#please taigen die

[marydrawsometimes]

"Fucking brat. I'll cut your throat! That'll shut you up!."

"Your eyes are beautiful."

"Uh."

[loptrcoptr]

Taigen, staring at Mizu, mumbling under his breath: damn, I wanna fuck you

Mizu: what did you just say?

Taigen, flustered: I SAID FUCK YOU DUDE, FUCK YOU!!

[sophswritingthings]

Im addicted to archer reader x mizu

Imagine, romantic tension between mizu and reader Even though bith off them would rather die than admit it, and reader gets jealous of mizu and tiagen.

Maybe reader spars with taigen to show off a bit too mizu 👀 also them just kinda having beef with taigen 👀👀

pairing: mizu x fem!archer!reader

warning(s): swearing, mizu + reader having nsfw thoughts about one another + a bit of some nsfw words/scenes

a/n: mizu watching you spar with taigen and he pins you down and she just beats the shit out of him like don’t touch. MINE

word count: 796 words / 4,280 characters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

you stared at her as you walked. she was walking far ahead of you. just looking at her got you all hot and bothered.

she was undeniably hot. not that you’d ever admit that to her—you’d rather jump out a window than tell her that. 

all you could imagine was her, lying with her head nestled between your thighs—fucking you until you couldn’t even shoot your bow and arrow the next day.

you sighed, trying to shake your head of these thoughts.

little did you know—she happened to be thinking the same exact thing. 

she was walking in front of you; she couldn’t see you, but she could hear the sound of your footsteps, the sound of you quietly talking with ringo.

so badly did she just want to have you writhing and pleading under her. begging her to continue while she teased your body mercilessly.

those were things she’d rather die without completing her vow then ever admit to anyone. especially you.

but it felt like—every time you as much looked at one another, you could just feel the tension.

when you sparred, breathing heavy, pinned against the wall with her sword pressed against your neck. 

the way your eyes locked when you would engage in battle, together.

and simply the way you looked at her from across the room with that.. look in your brown eyes.

she didn’t know what to make of any of it, and she wasn’t going to try, because she was on a quest for revenge—not for love or lust—or.. whatever this was.

when you came to a stop, you were nestled around the fire. she could hear you and taigen sparring just a minute away, she could see you two sparring.

you had taigen pinned to the ground. her face grew hot, both  by thinking how attractive you looked while doing it—and by anger. the fact that you were sitting atop of him, and not her..

and she was making you horribly jealous, as well.

the way you saw her.. hovering over top of taigen.. having him pinned by his wrists to your cabin floor.

you went asleep jealous and wildly attracted to her, that night.

“why.. do you keep looking at me, like that?” taigen narrowed his eyes at you.

“because,” you hiss. “I don’t like you.”

“and for what? what in fucking hell did I do to you?” taigen retorts.

“you’re.. into him!” you growl, “and you’re going to stop, or I’m going to shoot an arrow right through your head.”

he snickered, “oh, that’s what this is about,” he rolled his eyes. “you’re jealous.”

“and so what if I fucking am?!” you yelp, definitely loud enough to where mizu could hear you.

“I’ll have you know—I’ve caught him talking about you on many occasions.”

mizu stares at him with wide eyes. she knows what you two are talking about, now.

you shrink back a little, your gaze shifting to mizu as you see her expression.

“I..” she whispers, “he isn’t lying.”

“.. oh,” you mumble. “okay.”

“okay?” she repeats, “what—does that mean?”

“it just means.. okay.” you murmur, “we need to talk, mizu. like.. soon.”

she sighs, “I agree,” her anger shifts to taigen. “now that taigen has decided to go and share all my secrets with whomever he pleases.”

you chuckle, a little, “yes, I suppose.”

“come with me, then.” she gestured for you to follow her.

you quickly take her up on her offer, following her out into the woods.

you walk side by side. you can feel the tension. you were unaware if it was sexual tension, or if she was going to attack you at any moment.

her hands wrap around your body, grasping at your hair as she pushes you up against a nearby tree. you gasp, your face flushing red.

“I’ve waited so long to have you like this,” mizu whispers, her lips hovering just above your ear.

a shaky breath leaves your lips, “never have I wanted something more,” you hiss, gazing at her deep blue eyes, hungry for you.

her lips crash onto yours, a soft moan leaving your lips as she does so. her hands are grasping your hair for dear life, your hands locked around her neck as you kissed her back, the desperation in your lips as you did so.

“maybe.. maybe we shouldn’t be doing this in the woods,” you huff as her lips travel to tu our throat. 

“maybe not,” her breathing his heavy, her voice husky. “later, though. I’ll have you in my bed; and have my way with you.”

she hissed the words like she would speak of her vow. unchanging and determined.

she lets go of you, slipping out of the woods, leaving you breathless against the tree.

tonight, then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a/n: song rec time!! I can see you (taylors version) (from the vault) orrrr shut up by lauren sanderson

[kisses4mizu]

y’know I respect a fan’s choice about how they want to view mizu but tiny ramble about it here. this isn’t any sort of discussion or ‘matter of fact’ essay, just a simple rant about headcannons about her being TRANS and her SEXUALITY.

