#request on lofter

[minhees55]

When they're quarrelling:

[angstandhappiness]

COOL DRAGON

in which the monkey guy fights a dragon prince over an eaten horse

[soymilkwithyuri]

Hello everyone! I am ryuka, and I came from Twitter (I have no idea how to use this app) I love drawing handsome women and soft tender lesbians😊

Some rules or boundaries I'd like to set:

-please do not mention other ships, unless im the one who mentioned it first.(applies to requests) I do not multiship.

-I will block if i feel you stepped out of line, or if i feel uncomfortable.

-please do not repost my artwork. If you are unsure, please just ask.

SOCIALS

INSTAGRAM: @ Ryukalikesyuri

(can search using soymilkwithyuri too!)

LOFTER: @ lianyingwozuiai

TWITTER: @ soymilkwithyuri

BLUESKY: @ soymilkwithyuri.bsky.social

I am currently obsessed with the pairing of kallen kaslana x yae sakura from the game honkai impact 3rd, which can be referred to as sakukallen/kallensaku. If you know anyone who likes sakukallen, or you like my art, please consider giving this post a reblog(??)

If you knew me from Twitter, please let me know in the comments which one of my arts you would like to see me post here!

[aestheticsoftheinternet]

Elio Moodboard

Requested by: Anon! <3 Art by: xinjinjumin2027564 on lofter

[stiltonbasket]

What do you think MDZS characters at a LOTR convention would look like?

I'm assuming this ask is about cosplay, so here goes:

Wei Wuxian stitches up a copy of Arwen's red and blue mourning dress and dresses A-Yuan as her son Eldarion. Halfway through the con, they stumble across Lan Wangji in an ent costume. <3

Lan Qiren goes as Elrond. He is very tired, and also in charge of too many people. Someone help him; he shaved off his precious beard for this.

Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng both end up going as Arwen's twin brothers, Elladan and Elrohir; this is because Wei Wuxian was cosplaying Arwen, and Wen Ning was cosplaying Elrohir. Their costumes look similar to Aragorn's traveling outfit in LOTR, because of the twins' close association with the Dunedain.

Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan cosplay as hobbits, complete with furry hobbit feet. Jin Ling insisted on going as Bill the pony.

Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen cosplayed as Sauron and Thranduil respectively, at Jingyi's request. Lan Xichen's costume looked like this; and he looked so gorgeous in it that NMJ couldn't stop kissing him at the con. By the end of the weekend, there were over a hundred Sauron/Thranduil fics on Lofter and AO3; the fandom never recovered.

Meanwhile, Jingyi went as baby Legolas with a tiny bow and quiver.

Nie Huaisang made a very good Galadriel. He's just that fabulous.

[thatswhatsushesaid]

hello!! I have a question (and/or request) about the position of Chief Cultivator post-canon.

So years ago I read on the wiki that mxtx said the next Chief Cultivator would be made nhs and I thought “HAH! Take that! You get what you fucking deserve.” And now, as I’m re-reading the novel, I see it says under Nie Huaisang/History Trivia that mxtx explained in the interview that nhs will strive to become Chief Cultivator, which. Puzzled me

Unfortunately, it seems the interview linked is only accessible with a lofter account (which I don’t have and am unsure to make) and I can’t really find something on this specific interview anywhere. Would you happen to know where to read up on it? And what are your thoughts on this as a fellow nhs enjoyer?

Thank you for your time<3

hello anon! i unfortunately don't have a lofter account either, and a bit of googling on my part didn't turn up anything that i think would be useful to you. however i know i have some followers with access to lofter and who might be able to provide some additional context. so, anyone with more info re: this interview with mxtx is welcome to chime in in the comments or via reblogs. 👀

[dmbjexchange]

🐉 Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year DMBJ Treat Exchange 🐉

We are going to HOP (get it… Year of the Rabbit!) into 2023 with an idea that is a new format for the DMBJ Fandom. The Lunar New Year Treat Exchange is a slow burn of an exchange, with low pressure and plenty of time to create, and is open to fan creators of all types - writers, artists, vidders, gif makers, and all others.

Based on the Fandom Stocking and Fandom Giftbox exchanges that used to run on LiveJournal and Dreamwidth, no-one will be assigned to create a gift for any specific person - instead, anyone who would like a treat signs up with their wishlist of characters, ships, likes, and prompts (and DNWs!). This list is open for browsing, and anyone who feels inspired to create for anyone else is free to do so and add the treat to the AO3 collection for the event. All treats will then be revealed at the Lunar New Year!

