped breathing while he watched SMF pt 2 Jimin? Who watched Jk in the solo era and didn’t question why someone would wake up at 4am to watch his band mate while kicking, smiling and blushing? Nah, Jimin and Jungkook know how they feel about each other, have probably acted on those feelings or done something about it but I just don’t know what they decided to term what it is they have with each other and how seriously they have chosen to treat those feelings.

Life and relationships are extremely complicated so anything at all is possible. Even though most of us wish for or hope that Jikook have this fairytale type of romance, it probably isn’t always like that because unfortunately life knows how to throw the biggest curve balls and that’s why it is important to keep an open mind about how things might really be with these two. I feel like it is obvious to me that they love and are attracted to each other. I also think it is abit unrealistic to think they haven’t acted on their feelings but what we don’t know for sure is how seriously they choose to treat those very obvious feelings they’ve always had for each other, so I do agree with OP to some extent and disagree with some of their points but I think their post was really good and it felt refreshing to get a different pov.

[spiceofvy]

🐙 here. again. How about Stray Kids as sugar babies? I don't mean that they're like, broke, but like if their partner treats them so much and so often that the sugar baby sugar parent jokes speak for themselves.

Anyway, who likes what kind of gifts; such as For-maximum-eyecandy-effect, being taken to events, cool tech, treated to food, that sort of thing. ...something around those lines, I mean, you're the writer so maybe you got a cooler spin on this.

Am currently unemployed and can't treat nobody rn but I feel the itch to be a sugar parent nowdays.

Hope you knock em dead ✌️

Spoiling SKZ with gifts

cws: fluff, gender neutral reader, two sensual innuendos (hyunjin, jeongin)

Chan: Noooo don't buy him things. He is the one that wants to spoil you instead. That's like his duty in the relationship. But he will wear anything and everything you buy for him. Especially if it's skzoo merch, but only if you also get something matching for yourself or else he will get it for you. Will pout and blush when you give him something but when someone asks him about it he will proudly tell everyone that you got it for him.

Minho: Shamelessly asks for things he likes but only he is 100% percent sure that you don't mind spending money on him and actually enjoy buying him stuff. Would totally love some expensive cat toys, or those treat dispensers that cats have to activate by pressing a button or solving a puzzle. Also enjoys being taken to super fancy restaurants, but he always insists on paying for the dessert. Once send you a picture of a fancy kitchen appliance as a joke and was very shocked when you actually got it for him.

Changbin: Our rich boy makes a challenge out of it. Who can spend more money on the other? Doesn't love to go out to restaurants but likes to get luxury takeout instead. Also enjoys a lot of expensive workout gear. Sends you even more workout pics afterwards. Answers any gift of yours with one of his own. Also shares every piece of food with you that you paid for and asks you to come to the gym with him so you can see him in the new gear.

Hyunjin: Less shameless than Minho, he wont straight up ask for things but instead sometimes just sends you links to stuff he likes. Especially likes being taken out to art shows or galleries. Or full shopping trips. Always models the stuff you got him afterwards for you. Especially when it's jewelry or perfume he wears only the jewelry and the perfume. Will totally tell the other boys that you paid for it, like the proud sugar baby he is.

Jisung: Mostly asks for food. Like snacks and (imported) candy. Ask absolutely shamelessly for it. Especially at food stands, picks like every different taste and makes you try it with him. Gets super happy about the good food. Also likes to be taken out to carnivals and theme parks. Prepare to pay and wear silly headbands and pose for all the photo ops. Also always buys you something in return.

Felix: Really enjoys being treated like that. Blushes dark red when you give him something and thanks you by plastering kisses all over your face. Especially like some fancy gaming equipment or lootboxes or genshin pulls. Totally shows off his new equipment to you and brags about it towards the others. Would never directly ask for anything, except for plushies. He gives them names and then treats them like they are your children.

Seungmin: Was really shy when you started to buy things for him. But he actually enjoys being spoiled. Mostly baseball tickets and manga. Really impressed when you know a new release before him. Gets soft about those gifts and treasures them a lot. Always blushes a little when he gets something from you. Invites you out for dinner shortly after you gifted him something.