Warning: extremely long.

Given the numerous limitations that would arise from traveling as a woman, I find it very difficult to understand why some people believe Mizu is transgender when it's obvious that she is hiding this information in order to survive. This was particularly true during the Edo period, when women were dehumanized and treated like objects because we only ever see them as a slave or working in a brothel (majority of the show at least). They were also seen having to depend on men for nearly everything, as demonstrated in the episode where the mother and daughter were left outside to freeze to death since her husband was not present to accompany them. Along with that subtle hints were presented to us that show how comfortable she is when in touch with her femininity like a few moments in the episode where she came back to Swords-father Eiji’s hut. Though, I can definitely see why people would label her as transmasc with the theory that she must’ve grown so accustomed to this sort of lifestyle, she’d perhaps just become transmasc in the later episodes. We’ll never know!

Next, not gonna lie, I’m insanely guilty of viewing Mizu as a bisexual women despite feeling that she is leaning more toward heterosexuality in terms of her sexuality. I have the biggest fattest crush on her so I have no problem stating how much I'm crying and wailing over this. Like c’mon, let's be real, I guarantee that 98% of simps are female, and I’m sure every single one of us has mentioned once that we can all treat her better than Mikio and Taigen. Speaking of Taigen, I HAVE to admit that him and Mizu do have the best chemistry compared to everyone in the show. It’s clear in the way she pulls him away from those shooting arrows, knocks him out becahse she fears for his safety if he follows, saving him from Fowler's castle even though she could have easily just left him to die and slain Fowler, etc. At first, I would’ve assumed she’d have trauma with men especially after Mikio’s betrayal which might’ve led her to stray away from any romantic attraction with men—or anybody in general. Honestly, I have dedicated my time to search for ANY hint (ok not rlly) that she might be attracted to women, but the only time I ever see her become flustered by one is when she appears to be taken aback by the prostitues she tried to ask for directions to the Shindo Dojo. Plus, there were only two occasions where she interacted with Akemi that people use to automatically ship them which is when she saw Akemi in her carriage (not sure of the specific name) and pinned her down in Madame Kaji's brothel. I can’t imagine them as a couple in later episodes, something I’m been dying to see. Though, it’s hard to determine what was running in her mind during the scene where they both stole glances at each other, especially since there was no sort of indication in her inner thoughts or emotions, so it’s normal to assume the above as well. (Despite that, I’m still rooting for AT LEAST bisexual Mizu because for the love of god and for the sake of all of the gay women here, PLEASE. /j)

I may make jokes about these headcannons like playfully hating on the TaiMizu ships. All in all, I’m sure the fans are mature enough to understand that these are meant to be lighthearted jokes and that people interpret a character and show in various ways and it’s normal! Even if I can’t comprehend the theory or feel as though it is a little too complicated/really negotiable, remember to support what you want, ship what you want, make whatever headcannons, nobody’s stopping you! Don’t be too afraid to just announce what you feel about the show. All I ask is to avoid SERIOUSLY cancelling someone just because of their own feelings and opinions. In the end, they’re stilll fictional characters (😞😞) who have no sort of physical form of any sort so do whatever, as long as it isn’t really THAT problematic in a sense (e.g. romanticising rape), go for it.

(Sorry for bringing her sexuality into this, I’m aware of how the show is definitely not centering on this and not every single thing has to be LGBTQ-related but I noice it’s something constantly brought up in the fandom. As someone whose phrasing and essay writing skills suck, I’m still learning bit by bit about how the world works in terms of differing views on things. I may not support your idea of a character but I RESPECT it! If I came off as rude, I’m sorry, remember it’s just my random midnight thoughts🙏)

[lillymakesart]

So I have this idea for Spoiled Brat Mizu though it will unravel her perfect life.... But role assignments first. Master Eiji is her tutor, Ringo is the son of their head cook and is one of her besties, Taigen is....her bodyguard for a lack of a better term, Akemi is her friend and playmate when they were kids, also a spoiled little lady. Their dads are friends. Mizu is still excellent with the sword, although its mostly because she likes it and not for anything else. The only way Taigen got to stay as her bodyguard was because of all the samurai in all the schools, he was the one who lasted the longest when she challenged them. Story idea: An assasination attempt on her father (who is a daimyo) and while he doesn't die, he is gravely injured. Mizu goes on a path of revenge for her Dad and everyone tags along for the adventure. Ringo and Akemi because they think its fun. Taigen because he had to. She has none of the self-hatred. Just anger that someone tried to kill her father.

I came upon this thought while putting my daughter to sleep. LMAO.

im in love with this arc this plot this world building im BEGGING someone to please write the fic PLEEAASSSEEE

[prickly-paprikash]

Don't you just hate it when one of the biggest grifters online decides to like a piece of media you like?

Gatekeeping is wrong. Forcing someone to like something in the specific way I interact and consume a piece of media is wrong. Art is meant to be viewed through a multitude of lenses, and each individual will have their own way of interpreting that creation. And that's good. That's fine. That's human.