Since the New Year for ‘Year of the Rabbit’ is so soon (22 Jan 2023), the first LNY reveal will be for the ‘Year of the Dragon’, on 10 February 2024.

This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons - if it’s DMBJ, then it’s eligible! Since all treats are to be posted to the AO3 collection, you will need an AO3 account to participate – if you don’t have one, you can request an invitation code here, or ask for an invitation from existing AO3 members.

🐉 Schedule 🐉

Sign-ups open: January 22nd, 2023 - The Year of the Rabbit

Sign-ups close: October 30th, 2023

Deadline for all treats completed and posted: January 21st, 2024

‘Pinch Hit’ period to ensure everyone signed up has at least one treat: January 21st - February 9th, 2024

Treats reveals: February 10th, 2024 - The Year of the Dragon

Creator reveals: February 17th, 2024

🐉 Guidelines 🐉

1. You can start creating treat fills whenever you like - you do not have to wait for sign-ups to close.

2. You do not have to sign up with a request yourself in order to create a treat for someone else.

3. While you do not have to create a treat for someone else if you sign up with requests for treats yourself, we ask that you do create at least one treat.

4. When choosing requests to treat for, please prioritise anyone who does not yet have a treat (the list of requests will be regularly updated to show Y/N as to whether or not someone has a treat fill yet). 

     a. If there is anyone without a treat fill by the time of the deadline, mods will ask for people to create treats so that everyone who signed up receives at least one treat.

5. Your creation/s must focus on your recipient’s requested characters or ship (or one or more of their requested ships, if they have nominated multiple ones). While unrequested background ships are fine (unless listed as a Do Not Want), if it is a shippy creation then the focused ship/s must be one or more of the requested ships.

6. You will be expected to create a treat matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!

7. You must not include anything that your recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want). Not even as a one-line throwaway reference.

8. The minimum requirements for the treats are 300 words for fic, one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital), a 3 panel manip or set of 3 single panel manips, a fanvid of any length, or any other fanwork of equal effort.

9. You can create as many treats as you like over the creation period.

10. This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there’ll be a one-week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.

11. You are welcome to post your treat to other sites in addition to AO3, such as Lofter, but please ensure that you do post it to AO3 as well so that your giftee gets the notification.

12. Most importantly: be excellent to each other!

🐉 Sign-Up Information 🐉

Sign-ups will take place via Google Form, starting on January 22nd, 2023. The form will be posted in a separate post when sign-ups begin.

The form will ask you for your name and for a link to your Dear Creator letter. Your Dear Creator letter is where you will fill out your request, and can be hosted anywhere you like - Tumblr, Dreamwidth, Google Docs, etc.

Sign-ups will close on October 30th, 2023. While no new sign-ups will be accepted after this date, you are still able to make amendments to your Dear Creator letter.

Treat creation can begin at any time after January 22nd - you do not have to wait for sign-ups to close before creating treats.

🐉 Dear Creator Letters 🐉

Your Dear Creator letter should contain the following information:

Preferred DMBJ canon: You have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a treat in any canon era, you can just say “Any”!

Characters: You have to choose at least one character that you would like your treat to be about.

Relationships: These can be any platonic, romantic, or sexual relationships you would like in a treat. “None” is a perfectly valid answer here.

General Likes: This isn’t a place for detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy. E.g. getting together, established relationship, alternate universe, dark, crack, hurt/comfort, etc.

DNW (Do Not Wants): Things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, or characters or things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNWs are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”

Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons entirely), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.

Please note in your Dear Creator letter if you are happy to receive a treat in Chinese.

You can make changes to your Dear Creator letter at any time, but please keep in mind that the later you make changes, the higher the chance that someone may have already created a treat for you that will not have those changes taken into account - this includes late DNW additions, so please try to ensure that any/all DNWs are listed as early as possible, and that late changes are just additions to prompts and things you like.

🐉 Multi-chapter Fics 🐉

If you are writing a multi-chapter fic for a treat and don’t want to drop the entire fic at once, these are the posting guidelines for it:

At least the first chapter posted by the deadline, ready for the reveals on February 10.

From February 10, aim to post at least one chapter daily.

All chapters of the fic must be posted by the time of creator reveals on February 17 (If the fic is more than 7 chapters long, then this will mean that multiple chapters will need to be posted on some days).