Jeongin: Really enjoys being spoiled, full maknae mode. Loves getting clothes and short vacations. But always pays you back afterwards. Models the clothes, and gets you something matching. Massage your shoulders on the beach you took him too. Surely only with the intention to spread sun protection on your shoulders and back. Don't mind his hands wandering lower, and his pretty new clothes landing on the ground.

[apenapaperandadoofus]

Yes, I agree with you. Some things can only be truly understood when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Xie Lian was spoiled in some ways and doted upon by his parents; he was a prince. But I’d argue that there’s also something to be said about how Mu Qing and Feng Xin treated Hong Hong’er, and how the “one cup of water and two people” question ties into not just class inequality from above, but also how even those beneath the social hierarchy can internalize class bias. The system affects everyone. Xie Lian was kind and humble, but he also used to say, “I want to save the common people.” I saw a post suggesting that “common people” referred to those beneath the crown, and while his belief in saving everyone was sincere, he was also overconfident and self-righteous in thinking he could carry the burden all on his own. He had heart, but not experience. He was only 17. The Xianle arc shows his complicated relationship with the crown and with himself. Honestly, I liked Jun Wu’s prince arc more in some ways. He was more mature when things hadn’t yet spiraled out of control , or maybe the situation was just different. Civil wars are much harder to write about. I admired Xie Lian for not wanting to unleash the plague on the Yong’an people, but at the same time, I felt frustrated with how things unfolded. Yes, it was Jun Wu’s doing he wanted Xie Lian completely isolated but Xie Lian also had little to no experience as a prince, since he spent most of his time cultivating and disliked how his father handled politics. During those years, he began to understand why people steal, why they drink...swear, how everyone has their own life and path, and why sometimes, people must separate. And yet, even through all of that, we have Hua Cheng someone who would stay for him even after death, even when his soul was on the verge of destruction, just to stand by his side eternally.

If you ask me Mei Nianqing is a character who, like many elders, won’t easily listen to the younger generation because he sees them as naive. It was also Xie Lian who vouched for Mu Qing. The thing is, MNQ is a Guoshi, and even as a prince, Xie Lian’s role was technically beneath that. In many Asian cultures, your teacher or guru holds the highest status. You can challenge their ideas, but you can’t use your authority against them.In some ways, I do think Xie Lian could’ve done more. But from his position, he saw the problems as linear. He believed that if he, as a prince, took people under him and used his status or eventually became a god things would be resolved. I give him credit for standing up to his father, the king, and questioning him. But in reality, issues like these are much deeper and more complex. One person alone can’t bring about change. These kinds of problems require society as a whole to come forward and address them together.

He learned the true meaning of his stance on “one cup and two people” by distributing his own luck to those less fortunate after his second banishment, and he refused to take off the two shackles that brought him misfortune because they reminded him of Wu Ming—a ghost with no name, his last believer—who destroyed his own soul for Xie Lian as a result of Xie Lian having once thought of taking it out on innocent people for things orchestrated by White No-Face.

BTW, it was nice talking to you, and I really like your posts about your mom reacting to TGCF , they are my favorite. I wish I could also share this type of stuff with my family, especially my mom, but it’s just hard for me. People here still aren't very open about these things. Have a good day!

Oh yes! There’s also the fact Mu Qing is also in his way classist- everyone in the book, in Xianle, seems to place importance on class, like XLs father, they seemed to grow in that environment.

Like I said, I think XL is a case of both- he sometimes does things he doesn’t realize arent helping the cause but that’s mostly bc of ignorance- while I do think he has a really optimistic look to change the way people view the whole class situation, it’s a bit wonky since he hasn’t experienced being of a lower class or station, so maybe what he thinks could help could actually cause more harm.

I really wish we could have learned more about Jun Wu! If he was a lot like XL when he was a prince, but got to live a bit longer (I think? I think JW ascended younger but he spent longer as a god didnt he? Correct me if I’m wrong) I wonder how he had matured as a god, and what his choices then would have been.

