#so to me that means that there is a small desire in him to be with her

[manicmanuscription]

By The Candlelight

Azriel x Reader

Summary: When you and Azriel finally get a chance to sleep after traveling for so long he gets a glimpse of you through your shadow being reflected.

Word Count: 1041

Warnings: Mutual Pining, slight seduction, Azriel being a mess over reader. Forced proximity. Mostly written in Azriel's perspective.

Based on the request here. Thank you so much for your request enjoy!

─── ♡ ───

“Sorry.” Azriel had murmured as you finally, finally, reached the safe house. Although ‘house’ probably wasn’t the best term. It was more of a single room with walls. It could barely fit Azriel and his large frame but at least there was a small mattress and a sink so you weren’t complaining, happy to just finally be out of the cold and have the chance to rid your rain soaked leathers. “It’s usually just me staying here.” 

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve stayed in worse.” You chirped, throwing your go-back on the mattress rifling through it as you looked for a change of clothes pulling out various daggers, healing potions and salves, and of course a few necessities for your hair.

“Sorry I was added to the mission so late. I don't mean to overstep or be a burden.” You mentioned a pang of guilt pulling on your heart. 

“You are not a burden.” Azriel said quickly from behind you. You ignored the way your stomach flipped at the determination in his words. 

A few moments of silence passed, the rain beating against the wooden walls, the very faint hum of magic as the few wards strained to keep this place concealed and warm.

Azriel shuffled closer so you were now standing shoulder to shoulder, his hand slightly brushing against yours and his breath hitched at the contact. He picked up your hairbrush and what looked like to be a bottle of face wash. “Really?” The Shadowsinger teased. “Rhys told us to pack light.” 

You flashed him a smile, snatching the items from his hands. “I may be a Spy, Azriel but I am still a female.” You said with a playful smile, simply brushing your wet hair over your shoulder. Your smile, the way you said his names- gods- it had his knees buckling slightly. 

You picked up your bundle of fresh clothes after stuffing everything else that wasn’t needed back in your bag and faced Azriel a few beats of silence passing, your face inches apart.  He was too focused by the faint blush on your cheeks to notice your timidness as you spoke shyly.

“I..need to change.” Your voice broke the moment of staring and Azriel cleared his throat. “Of course, my apologies.” He moved towards the door, a miracle it was still on its hinges, his hands brushing against the wooden knob when you spoke again. “You…don’t have to go outside, it's raining pretty bad.” 

Azriel froze momentarily. His heart was pounding in his ears, he was sure it roared louder than the clap of thunder that rolled across the mountain. Lightning was next, flashes of it echoing through small cracks in the walls.

“Alright.” Azriel finally spoke, his voice hoarse and he slid his hands in his pockets trying to hide the slight tremor that ran through them. He still faced the door but took a step back inside if only to appease you. 

He could hear your clothing being removed from behind him and a lump formed in his throat as lust and imagination clashed in his mind.

A few candles had automatically lit as the door opened when you two arrived and their light stayed a strong steady presence. He did his best to ignore your shadow perfectly casted on the wall, yet each movement you made had his eyes straying to the illusion there. The tiny space made your silhouette as accurate as possible and he did his best to breath through the desire that hit him like a brick. 

He needed you more than he needed anything or anyone in his life and right now you were playing a dangerous game, albeit unknowingly.

He couldn’t even feel the wetness that seeped into his leathers, no longer feeling the cold that had settled so firmly. His shadows dispersed even further away from him, settling underneath floorboards and cracks in the walls, their absence somehow making the candles brighter and his breath hitched as your shadow enhanced at the new light. He hissed under his breath and his shadows laughed at his dilemma.

A few more minutes of intense silence passed and he tried to focus on the rain, on the cracks in the floorboard, yet his eyes could not stop straying to your shadow, to your curves and elegant movement.

Azriel was sure his breathing had stopped and his mind had emptied of all other thought’s that weren’t about you. He was clenching his teeth so hard they might break. Shame and guilt tingled in his gut yet he could not look away.