But when an Anti-Woke Grifter who thinks alcoholism is a really cool personality trait and decides to brand everything about themselves as that; who has historically engaged and criticized films and shows and games and books in bad faith; who has put down women and POC's and Queer representation in media; who is one of the biggest dicks in the online space decides to actually pay attention to an art that is pretty much dipped, coated, laminated, and injected with fucking GAY, ANTI-PATRIARCHAL ENERGY—that's when I get mad.

For those not in the know, Critical Drinker has posted a review for Blue Eye Samurai, saying he likes it.

You know... Blue Eye Samurai?

The show that oozes Queer Wrath? Feminine Rage? Curb-Stomping Toxic Masculinity and the Patriarchy whenever and wherever it can? That Blue Eye Samurai?

See, he's done this before with Arcane.

He says he likes it. Him and his ilk say that, "Finally, the wokies have done something actually good!" and point to Vi and Jinx as strong female characters written well!

But they also say, dang, feels like all the men in that show are idiots and that they had to be dumbed down to make room for the rainbow-haired girlies brigade. Who have all remarked that Vi and Caitlyn's relationship is forced and being shoved down our throats because god forbid women like women!

I got sick of watching his Arcane review halfway, and this was before I knew what a douche Critical Sucker was.

So I ain't watching his Blue Eye Samurai review. Why?

His Glass Onion review was done in bad faith.

I didn't like She-Hulk, but that's because that show was a byproduct of abused VFX animators, creatively bankrupt executives, and writers desperately trying to manage a convoluted shared universe that continues to buckle under its own weight. Political Stinker over here thinks that it's pandering, stupid, feminist garbage. He is one of the biggest Anti-Feminist voices in Youtube.

Him and his incel brigade have an obsession over hating Captain Marvel and Brie Larson. These basement dwelling cucks rant and rave over a mediocre duology and an actress that just lives in their tiny heads rent-free.

He says that they are removing men from leading roles and roles of great importance!

So why would I want to listen to an inebriated libertarian's opinions on a show that has become the show for lesbians, trans mascs, and other lovely brands of gay and feminism that he oh so despises? He'll most likely praise the action and violence and shit like that, then probably say that Mizu and Taigen's homoerotic rivalry isn't gay actually. Or that Mizu and Akemi's narrative foils don't scream enemies-to-sapphics. Or that Mizu, WHO'S NAME MEANS WATER AND HER ENTIRE CHARACTER REVOLVES AROUND FLUIDITY ISN'T IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM FLUID IN HER GENDER AND SEXUALITY.

Fuck. I'm sorry. I don't even care if he doesn't say that. He's made so many disgusting, disparaging remarks about any piece of media that shows an inkling of progressive themes that what else am I supposed to expect?

If anyone watches it and sees this, lemme know. Watching an Anti-Woke bullshit video with just myself is just straight up wading through the desert without proper protection. No thanks.

Anyway watch Blue Eye Samurai again. Because I know you watched it. Watch it again. And again. And when you're done, watch Arcane. Watch She-Ra. Watch Dragon Prince. Castlevania. Watch anything "woke". Consume trans-positive shows. Make all the haters and even the ones who like it but have no ounce of media literacy irrelevant. Let them dry out and die, please.

[ceruleanskies48]

Dead Mothers of BES pt. 1 (Akemi)

Mizu, Taigen, Akemi, and Ringo are very different characters, but the two things they all have in common are shitty fathers and dead mothers (at least from our Season 1 knowledge). The shitty fathers part is pretty self-explanatory, but let’s dig into what we know about their dead mothers and what we might speculate.

This is a four-part series, starting with Akemi's mom.

How do we know she’s dead?

In Ep. 4, Lord Daichi states that Akemi’s mother is no longer around. Seki confirms this in Ep. 7 when he says he tried to prepare Akemi for the world after her mother died. 

When did she die?

The evidence we have points in two different directions. One possibility is that she died not that long ago, when Akemi was already in her teens. Akemi’s half-brother Tomoe is not that old (pre-verbal), and Lord Daichi likely remarried and had his second child shortly after his first wife died due to the need for a male heir. Indeed, when he talks about Lord Saito being on the market for a new bride, he mentions blithely that Lord Saito’s wife just died in childbirth, suggesting that new brides are sought quickly afterward. In addition, Lord Daichi in Ep. 8 says that Akemi used to look at his with admiration. This is definitely not the nature of their relationship when we first meet them, so it could be that Akemi’s regard for her father changed when he remarried. Young children typically are more accepting of step parents, and Akemi might have been especially upset at her father if his new bride wasn’t that much older than her. 

That said, it seems like Seki has been taking care of her since she was little. He, not her mom, brushed her teeth, taught her to read and paint, and was the one who let her sneak into her father’s library to read books. That said, the fact that he replaced her mom (instead of a nursemaid) implies that Akemi was not young enough to need breastfeeding. Either he started taking care of Akemi when she was around 3 and her mom died around then, or he was taking care of her even when her mom was still alive. 