I think his story is really tragic- obviously it doesn’t justify what he did to XL, but imo the heavens back then totally deserved to be turned into sidewalks pFT. I think it’s so sad how someone who clearly cared so much for his people was practically driven crazy by not only heaves, but because of the betrayal of his people themselves.

I know some people don’t like that Jun Wu didn’t get killed (I’ve seen some) but I think (not to justify his actions btw) that eventually the prince he was got buried behind the hurt and evil exterior. I think the Jun Wu that wanted to save the common people is still there, just like when XL was white no face, but buried underneath the hate, and sadly, unlike XL he wasn’t able to have someone place a bamboo hat on his head, or a Hua Cheng to show him otherwise.

Which thinking of it like that- because we saw it with XL, which was kind of what Jun Wu went through, I think it’s tragic because Jun Wu clearly just goes fuck it we ball, and buries it all out of anger. So I hope, even if it was late, that after being sealed in mount tonglu, being with MNQ slowly unburied the starry eyed prince from before- or rekindles the flame. Once again, not justifying his actions and I don’t think I’d like him to reconcile with XL, far too much trauma there, but I hope he personally gets to grow and become at peace. While he can’t undo the insane damage he did, he at least won’t do anymore? Lmao. I just hope he regains his love for humanity, no matter how long it takes. After all, even he was shaped by the terrible heavily officials before him (again not justifying mass genocide -the old heavens deserved it tho- or traumatizing XL) but he was kind of driven to that madness also by being around terrible, greedy people, and facing betrayal by the people he’d worked so hard to protect :(

Maybe it’s because I’m someone that can’t forgive easily (cough Hua Cheng cough) but I give SO many props for XL for not destroying Yong’an. Obviously it’s easy for me to say “oh I would have ended it all!” But yknow just like XL with the lower class when he’s a prince, I can’t 100% say I know what it would feel like ahshs

But seriously I remember admiring XL so much- I was angry for him and at that moment when I first read I was still angry (since I read everything in one go the 100 swords and everything else’s feelings hadn’t had time to fester lol) so I was like “crap no! Destroy them! Get your revenge they deserve it!” But then XL did it- and most would see it in like…such a Mary Sue way? Like in movies where the hero can kill the villain but doesn’t because “oh the goodness of my heart I would never go to your level because I’m so kind and righteous” and it’s kind of annoying bc you KNOW a normal person wouldn’t do that and that it’s because the author doesn’t want the audience to think the MC is evil! Or has any flaws!

But with XL it feels natural. I didn’t think oh the author did this because XL is such a Mary Sue and is ALWAYS so kind like a Disney Princess (I do think he’s a Disney Princess lmao) but you actually see him crash out before- you see him get mad and that’s what makes the forgiveness more bittersweet because you might be mad- but you see why XL at the end doesn’t destroy Yong’an- it’s not because the author was afraid to show XLs bad side- in fact MXTX shows us all of humanities flaws with her chats characters in a realistic way that I love because I feel like media nowadays is afraid to have characters that have flaws, that have ugly sides, just like we normal people do.

I love seeing XL at his kindest moments because they mean more after seeing his angriest ones. The kindness he shows is ten times more meaningful and significant because you have seen him be angry- you have seen him make mistakes and let his feelings consume him. But that’s what makes him so lovely- because you see it all and what shapes him, and you understand he’s just someone who had to grow up too quickly and was set up to fail, but is still kind.

And I love that’s what HC loves about him because people see flaws as something ugly- when they’re what makes us humans. Obviously we can work on ourselves, but we will have flaws no matter what, no one can be perfect. And the fact MXTX makes them gods, when usually religions make their deities be such perfect beings (except the Greeks I believe which is why I loveeed reading about them when I was wrong, the gods seemed like what I would think actual gods would act like- prideful, overconfident, etc etc) and MXTX shows even they have flaws which aaaaa I looooove

I actually did not know in Asia teachers or guoshis were held to such a high status actually! I thought even if he was the teacher, since XL was a prince he would have more power but it doesn’t seem like it, that’s so interesting! Then it makes more sense as to why maybe XL couldn’t directly speak to him, or change his mind so easily, I understand! My apologies for not knowing before! I still think since like you said, he stood up to the king he wouldn’t be afraid to step up to MNQ, but maybe there’s the fact XL was in a bad place with his father and Guoshi at the time took a more parental figure whom he respected.