🐉 Other Info 🐉

If you have any questions, ask on the YuCun Discord or submit a question to @dmbjexchange​ or @thetombraidersguild​

Please follow @dmbjexchange​ or @thetombraidersguild​ for announcements and reminders.

[handsome-enemy-you-despise]

Hi Rina quite sorry to bother you here on tumblr, but my country blocks archiveofourown, so I can't log in directly to request your authorization. Your works are not so long but loving…. I really appreciate and enjoy them,thank you for creating so many amazing stories…I especially love Starving, Pure Enough thus To Return To Dust and cookbook.

So now I sincerely asking for your permission for me to translate them (or maybe more of your stories) into Chinese and post on two Chinese websites(Lofter and Microblog).I'll cite the original author and the website for sure. Thank you for reading this message. I really hope for your agreement and to let more people who love the story read your fanfics🥺

good morning! that’s so sweet, I don’t even know what to say, never been good with compliments. yes, of course you can translate them, really glad you liked my stuff

[fateandloveentwined]

okay, here goes

🍂cnovels masterlist

🇫🇷les mis stuff

🌹phantom of the opera (there's nothing rn)

so, uh, tags:

#fate's meta — definitions, "etymology", whatever comes my way

#fate creates — on creations, translations, thought experiments and fic recs. for side-tags see #fate's analysis, #fate translates, #fate recs and #fate's wonky thoughts.

#fate's stuff — miscellaneous stuff that i posted or commented on. just for differentiating reblogs from original rambles; there's not much to see on this tag. #i tries to answer for asks, #reads and books for recent reads and book/tv series related stuff.

and other "non-selectively mine" tags that may interest you: #interpretations realisations (headcanon analyses), #chinese language, #chinese (on culture)

re: translations -- i'm definitely interested in doing some of this in near future (meaning, when i'm actually free), it'd be mostly short pieces instead of fics though so say classical poems and songs.

hmu am always open for chats or questions though replies may take time depending on the day. please also send meta / translation / rec requests / chinese-related questions because i wouldn't know what to write otherwise!

tumblr page background cr. lofter@kuidaidai (2ha) / pfp cr. unknown (encountering a snake)

[traxhy]

Think I shall make an about me pin?

Here’s Traxhy/XX/Trashy (least preferred)

Current fandoms

-Colt/Chrome series

-HotF (I DO NOT SUPPORT THEO)

Current OCs

-Starbreaker (under tag StarBreaker:biktnicbisant)

- HKDSE Subjects, but human (under tag HKDSE)

Feel free to draw my OCs and ping me for it :D

Art Usages

Feel free to use all of my fanart as Pfp/edit/banners/wallpaper as long as credits is given (please ask for my permission if you want to use my OC)

Requests and Commissions

Nope, commissions aren’t open yet, and requests about my OCs and current fandom (I don’t accept fandom-related OCs I am sorry) and will be accepted through ask all time, and yes… only doodles and I will freely select which one I want and which one I don’t want to draw.

Other websites

Lofter : Traxhy

YouTube: @Tr4xhy

Twitter: @Tr4xhy

Instagram: (no longer active, turned into private account)

Please report to me if any of my art is found outside these websites :/

Also random thought goes under tag Traxhy’s bin

Further will be added :]

[edgeray]

Hello Ray! Tomato anon here (I'm on PC this time and idk how to do emojis on this hunk of metal).

I've been requesting you a lot lately so as a repayment (?) I've TL'ed one of my favorite fics from lofter and translated them here. Not sure if you checked the tag before coming to read this but xD

Don't worry about it, I have permission from the original author on lofter (whom I've included a link to in that post).

https://www.tumblr.com/anoncryinginthecorner/752789078302474240/tl-you-are-her-most-loyal-child-13?source=share

I thought this was going to be a short translation. LMAO. Famous. Last. Words.

First of all, HI 🍅 ANON!!!! :D You don't have to give me repayment for requesting I enjoy the asks regardless, but I will eat whatever you're giving me regardless.

If you're on any Window product, emojis shortcut is windows key + period key. I don't know what the short cuts are for other computers as I don't own any other brand, but I'm sure a quick Google search on 'emojis keyboard shortcut' with whatever brand will work.

It hasn't shown up in any of the tags yet (probably because you just made this account/this is your first post, idk).

I will reblog it in another post for those who want to read it.