How did she die?

She could have died from illness, but my guess is that she died from pregnancy-related complications. Akemi was her only child, so there must have been significant pressure for her to bear a male heir. The fact that Akemi doesn’t have a younger full sibling suggests that her mother might have struggled with subsequent pregnancies, perhaps having miscarriages/stillbirths, which were much more dangerous at the time. 

What was she like? 

Lord Daichi said that Akemi’s mom was like her in that she talked back. That said, she knew how to please him as a wife. My guess is that she was a strong woman who knew how to influence her often pig-headed husband. The fact that Seki took over from her as Akemi’s “mother” suggests that he was close to Akemi’s mother. Otherwise it’s a strange position for her father’s counselor to be put into. In addition, Seki raised Akemi to be a future leader, which is very progressive for the time, so my guess is that he had high regard for Akemi’s mother and was perhaps her advisor as well (especially if she was the one actually pulling her husband’s strings). This would also inform the direction Seki pushed Akemi into—marrying up and working within her constraints as a wife to become a leader through her husband. 

[hornysapphillean]

and his touch not so subtly i adore

rating: explicit (18+) [explicit sexual content; MDNI]

relationship: taigen x transmasc!mizu

tags: headcanon, trans male character, transmasculine character, he/him pronouns for mizu, pov third person, vignette, non-linear narrative, inspired by poetry, pwp, non-penetrative sex, partially clothed sex, outercourse, hand job, dry humping, grinding, doggy style, praise kink, biting kink, hair-pulling, eye-contact, come shot, dom/sub undertones, gentle dom mizu, soft dom mizu, light angst, my first smut, no beta no gods no masters, we die like real men out here, insert the most unhinged joke tag here, fuck it we ball

a/n: related to this work: https://www.tumblr.com/menacewithawolfcut/758886272610795520/pairing-taigen-x-transmascmizu-rating-mature?source=share

E. E. Cummings

I Like My Body When It Is With Your

i like my body when it is with your body. It is so quite new a thing. Muscles better and nerves more. i like your body. i like what it does, i like its hows. i like to feel the spine of your body and its bones,and the trembling -firm-smooth ness and which i will again and again and again kiss, i like kissing this and that of you, i like, slowly stroking the,shocking fuzz of your electric furr,and what-is-it comes over parting flesh….And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new

word count: 754 words/4205 characters

The warm sun hitting Mizu’s face. The distant water splashes of the nearby stream. The tit’s peaceful singing. The wagon with the necessary equipment. His hand resting on the handle. Lost in thought. Wind. Breeze. Salt. Fish. Sigh. Distant pants and footsteps. A tranquil look on his face. A word, two, and three.

“Rest. I’ll be back.”

A low voice. A bit worn. Soothing.

…

Mizu positioned a futon in the corner, near the forge, away from the window. He sat down, invitingly waiting for Taigen to join him.

“Come over here. Sit down and turn around.”

The two were locked into a loving embrace, Taigen resting between Mizu’s thighs, having his neck lavished by the attention of the lips from behind and the hands wandering across his body.

As his breath labored, Mizu’s hands gently moved downward towards the knot on Taigen’s waist, keeping his hakama in place. He bent to the side and forward to meet his gaze, searching for a sign of approval.

“Please,” Taigen murmured.

Mizu smirked playfully.

“Please, what?”

“Please, don’t stop.”

“Heh.”

Taigen’s lower clothes were soon undone and set aside. He is left in a kimono, bound by an obi, which was then too swiftly untied.

The hand was lightly tracing circles on his stomach and inner thighs, feeling the heat radiating from the skin.

“Stop me if it hurts in some way…”

Taigen simply nods, holding back a moan from all the warm sensations surrounding him: the other one’s breath against his neck, his body from behind, and his hands, where they are right now, and the mere thought of where they will be soon after.

“Hmm… Look at you…”

He began to lazily stroke him and relaxed his own back against the wall with a sigh.

“Do you like it? Should I go on?”

“I…think so,” Taigen puffed.

He touched the hem of the kimono the other still had on him.

“It gets in the way a little,” he purred close to his ear.

“Mind if I take this off?”

“Sure…”

In a few moments, Taigen was completely bare before Mizu’s eyes.

“I like your back... It looks so nice,” he wrapped his other arm around the shaky chest, strengthening the grip just a little, movements getting more rhythmic.

Taigen’s hitching breaths were followed by sharp whimpers when Mizu gently bit his shoulders. The sounds he was making were gradually causing him to lose his composure.

“I want you to get on all fours. Will you do this for me?”

“Y-Yeah, I don’t mind…”

With a soft, encouraging push, Taigen was kneeling, supporting himself with hands quite soon. Mizu pressed his body against him, continuing to stroke him.

“You’re doing so good it’s driving me insane…”

He took a look at Taigen, quiet, short moans escaping his lips under Mizu’s touch.

“My dove,” he purred, kissing his shoulder.

“Cooing those sweet little sounds for me… They are music to my ears… I wish I could listen to you day and night…”

Mizu tugged on his hair, making them face each other.