Everything about you enchanted him and knowing that you were changing just a few paces behind him, knowing that you trusted him enough to do that? His cock struggled in the confine of his pants and his mind whirred at the possibilities. 

“Alright.” You spoke gently and he turned around slowly, drinking you in. You were wearing an old t-shirt that seemed just a little bit too big for you and some long sweatpants that hugged your thighs perfectly. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, staring at you with that intensity he always seemed to possess.

“Hope I didn’t take too long.” You whispered and he shook his head no, not trusting his voice. 

He was entranced with your movements as you set your bag on the floor, sliding underneath the covers of the mattress and moved over, very deliberately leaving a space for him there and his heart was going a million miles a minute, his breathing stopped as you started talking once again, it took him a minute to process your words as the sound of your voice hummed in his chest pleasantly, drowning everything else out. 

There was only you.

“Make sure to dry off before coming to bed.” 

He nodded, turning around and running his hands through his hair, trying to calm his heart and steady his breathing. Did you not see how you were affecting him?

How having you so close yet so far was physically painful. He ached for you and silently cursed Rhys for this mission. Azriel rolled his shoulders and reached for his own bag. His hearing hyper focused on the sound of your breathing, on every shift you made in the bed. 

Gods you were going to be the death of him. 

[ropebuny]

oh definitely, thank you for your addition !! I didn’t mean for my impossible task addition to be seen as something to always be implemented by the dom and used against the sub. I just wanted to throw some options out there, because I personally had a very positive and exciting and enjoyable experience with my ex partner when they suddenly started gaslighting me. I caught on very quickly and because I was completely trusting of them, I didn’t feel anywhere near insecure when they started to punish me even when I knew I was right. because I knew they were doing on purpose to tease me and make me feel a lil dumber for them. it’s kind of like a “oh you’re too small to do this, let me help” or “you can’t do this my yourself, let me do it” kind of feeling small and dumb, in a good way that makes you feel owned by them and as them being in control. not like actually bringing you down and tearing down your confidence. that’s why I personally had a positive experience when I had the previous scenario done to me. but I know that if I wasn’t in the right headspace and an impossible task was given to me, it would hurt me emotionally. so doms definitely need to be extra careful with these and also make sure not to overdo them. and it definitely also depends on what kind of person and sub you are and what are your limits. it definitely would get extra boring if this was done all the time or too frequently, I meant it to be considered as perhaps a one time or few time thing to happen here and there to have some extra fun, when feeling the need to bend the ‘standard’ rules of punishment. thank you kindly for your addition, it’s definitely an important aspect of it all to consider !!! maybe these people are just not compatible, too. this guy definitely should have just communicated with his sub about what he expects/wants/desires from her and her doing the same for him, instead of him belittling her obedience and taking it for granted and deeming it as ‘boring’ and not of any ‘fun’ which is extremely disrespectful to her. thank you so much for your suggestions and addition !!!!

saw a guy on here complaining about how disappointing it sometimes is to have such a good and obedient little girl, how when she obediently pulls up her skirt and counts all the spanks without messing up it gets boring because there’s no fun in it since it can’t be counted as a punishment anymore. my brother in christ how can you ever become bored or disappointed or feel that it’s not of any ‘fun’ when someone is so endlessly devoted to you and is so so obedient and obeys your every command and would do anything to make you proud. that level of obedience takes real dedication and a really strong willpower and a really strong and committed mind. you’d never catch me calling that boring or disappointing, ever. it’s the farthest thing from it, and frankly it should be praised instead

[onwesterlywinds]

I've been thinking a lot again about the implications of the title of "viator" translating to "traveler" (prompted by Writing Things), and while there's been a lot of discussion about its relation/parallels to Azem, I feel like I've seen a lot less, if anything, on how "viator" plays into the overarching narrative of Garlean imperialism as well. For a relatively small detail, it's honestly one of the things I really think Endwalker did really well in its portrayal of Garlemald and Zenos.