Thank for sending me this!!!! This was so sad and wrecked my feelings in a good way. I am eating this up. Poor Peruere :( first Clervie and now Peruvie. Her continued denial of her own grief. I'm so glad Lyney, Tsaritsa, and Columbina are helping her 🫶 you deserve it bby. 🥹

I am also sorry for taking so long with your ask. I kick my feet everytime I open my inbox and see it. I would like to write more but vacation brain is making it hard for me to write. I promise I will get back to my usual writing schedule once I get back, which is like this coming Thursday or so.

This translation was really impressive!!! I can't read the original but I know that translation from Chinese is especially hard compared to other languages. I really appreciated the TL notes at the end, they were interesting to read. Thank you 🍅 anon for sending this to me! I love it sm!! 😍

[mamawasatesttube]

ao3: "we're an anti-racist organization!"

also ao3:

It is also important that Warnings are well-understood and enforceable by PAC volunteers. The vast majority of all reports about mandatory Warnings must be easy for PAC to rule upon. A PAC volunteer must be able to look at the content in a work and understand without further research whether or not a Warning applies. This matters for both practicality and consistency: 1. If volunteers need to routinely perform external research in order to evaluate tickets, then this will greatly increase the time it takes to resolve reports, which will badly impact our already-overloaded ticketing system 2. If volunteers are not readily familiar with how warnings should be applied, then rulings will be inconsistent from work to work, which is unfair to users

"well our moderator staff are all volunteers who don't necessarily all agree on what racism is" (a fair point) "and therefore we cannot even Try to come up with any sort of standard or attempt to educate our staff to be on the same page" (????)

is there a magical very clearly demarcated standard for what counts as graphic violence somewhere? do your volunteers all comprehend the exact same definition of graphic vs nongraphic violence? or is it just different when it's racism?

An email from PAC about missing such a warning on work is also more likely to be received badly: a central difference between a "Racism" (or "Hate Speech") warning and the warnings we already have, such as "Major Character Death", is that many people read the former as describing a moral failing of the work or its creator, not just a depiction of something within the work. A user who believes that AO3 is telling them they're racist is a user who is more likely to delete their work as a direct result of contact from PAC.

"it might hurt people's feelings if we try to enforce warnings for racism and we don't want to hurt people's feelings if they were being racist on accident!" okay. right. lmao

but i think the most egregious thing in this article might just be this part:

Disproportionate targeting of POC on AO3 by other users is not a hypothetical. For example, in 2019, AO3 was undergoing a migration of primarily Chinese users after a new wave of fandom censorship on Lofter and Weibo (popular Chinese websites). At the time the "Language" field on AO3 fanworks defaulted to English, and it was often overlooked by non-English creators new to AO3. This caused many Chinese works to be posted labeled as "English", and often with the wrong fandom. A portion of AO3's English-speaking userbase began deliberately hunting these works down en-masse. Some left polite comments on the works to request changes to the language and fandom. Other English-speaking users left comments that were belligerent in tone or outright harassment. Some of the people enacting this targeting scheme also proceeded to use automated methods to overwhelm PAC with "incorrect language" and "incorrect fandom" tickets. Altogether, the number of "incorrect language tag" reports increased by 1530% compared to the prior year. PAC1 ended up contacting thousands of Chinese users to ask them to fix their tags. As a direct result of this targeted reporting campaign, a disproportionate number of Chinese creators deleted their works from AO3. This is a racially biased outcome that we do not want to see repeated.

this is so fucking bullshit i am honestly a little speechless. this was not just users using a moderation tool in order to be racist. this was racist site design. why does your statement not at all include that it was directly YOUR FAULT for having the form default to english to begin with??? where is the sense of responsibility??? to act like this is entirely on users and not at all on the otw for including that feature in ao3's posting form to begin with is INSANE levels of clown behavior. they even changed the default on the form - works no longer default to english but instead give you a dialog box sayinig you need to select a language. so they did realize that was wrong of them! and yet in their statement on why they intend to do nothing about racism they admit zero culpability for this event??? hm!!!

like. i'm not an archivist. i'm a layperson. i don't know the exact solution to racism on ao3. but i do know that a) just because ao3 is analogous to a library doesn't mean they cannot moderate at all - most libraries aren't necessarily going to throw out a copy of "birth of a nation", but they are going to shelve it among similar media in a section specific to racism of the early 1900s - and also b) there are definitely poc in the archival sciences that they could hire as consultants to try and sort through some of the many, many issues listed here.