“Gods… and those eyes… Those hazy eyes of yours…”

Taigen was eyeing him silently, only panting faintly.

Mizu groaned, letting go of his hair and speeding up the pace of his hand and the rhythm of his grinding.

“Please, sing a little more…”

Taigen let out a chain of moans and whimpers in response.

“And your body… It flutters like a bird’s wings against the wind… Or like a trembling leaf… I love how it feels against me…”

“You… sure do have a way with words…”

Mizu bit him, eliciting a sharp gasp from the other.

“Feeling good?”

Taigen nodded with a whimper.

Mizu’s lips roamed across his body tenderly.

“You’re such a sight,” he whispered.

“You look so beautiful underneath me…”

Overwhelmed with pleasure from all the touch and words, Taigen was no more than a writhing mess of loud noises begging for release.

“Mizu… Please…”

He held him close, face buried in the crook of the other’s neck, driving him closer to his climax.

“That’s it… You’ve done it so well… I can see how much you enjoyed it all over my hand,” Mizu spoke with a sultry voice, giving him a peck on the cheek.

He reached out for a piece of cloth beside them.

Taigen’s body was still slightly trembling and his panting was shaky.

“Mizu… I love y—”

Mizu quickly but unforcefully covered his mouth.

“Shh… You don’t mean it,” he returned his attention to cleaning them both up.

[loptrcoptr]

What gets me the most about the whole thing is that Mizu still tries so hard afterwards anyway. I’m a horse girl, and it is an unspoken law that selling someone’s horse out from under them is an unforgivable sin and will get you blackballed by other horse people in the community, and I’ve never seen a situation where it doesn’t end in immediate severing of ties. Woman gets posse together, woman and posse demand to know where horse is, woman and posse retrieve horse and no one speaks to that worthless man again (and in most cases they take legal action too). Because a horse is more than a pet, it’s kind of like a child or someone you’re in a dedicated relationship with. You know more about that animal than you probably do about yourself. The time you spend concerned with their diet and their medical needs is much more than with a dog or a cat. Training a horse takes an assload of time and care and commitment, and training a horse gently takes even more time than using traditional dominance and pain methods. You get to know a horse you train in a way you don’t get to know any other animal. A horse is like family, they have a different place in the heart than most animals, even other animals you love, because you invest work into the relationship like you would in a marriage or like you would as a parent. To lose that bond over night because some man is mad at you would be the ultimate devastation. My horse is my sister and my daughter. She’s an asshole. She’s my ride or die. I will have to take time off to literally grieve for her like I would for a human when she dies.

But Mizu loved Mikio so much and wanted so badly to belong that she stayed when he took Kai. She stayed and tried to change everything to be perfect, hoping that when he came home from breaking her wholeass heart that he would be pleased. That breaks my wholeass heart. Mizu is a one woman posse. She could’ve waited for him to get home and then beat out of him exactly where the lord is so she could go sneak off and steal Kai back or something. But she was willing to let that bond go and never see her horse again just to try and live whatever life Mikio wanted her to live because she cared so much. It’s that depth of that love that fucking hurts me, man. We see a lot of Mizu’s selfishness on display throughout the show (not sticking up for Akemi, not telling Taigen about Akemi or Fowler’s plans for like a month, not saving those girls from Goro after she cut off his fingers, etc.) but this episode is so crucial because it shows how deeply she can care, and how far she is willing to go for someone when she does.

Kai trusted Mizu because Kai had been beaten and abused by men who we’re trying to break her, but she connected with Mizu when Mizu leaned into her own gentle femininity. They connected through their mutual newfound softness and affection! Mikio taking Kai away (because he gifted Kai to Mizu then gave Kai to the lord) is just the most heartbreaking way to show how Mikio took Mizu’s womanhood, not to mention her heart!

Even though I believe her mom betrayed her by selling her location to the bounty hunters, Mikio still betrayed her!

(I know it’s obvious, but I think about it every day)

[shannaraisles]

Set In Darkness

Chapter: 8 Author name: ShannaraIsles Rating: M (for language) Warnings: Canon-typical injury and violence; attempted rape/non-con Summary: She’s a Modern Girl in Thedas, but it isn’t what she wanted. There’s a scary dose of reality as soon as she arrives. It isn’t her story. People get hurt here; people die here, and there’s no option to reload if you make a bad decision. So what’s stopping her from plunging head first into the Void at the drop of a hat?

The Unwary

Why did she drink so much last night?

After her highly stimulating session with the commander, Rory had made the unwise decision to go to the tavern, where Varric had introduced her to the wonders of fermented berry wine and then attempted to embarrass her with a game of Wicked Grace, where the stakes were either secrets or clothes. What he didn't know was that, even drunk, Rory could hold her own. Wicked Grace was not that different from poker, and she'd learned how to play poker from an elderly lady with advanced dementia on some interminable night shifts. By the time he called a halt to the game, Varric was down to his pants - having refused to stake secrets himself - and all Rory had had to give up was one expletive-ridden anecdote about the scar on her inner left forearm. She'd gone to bed feeling very pleased with herself, but, oh, she was paying for it today.