And of course, I loved talking to you too! Feel free to message me or drop an ask about whatever you want to talk about! I love needing out over books and media, even if sometimes views don’t align I love reading and even arguing (respectfully) the points of view! I hope I was able to correctly articulate my thoughts haha, sometimes words be hard 😭

It really sucks you aren’t able to share something you like, I hope you’re able to someday :( if you want, you can talk to me, I’d love to hear you out 🥰

I’m happy you enjoyed my mom’s silly reactions, they made me laugh and I’m glad it made others as well!

Have a great day! Sending you tons of hugs 🤗

[bloodlines-if]

omfg it's starting... so very sorry a rude and entitled anon has found their way to you, it seems to be recurring theme among the IF community these days :// and right at the beginning too I'm honestly so sorry. Kind reminder that this is YOUR game and YOUR vision, and the people who are interested in it will play regardless. Anyone who doesn't like it can just turn tf away. Please don't be discouraged :///

Honestly, I like playing a regular MC even if the people around me are OP because it's easier to delve into the game that way. I'm sure other people share this opinion, for example. Everyone has different tastes but that doesn't excuse rudeness and demanding you to change YOUR (still at the early stages, considering you just posted the intro post) project is insane, when they could just as easily find a game to their tastes or just ???? create their own ????? if they're so pressed ?????

Anyway, you don't have to post this if you don't want to, I don't want to bring a wave of rude asks answering to this. As long as it helps you or finds its way to you in a time of need, it's enough. Keep your head up, you got this!!!

Awww that’s such a sweet message thanks! And I’m definitely going to post it! Yes, the anon really had a crash out and my blog doesn't even exist for 48 hours lol!

I’m not really discouraged no worries I was just rather surprised. Honestly, I was more pissed at them for bashing all the other IFs - I think I've read all of them and they're ALL amazing!! People work so hard on their stories and I enjoy every single one of them! Then they just get into my inbox throwing a temper tantrum like an entitled child (stealing Jude’s words here) and I'm sitting here like... my friend, I haven't even posted the prologue yet??? Anyways tomorrow will be all about the IF again. I said what I have to say and now I’m gonna concentrate on my story.

[ceasarslegion]

I am aware of the irony of soap boxing about this but it's entirely possible to soap box too much, and lean into buzzkill territory where it becomes very hard to talk to you and therefore very hard to want to talk to you at all. I saw this happen a few times when I went to a con recently, which turned me off of wanting to go up and ask for the exhibitors tumblr URLs to see if they wanted to hang out more.

Specifically, I went to an anime trivia panel that included a bunch of classics like Cardcaptor Sakura, Ouran High School, Berserk, etc. Whenever one of these shows were mentioned the exhibitors went off on weird tangents to make absolutely sure everybody in the room knew how problematic they thought they were and how they don't support anything that the shows obviously (/s) did, in case you were wondering. They also made weird comments about a lovely artist who had a sign saying she had an nsfw flipbook and had no real limits for commission orders because "what if the kids here saw that??" I was thinking of going to anime karaoke until they said they were hosting that one, and I decided not to because I was put off by the possibility that they would take some kind of moral issue with whatever anime op I tried to sing.

Another one I went to, someone shared that the nanowrimo website had tons of worldbuilding and character resources and one of them INTERRUPTED HER to lean into the mic and make sure everyone in the room knew they didn't support nanowrimo and thought they were really bad and awful and that no one should use them, and the whole room felt really awkward because we were like dude??

And recently I stopped talking to one of my coworkers because he takes some kind of moral issue in every little thing I show him. I told him to watch Madoka Magica and he made it all the way to the op before slamming me about how he thought it was pedophilic and a slippery slope and "how could you watch something like that???" and refused to hear anything about how not all nudity is sexual and human bodies are just human bodies sometimes.