instead they've just come up with a laundry list of excuses as to why they are not going to do anything about the issue of racism on ao3. they state that essentially, if you don't want to see racist works, you're entirely on your own:

We believe that the harassment policy, optional tags, filters, muting, and bookmark features do a better job at helping users avoid fanworks containing content they don't want to encounter. Users who create fanworks about sensitive topics are encouraged to tag appropriately, using Additional Tags if necessary. Other users can use filters, mute creators, or mute individual works that contain content that they find disturbing. Users who wish to screen or recommend works for other users are encouraged to use bookmarks to compile recommendation lists for works that they believe handle a topic well.

and it took them four years to come up with that. okay.

ao3 really wrote almost 5k words to say "umm racism is complicated and hard to deal with so we won't be doing any of that 🥺👉👈" huh

[stillthesunkenstars]

My friends know me too well tf

[the-manors-writer]

luca and alva in love with a reader they knew before the went to the manor and are reuniting with? (gn reader please!) thank you!

Request: Luca and Alva in love with reader they've met before entering the manor headcanons

Pairing: [Luca Balsa] Prisoner and [Alva Lorenz] Hermit x gn!survivor!reader

Warnings: None

Alva Lorenz

Alva cared not for much other than his research, inventions and all of those sorts.

Many called and saw him as heartless but would it even matter if he's a hunter? A predator?

But ever since your arrival, he has been thinking of and spending time with you more often.

His feelings of love for you have yet to cease, you're still the shining diamond in his eyes. The beautiful lone sunflower.

Alva enjoyed and much preferred to watch and admire you from afar, especially if he was lucky enough to be matched up against you.

He always, without an ounce of hesitation, gives up on doing anything if you're in the team of survivors.

He will always trial behind you, observing as you decode those little cipher machines, as you vault windows and wooden pallets.

Maybe at times, he would play around with you a little by stunning you every now and then. Seeing your irritation brings a smile to his face.

However he knows you're not actually mad at him, for you would smile and chuckle it off soon after. And he joins in on the laughing as well.

With you now around, he no longer spends his free time cooped up in his room with his inventions.

He is often seen with you, even if the other little survivors gives him looks of caution and fear, he cares not for their thoughts.

Alva grows more affectionate and loving when he's with you. He is more kind and caring compared to when he's with others.

And of course you do love all the attention and love you're getting that others will never be able to see from the Hermit.

"Ti voglio bene (I love you)." is something he says often, however you do not know what he's saying, and any attempt to ask him will not be met with the desired answer you seek for.

Regardless, it makes your cheeks flush and heart flutter whenever he says those three words.

Luca Balsa

You could hardly recognise Luca who used to looked like a total gentleman when you two reunited.

Luca was both different and yet the same in terms of both his appearance and personality.

He was still the machinery-crazed man, or more so the smart student Luca Balsa who made the greatest of inventions.

He is loud and active; The "prisoner" loved and can't seem to help himself from rambling about his thoughts on certain things he's working on.

But of course you didn't mind his endless rambling. You loved seeing him this happy, you enjoyed how he almost buzzes about with electricity as he explains what this or that does.

During matches, Luca will always connect your cipher to his so he could help you decode faster.

He would always be close by to electrocute the hunter as you're being picked up, even going as far as to tank a hit for you.

Sometimes he turns the match for the better, other times for the worse. And no matter the scoldings he gets, he continues doing it anyways.

Some have gotten tired of trying to get him not to play such reckless moves, but are they really reckless if it helps you? If he was the one aiding you to sweet desired escape?

Sometimes when your eyes meet, you swore you could've seen hearts in his eyes as he stares back at you with the cheekiest of smiles.

Luca doesn't have the greatest of memories but one thing he won't ever forget, is his undying love for you.

The time will come where he'll be ready enough to tell you of his feelings ever since back during that faithful day in the ball.

[ art credits - lofter id 9437967273, @mechodes ]

[levenxa]

Surprise surprise! Dreamswap AUs supremacy >:)

// thank you to those who requested some dsaus :D

—

The AUs & Creators:

Dreamswapswap: @the-mind-emporium @dreamswap-swap-blog

Bloodlust! DS: @raccoon-in-a-dumpster

DS! Gods AU: @king--fox

ds-deranged.exe: hehe hi :)

Sunset Constitution: @/Boa Constrictor & Iceye Lin (Lofter)

DS! Vacation House: @apatheticnatureiskey

Check out all of these awesome people! 🛐💕

[piltoversfinest-caitvi]

In Harmony

This is one of the most popular Caitvi stories on Lofter translated by me. If there are any issues or grammar problems, let me know. I can also upload to Ao3 or other alternatives if people wish to.