But despite the killer hangover, she still had work to do. There were medicines to make up, bandages to change, the clinic to clean. Fabian needed more lessons in basic care, which was normally easy when she didn't have a queasy stomach and dizzy head. By mid-morning, they'd opened the clinic, and soon had a line of people waiting to see them; mostly newcomers, soldiers and servants from the retinues of nobles passing through Haven on their way to the Temple. By the middle of the afternoon, however, they'd seen all these, and Rory was going stir-crazy being stuck inside. So when she overheard Master Taigen complain of being low on elfroot, she immediately volunteered to go and gather more.

With a canvas sack in hand, she passed through the training ground on her way east to the forest where elfroot grew in abundance.

"Hey, Rory!"

Pausing, she turned at the sound of the familiar voice, smiling as Rylen jogged over to her.

"And where're you off to, oh illustrious healer of warts and all?" he asked cheerfully. "You look like a woman on a mission."

"Afternoon, Rylen," she greeted him warmly, shading her eyes from the sun. "I am on a mission. I have to fill my sack with elfroot leaves, or Master Taigen will turn into a kindly old man."

"Och, we can't have that, can we?" The Starkhaven captain laughed his robust laugh. "Haven might sink if he learned how to smile."

She laughed with him. "I'm doing my bit for the good of the community."

Rylen's smile faded as he glanced at the trees. "Just don't go far, aye?" he suggested. "My boys mentioned seeing a camp out that way. We might have some unwelcome visitors in the those woods."

"I'm sure I'll be fine," Rory assured him. "I won't be gone long."

"Mind you're not, I'll be keeping an eye out for you," he warned with a smile. "Good hunting, Ror."

"Have fun beating the dummies, Ry," she answered, smiling as she turned to continue on her way. She liked Rylen; he always managed to send her off with a smile, no matter her mood.

Still, it was a little unsettling to be walking alone into the woods after his warning. Until now, Haven had been a safe place to be. Oh, she knew that wasn't going to last, but she'd convinced herself that demons were all she had to worry about in the near future. It hadn't occurred to her that humans or elves might be a threat to her safety, despite all the play-throughs with predictable bandits. But then, bandit was just a word to her; avatars who only attacked the well-armed and armored player character so she could up her XP. She'd forgotten that here, bandit could mean anyone, and they were actually more likely to prey on the defenseless. And defenseless was a very good word to describe Rory in this world.

All the same, she did carry a knife, even if that little blade spent most of its time in the sheath at her belt. Not today, though. Today, her little knife was busy, harvesting leaves from the elfroot stems she found growing in abundance in a wide patch just beyond the logging stand. To date, she wasn't sure why only the leaves were required from a plant called elfroot, but she wasn't going to start experimenting. Tried and tested techniques that worked in this world were just fine.

Time spent outside did wonders for her lingering headache, the last of her hangover easing away in the fresh air and the quiet. That was something she was still getting used to - Haven was so noisy. From dawn 'til dusk, the little village rang with the sound of people going about their business. There was the forge, the training ground, the chatter of men and women as they gossiped over their chores, and underneath it all, the continuous drone of the Chant of Light. Even at night, the Chantry stayed awake, brothers and sisters reciting the canticles in shifts, fulfilling their part of Andraste's promise. Yet out here, in the middle of the day, it was so quiet. Just half an hour from the village, and you could be forgiven for thinking you were miles away from any kind of civilization. All she could hear was the breeze in the trees, and the shuffling crunch of druffalo hooves over the snow. It was peaceful, calming, and as she worked, Rory found herself humming, making music for the first time since Ria's death. The intrusion of an unexpected voice brought her humming to an abrupt end.

"Pretty tune from a pretty girl."

The accent was French - Orlesian, Rory - and belonged to a man about her own age, dressed in hunting leathers, and lounging against a tree not too far away. He was armed with long knives at his belt, and was looking at her with more than simple interest.

Rory's fingers tightened about the hilt of her small knife. "Thank you," she said warily. "What brings you out here?"

"Milord prefers to eat game hunted by those he trusts," the hunter told her, pushing away from his tree. "As for me, I am delighted to find beauty in these ill-favored wilds."

Forget the elfroot. Feeling the alarm bells ringing in her nerves, she rose to her feet, her half-filled sack in her hand. "Well, I'm expected back at the village," she informed him. She knew this feeling, had felt it often enough when walking home late at night through London's quiet streets. It was fear, naked and raw, and cramping her throat as her heart began to pound. "They'll miss me if I'm gone too long."

She made to leave the little clearing, but he stepped in front of her, a predatory darkness about his eyes that made her back away quickly, gripping her knife harder. A knife she didn't know how to use. If this was a story, rescue would already be on its way. But as he advanced on her, she knew this was no story. She was alone, defenseless, and this man was a born predator who had found easy prey.

"We won't be long, petit," he told her, laughing as she raised her little knife between them. "Be a good girl, and I won't slice your pretty throat with your pretty little blade."