This makes you so freaking hard to talk to man, sometimes I think people should stop being so obsessed with if other people will think they support the worst possible interpretation of something and just chill the fuck out. It's not that deep if someone has fond memories of Ouran High School, it's just an anime. It's not that deep if someone remembers a place to get resources, it's just a website. It's not that deep if a show shows actual human bodies in non-sexual settings. Calm the fuck down.

[ask-train-trio]

~.~.~𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐎 ~.~.~

INTRODUCTION MASTERPOST!!!!!

(ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ɢɪꜰ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ ʙɪɢ ᴏᴏᴘs)

This is an askblog for @lunozapp 's Indigo Park OCs! This post contains everything you need to know about this ask blog/AU and its characters! Context, boundaries, references etc. Asks are contextualised a little differently here, so check the blog description for the tl;dr on the context.

Check out issue 1 here!

CONTEXT:

This is DappleTilez24, also known as Tilez. He's a relatively small streamer in his universe's indigo park community, and is known for tirelessly completeing run after run, trying to beat his personal records (with.... varying sucess).

One day, he tries to speedrun a build of the game that he's never seen before...

...and stumbles across 2 MORE Rambleys than usual, much to the surprise - and confusion - of the Rambley we know and love!

Naturally, our hero Tilez is pretty damn confuddled... so he (mistakenly) asks his live chat for an explaination.

This is where YOU fantastic askers come in!

You act as Tilez's live chat. This means you don't even have to answer his queries, just say whatever you want to this interdimentional triplet of trash pandas, just like a REAL insufferable livechat would!

...within reason, of course (jokes aside, please read the boundaries)

[updated as of 04/07/24] CHARACTER REFERENCES: (in the animation i forgot twimbly's GT badges lol)

CHARACTER BOUNDARIES:

I want to make it entirely clear that i see the raccoon trio as brothers, especially with their very similar origins.

This is to say that I would not feel comfortable with any of them being shipped with eachother and I forbid the public sharing of that kind of content. If you see that kind of stuff around, please just mention this to the OP and block them if they refuse to respect it.

FURTHERMORE, please keep in mind that I ( @lunozapp ) am a MINOR. SO DON'T PUBLICLY POST NSFW/FETISH ART OF MY CHARACTERS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

However, shipping Twimbly, Ranglore, Rambley and Tilez with other characters that aren't related to them is fine by me (e.g. any of the original indigo characters x any of them, since they're not related)!

Again, please just keep it sfw.

ASK BOUNDARIES:

Pretty basic criteria, really. Just please don't spam the same ask over and over, I will guaranteed see them all unless this thing gets an explosion of attention out of nowhere lol

if i don't answer, its probably because either the question doesn't really fit the kind of story i have in mind for these characters or i just don't feel comfortable answering it. please respect that.

If you have a question for me specifically, start your ask with '[OOC]' (Out Of Character) or just ask me directly: @lunozapp

FURTHER INFO:

Asks are moreso used here as a prompt for conversation rather than the basis of an entire issue. More often than not there will be more than 1 ask in an issue, so going forward I'll make sure to tag everyone who asks without annonymity.

Also, please TRY to keep them as actual questions and not goofy 1-word sentences, the asks help me actually formulate a coherent premise for an issue

I don't OWN the concept of making ocs based off lore.mp4 and the GT thumbnail. if u see someone doing the same, try not to be all like 'OMG TWIMBLY/RANGLORE!!!! THEY ALREADY EXIST THIS IS PLAGARISM YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!!!11!!11' unless it is blatant plagarism. Just use ur common sense ig

In terms of fanart/other fanworks, A MILLION THANKS IF YOU FEEL CALLED TO MAKE THAT!! The stuff i've gotten so far is genuinely so awesome, make it all you want if you feel called to do so. I'll try to reblog any fanart I find on here. If you want to go straight to asks, just click on the tag '#train trio asks'

alright, that's everything. Now what are you still doing here? Throw 'em a question! Or a compliment!! Or an insult.

or don't idrc just have fun here haha

fun fact!! putting everything together for this took a WEEK