Creator:  我们袋鼠会打人

Source: https://bydaishu.lofter.com/post/1cbc0f07_2b40a1b87

Permission was granted by the writer to upload their work | Please do not repost, edit, or upload to any other websites.

============================

It seemed no easier to get pass through the richly dressed people at the balls in the upper city than to run through the dark alleys of the narrow buildings downtown.

The warm air of the room was mixed with the smell of wine and perfume, and the fiddle played a slow, soothing tune. The crystal lamps illuminated the hall like daylight, and the jewels worn by aristocratic women and ladies shone like stars, which were enough to dazzle everyone who tried to divert their eyes. The hall was full of splendor and fragrant clothes, as if to trap people in a drunken dream.

Vi sighed, and with her excellent eyesight, she finally found the shadow standing straight on the terrace behind the French window.

"Why are you here? I've been looking for you for a long time."

Caitlyn turned to see Vi pulling back the gauze curtain with one hand and stepping out of the ballroom. She closed the glass door with her backhand, shutting out the cacophony of people behind her.

"I was thinking that maybe you wouldn't come." Caitlyn turned around with her arms resting on the railing.

"You handed me the invitation yourself," Vi said with a bit of a teasing smile in her voice as she walked over to Caitlyn, leaning sideways against the railing, and bringing her face up to hers, "How could I refuse your face, officer?"

Vi carefully looked at Caitlyn's face, "You are so beautiful today."

Although Caitlyn had long been used to hearing Vi's jokes that were mixed with some sincerity and some flirtation, her heart could not help but beat heavily when she heard such a straightforward compliment at first. Moreover, the way Vi looked at her eyes was so honest and sincere, that she could look into her eyes for a long time, as if she could look into her heart.

Caitlyn had indeed dressed up today, but only at her mother's request. Although Mrs. Kiramman was always strict with her as the head of the family, perhaps like every mother, she has a lot of zeal to dress up her daughter herself.

"It is your birthday, Caitlyn. " Mrs. Kiramman advised, her voice soft but still with the usual authority.

She was then tucked into a long, corseted evening gown with a blue silk skirt of excellent texture that rippled like water with every step. Her shoulder-length hair was neatly coiffed to reveal her long neck. Her mother had wanted to give her the Kiramman family necklace, but she looked at the jeweled chain, silently estimated its weight, and firmly refused - but high heels were always necessary, though she had not worn them for a long time.

The first second she saw her reflection in front of the dressing mirror with her smiling mother pushing her with unsteady steps, she might have been waiting for Vi to say those words.

Yet when she actually heard the words, Caitlyn hid her leap of joy at getting what she wanted, afraid that if she gave anything away. She would see that knowing smile on Vi's face, as if she knew what was inside her, and afraid to see that Vi's eyes were always crystal clear and pure, as if she had nothing in them. She lowered her eyes, flexed her forefinger and tapped Vi's Hextech gloves, her knuckles made two crunching sounds on the metal.

"It’s a party, not a duty, why did you bring it?"

Vi shrugged indifferently. 

"I'm used to it, I don't feel comfortable without it everywhere I go, and besides, no one cares what I wear anyway."

"What's more-" Vi lowered her voice and moved closer to her, "Don't you have a gun?"

Vi silently removed her gloves, and her left hand pressed gently on the outward side of Caitlyn's right leg through the material of her dress, she found what she was looking for.

Vi raised an eyebrow smugly at Caitlyn.

"As you say, I’m used to it." Caitlyn smiled indifferently.

"Is it still the same one?"

"What?"

Vi pulled a compact pistol from her pocket, hooked her forefinger in the trigger guard, took her thumb and flicked the barrel, and it spun gently. "This is the one I got Ekko to modify, the same one you're used to, lighter weight and longer range. " Vi said, holding the gun steady and holding it up flat in an aiming motion, nodding in satisfaction, then tapping it on the fence's countertop with one hand and pushing it in front of Caitlyn.

"Happy birthday, Cupcake."

Caitlyn picked it up and weighed it in her palm, "Thanks."

Vi stared at Caitlyn's face, feeling that she was a little different than usual, "Are you... unhappy, Caitlyn?"