"That's my choice?" she heard herself demand shakily, unable to keep her incredulity silenced. "Lie back and take it, or you'll kill me when you're finished?"

"You will not get a better offer, petit."

It wasn't the words that frightened her so much as the way he said them - as though no one would blame him even if he did kill her. As though she deserved what he intended simply by virtue of being female and out of sight of help. As though raping her was his right, and somehow her life was a generous gift in exchange.

A sensible person would probably have taken the offer, knowing without needing to test the theory that he was more than capable of doing worse than just raping and killing her. Rory, however, had regular bouts of unsensible behavior, especially under duress. "I think I'll take my chances, thanks," she spat at him in sheer bravado, and lunged, slashing wildly at his face with her knife.

He easily sidestepped her attack, catching her wrist as she made an attempt to get past him. Strong fingers bent her hand back, cruel eyes glinting as she cried out in pain, the knife falling from her fingers. Caught, she tried to pull away, opening her mouth to scream for help in the vain hope that someone might be near enough to hear. The hunter dragged her back, throwing her down onto the unforgiving snow with enough force to knock the breath from her lungs, and before she could raise herself to scramble away, he was on her. Rough hands ripped at the laces of her bodice, tearing the linen shift beneath, snarling as she cried hot tears, begging him not to do this. He ignored those tears, too strong to fight off; a monster in human form that pawed and bit at her bared flesh, too hot, too heavy, too hungry, too self-important to care that she was unwilling.

His mouth slobbered over her neck, teeth biting savagely as she struggled, big hands reaching down to drag her skirt upward, to push his pants downward, discounting the push of her hands, the kick of her legs ... and suddenly he roared in pain, blood spurting from a wound in his shoulder to splatter hot against her skin. The hunter raised himself from his prey, and a short figure seemed to materialize from nowhere beside him, planting a firm kick into that injured shoulder to send him sprawling onto his back. As Rory scrambled back, curling tightly into a sobbing ball, a second figure ambled out from the trees and brought a great hammer down onto the hunter's chest. No amount of fancy leather armor could have stopped that blow, the blunt weapon staving in breastbone and ribs, each one puncturing some organ vital to life. A great geyser of blood erupted from the hunter's mouth and nose, staining the snow with more than blood as death took him swiftly.

It was all over in seconds. Shocked, shaken, terrified, Rory stared at her saviors with wide eyes, unable to keep the tears from flowing. They were dwarves, male and female, cleaning off their respective weapons as though there wasn't a half-naked corpse with very little chest left lying between them.

"Happy now, Malika?" the bearded male was saying. "You know she's going to tell them she saw us."

"Oh, and you would have preferred to just walk past?" the female snapped back. "She won't say a word. Look at her - she's so shaken up, she probably can't even see us."

The male scratched his beard, eyeing Rory thoughtfully. "If you say so," he conceded, nodding to his companion. "Grab his pouch, let's get going."

In a mess, her mind jumbled with thoughts of what almost happened and what did happen, Rory lowered her head to her knees, hugging herself tight as she struggled through her own fear and relief toward some kind of calmness. He might have - But he didn't. He tried to - But he didn't. I could have - But you weren't. Pull yourself together, girl, and get back to Haven. On your feet.

She staggered upright, pulling her torn bodice over her bruised skin, forcing herself to look around the clearing. Who knew how long she'd been crying there? She was alone again but for the cooling body of her attacker, her rescuers long gone. But her half-filled sack of elfroot leaves stood by the path toward Haven, filled to the brim and tied shut, her little knife resting on top of it. Despite her state, she actually laughed at the sight of it, at the knowledge that two dwarven warriors had stopped long enough to finish her harvesting and clean her knife before continuing on their way. Grateful, but desperate to be gone from here, she snatched up the sack and the knife, and ran for the track that would take her back to Haven.

She had just passed Master Taigen's cabin when the Fates conspired to try and kill her with fright for the second time that day. Reassured by the nearing sounds of swords clashing, her frantic pace had slowed enough that she could convince herself to stop and make an effort to repair the damage to her appearance. Her dress wasn't that badly torn, on reflection - the laces were snapped and would have to be replaced, and a long tear along the seam at her left shoulder would need to be sewed up, but on the whole, it wasn't a disaster. The shift beneath was torn to the breast, but again, salvageable. She could feel a bite mark rising into a bruise on her neck, and another where her neck met her shoulder, and her wrist throbbed painfully, but she knew she had been very lucky. She couldn't expect to be that lucky again.

And then a burst of flame ignited the path directly in front of her, ripping a scream from her bruised throat.

"Don't turn around, shem."

The voice was harsh, female, and Rory had no doubt that turning around would result in the next flame taking hold of her. This was not her day. She was never leaving Haven's walls ever, ever again.

"Well, now you've scared her speechless, fa'lon, mind if I do the talking?" a second voice interjected. This one was male, and a lot friendlier.

"Be quick," the female ordered in an unforgiving tone. "They'll have heard her scream."