Overwhelmed by Caitlyn's silence, Vi thought for a moment and asked her, "Did you have a fight with your family?"

"It’s nothing." Caitlyn turned around, leaning her back against the railing, looking at the lively crowd in the shadows behind the gauze curtain, and suddenly asked, "How did you celebrate your birthday?"

Vi looked up at the moonless night sky, those memories were too distant. 

"I haven't had a birthday for a long time, if you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have remembered it at all... when I was very young, on my birthday, if everything was all right, we would go out for a nice meal as a family. Before going to bed at night, my mom would give me, and Powder, to read an extra story. At that time Powder was still very young, she could not even walk very well. She fell asleep as soon as she heard the story..."

Caitlyn turning her head to look at Vi. Vi's eyebrows were stretched, and her eyes were bright as if she was recounting a memory that made her happy. There was a breeze on the summer night, and a small tuft of pink hair on top of Vi's head was blown to stand up and shivered slightly under the light.

"... At the end mom would say good night and she would pat my head before turning off the lights."

Caitlyn reached out and smoothed out Vi's hair.

"That always made me feel... feel at ease, like... like... " Vi paused, twisting her head to look at her, her eyes a little dazed. 

Just like now.

Caitlyn hurriedly retracted her hand, at a loss to avoid Vi's eyes 

"Your hair, the wind made it messy."

Then she immediately changed the subject, "Your parents... must love you very much."

Vi noticed that whenever Caitlyn gets flustered, her eyes would dodge, then she would stumble and change the subject like a panicked deer. She stared with interest at Caitlyn's slightly pursed lips, which seemed a little more vibrant and softer than usual.

"Aren't your parents the same?"

Caitlyn lowered her eyes and smiled very briefly, "Yes. For my birthday as a child, I wanted a big seven-tier cake, the kind that was almost taller than I was, and it was placed in the most prominent place in the living room that night.

Then when I grew up and liked guns, any kind of gun could be scrounged up and put in front of my bed whenever I made a wish."

"But this afternoon, my mother told me what she expected, a partner for the first dance. It dawned on me that my parents would not fulfill all of my birthday wishes."

The wind stopped.

Mrs. Kiramman was picking her partner at such an early stage? No one knew better than she did, she thought, that Caitlyn Kiramman never lacked suitors, and each week not only official letters and newspapers but also sweet envelopes and delicate flowers arrived at the sheriff's office. If she had such a wonderful daughter, she would of course also use the most discerning eye to choose one of the best young talent to match her precious.

Vi stopped looking at her and slowly stood up straight, her hand clutching the corner of the gloves.

"So... what is your wish for today?" She felt her heartbeat gradually going faster. The accelerated heartbeat during a battle gave her swifter reactions and greater strength, but now it could only burn her eyes red and her head dizzy in vain. In her chest, as if trapped in an angry beast, it slammed into the cage that restrained it, and perhaps the next second it was going to break out with a spit of unwilling fire.

"Do you really want to know?" The next moment, Vi heard Caitlyn asked her this.

"If I could." Vi whispered.

If I can do it.

"I wonder if oil and water can mix?"

Silence fell on the terrace, and the soft, lively sound of the fiddle swirled through the glass doors.

Vi sighed and finally had the courage to meet Caitlyn's eyes. After so many life-threatening experiences, and having been through a mountain of swords and a sea of flames, this was the second time, she saw such a heavy apprehension in Caitlyn's eyes.

Caitlyn waited for her answer, frowning, stubborn and restless gaze rooted in her, blue eyes still seem to reflect the heavy rain of that day.

The first time, she said, forget about me.

The second time, she thought, I surrender.

I surrender to you, my heart.

"If you wish - Caitlyn Kiramman of Piltover, if you will dance the first dance of the evening with Vi, Violet from Zaun." Vi gazed at Caitlyn, reverently and firmly extended the hand to her.

Caitlyn put the hand on her palm, the hand that would hold a sniper rifle all night without a single movement, was now trembling a little.

Vi bowed and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

Caityn wasn't untouched by Vi's lips, but this kiss, so light that it parted at the first touch, took her breath away.

Caitlyn's heart pounded wildly. My heart is no longer under my control, she thought.

And the one who does was smiling at her.

"I am afraid that Mrs. Kiramman will have to take up a weapon and blast me into a sieve," said Vi, taking Caitlyn's hand and slowly tightening her grip, "but I will not let go."