"This is why the Keeper didn't want you to come, you know," the male responded. He sighed, and Rory heard footsteps moving closer to her back. "Where's the Temple of Ages, please?"

Trembling all over, Rory took a slow breath. Someone will have heard you scream. Answer the nice elf before his friend decides to flambé you. "Temple of Sacred Ashes," she heard herself say in a voice that was too scared to be hers. "Past the village, over the river. It's at the head of the valley." Please don't hurt me.

She heard them move away, but her eyes were focused on a familiar figure visible through the trees ahead of her. They did hear me. Thank gods. Five figures were running toward her as she sank down onto her knees, shaking like a leaf.

"Rory! You all right? What happened?"

Suddenly safe, the shock of her afternoon hit her with the force of a hurricane. She burst into tears, groping her way forward to throw her arms around Rylen as she sobbed out the incoherent story of her misadventures. Her friend held his naked sword away from her as he tucked an arm about her shoulders, listening patiently as she pieced together everything that had happened since she'd left the village.

"You, go back to Haven," he ordered one of his soldiers. "Report to the commander that we need a perimeter sweep now. You three, go to the logging stand and retrieve the body." As the four saluted, moving to follow those orders without a moment's hesitation, he sheathed his sword, turning his attention back to the shaking woman under his arm. "All right, darlin', I've got you. Come along with me, let's get you back to Haven."

Clinging to him, Rory was only too happy to be guided back to the deceptive safety of the stockaded village, too shaken to notice the curious eyes that followed their progress to the clinic, where a horrified Fabian took charge of his traumatized senior. She didn't know how angry people were as word spread of the attack on their healer, how alarmed they were that Dalish elves and unknown dwarves were in the area. She didn't witness how tense things suddenly became when the dead hunter was identified as a man-at-arms in the service of an Orlesian marquis, who had the gall to demand that she was punished for his death. No one told her that Cullen almost broke his hand on the marquis' nose in answer, or that Haven was hastily declared off-limits to all the parties passing through to the Conclave. No one could be trusted but their own, clearly.

All she knew was that the world of Thedas was suddenly a very real, very frightening place. The time had come to start taking things very seriously indeed.

[sophswritingthings]

PLEASEE something with reader being super protective of mizu after her duel with chiaki and constantly bashing heads with taigen because he keeps talking about his death duel with mizu like no one cares dude!! (the way she tore her stitches like less than a day after waking up i'm gonna hit her so hard)

love ur writing sm. i jeep checking your page like every other hour el em ay oh

pairing: mizu x fem!protective!reader

warning(s): swearing, can I take taigen as a warning

a/n: reader yelling at taigen and mizu just staring, heart-eyed

summary: after your partners fight with the four fangs, you can’t help but be protective over her. even despite taigen’s constant shit with this “death duel” or whatever, you are determined to make sure she heals properly.

word count: 408 words / 2,211 characters 

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“sit still,” you hiss, gazing up at mizu. she was twitchy, unwilling to stay still and allow you to check her stitches—fixing what you had to.

“let her fix you up so you can be in proper shape for our duel,” taigen hissed, standing over you two with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.

“oh for fucks sake,” you roll your eyes. “can you please shut the hell up about this duel, or whatever? he is not in any shape to be even thinking about that!”

taigen pauses. he recoils a little at your strong and firm words; backing up and turning around to sit by the fire with ringo.

“hmph,” you pout, finishing fixing up mizu’s stitches. 

all the while, she’s staring at you, completely heart-eyed and starstruck.

“how do they feel?” you whisper, “I hope it doesn’t hurt too bad.”

she brushes a hand across your cheek, “they feel fine,” she gently tugs you closer—wanting to feel your body against hers so badly. “I’ve seen worse.”

you sigh, curling up on the opposite side of her stitches, “that’s the problem,” you murmur. “you’ve seen worse.”

she scoffs, running a hand through your hair, “I can take of myself, (y/n).”

“hm? I need said you couldn’t,” you take in a sharp breath. “I just want you to be safe, mizu, I need you to be safe.”

“I cannot guarantee you that, you know this,” mizu furrowed her eyebrows.

“I know,” you started to draw circles across her chest with your fingertips. “yet here I am, choosing you anyway.. maybe my hope is somehow I can keep you safe. even if I have to d—“

she placed a finger to your lips, her eyes narrowed to slits.

“don’t you finish that sentence,” she grumbled. “that isn’t happening.”

you narrow your eyes right back, “if I die, mizu, it will be because I choose to die for you,” you gently pressed your fingers into her chest, sitting upward.

she gazed at you, seeing the passion and fire in your dark eyes.

she nodded, “I can’t stop you,” she tugged your head back onto her chest, “but know I won’t be happy if you choose to throw your life away for me.”

you chuckled, pressing your head firmly against her chest—listening to her heart beating steadily. knowing her heart was beating in her chest, steadily breathing, feeling her chest rise and fall��

—that was all you needed to keep you going.

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a/n: constantly wanting to tag taigen as a warning tbh (guys I don’t hate taigen by the way he just lightly pisses me off. otherwise he’s quite silly and pathetic <3)