Throughout XIV's history, we've been shown countless perspectives for why the Garleans invade and occupy other nations, whether it's [insert Nael's Bahamut tempering], Gaius' claims that peace can only come from a strong leader, the racism we see entrenched in Garlemald's colonial rule in Stormblood, etc. Endwalker, however, doubles down on the role of Corvos in Garlemald's history and elevates it to a founding narrative: the idea that the Garleans are justified in invading other nations because they themselves were driven from their own ancestral land thousands of years ago.* This is by no means the full scope of Garlean history (as just one example, Return to Ivalice posited that many other Garleans are likely descended from the technically-minded people of Goug), but it's still very consistent lore-wise and thematically for Endwalker to present the Garlean people's expulsion from Corvos as a creation myth for their empire, and the way this plays out in 6.0 MSQ lets us see the extent of the damage that that myth has done to those who have made it their worldview.

And introducing the term "viator" at the end of that arc as the name for the Empire's most loathed, reviled, and shunned class - the exile - ties into this idea so well: the greatest punishment the Garleans can give for one of their own is to make them a wanderer - to ensure that person is forever denied the home that they prize so highly in their society. This is a classic example of scapegoating, which has deep connections to empire throughout history and Western literature.

It's also such a fitting conclusion to Zenos' relationship with the Garlean Empire, too! One of the reasons I've loved Zenos as an antagonist since 4.0 is that despite treating the workings of imperialism as beneath him and irrelevant to his true desires ("Ala Mhigo and Doma and Garlemald be damned!"), he has a sense of entitlement to the peoples and lands of Ala Mhigo and Doma - and to you, the Warrior of Light! - that is extremely Garlean. The fact that (to paraphrase Lyse) he did all that just so he could feel something is what makes him such a perfect antagonist for Stormblood in my book. But to the Garlean people, that lack of care for his homeland - be it because (their own) people were tempered/killed from his actions, or the very sexy patricide/regicide, or that he caused the Empire itself to fall into ruin when he "should have" succeeded Varis - was to them the greatest crime he could commit. To put it another way, he probably would not have been named Zenos viator Galvus if he had first been Zenos zos Galvus.

And despite me forever lamenting the fact that the 5.X-era plot thread of Zenos having dreams about Amaurot never actually went anywhere, even that ties into his eventual role as viator: the only place with which he has ever had any real connection is gone forever.

Which makes a grave at the end of the known universe feel almost fitting in its tragedy.

(*On a serious note: While I do think the writers were intentional - and, mostly, thoughtful - around leveraging imperialist rhetoric, the fact that this particular framing is often used to justify an ongoing genocide is one of many reasons why I would be very happy for future Garlemald stories to stay on pause for the next few years.)

[mymoshangthoughts]

i think i have the unpopular opinion that airplane is an egotist lol

i do enjoy reading fics where he's like "i dont deserve good things, this guy is way out of my league" and i do totally get where people are coming from when they characterize him that way but more and more lately im just like

"what about the comments?"

like i dont think that airplane has a SUPER high opinion of himself, but i think he's just kinda... confident? like when he reads fucking essays online about how his writing sucks he's able to laugh his ass off over it and even join in the fray. so i keep thinking rather than him being like "i dont deserve this nice thing", he'd more have a "SCORE! nice thing for me!! WHOO!" reaction. and when a bad thing happened, instead of being super "this is the saddest day of my life, someone was mean to me", he'd be more "omfg did you like fr waste your time being mean to me? thats actually pretty embarrassing for you lmfao, r u oki bro?"

like kinda that terminally online asshole internet troll of a person who just doesnt take shit seriously and has enough self esteem to just legitimately not give a fuck when someone is shitty

ofc it's different with demons who can literally skin him alive, theres a huge difference between someone saying "youre ugly" and someone breaking every bone in his body, so its not like he doesn't cower when necessary

but also inwardly he just has the confidence to not be effected much by cowering. like "lol imma hug this thigh bc i aint stupid but the fact that this asshole needs me to hug his thigh says a looottttt more about him than it says about me"

idk im just kinda wanting to see more unapologetically confident airplane who just does not give a fuck about anyones opinion so long as the opinion is coming from someone who cant actually fuck him over in a significant way. like sha hualing? obvs care about her opinion, she can gut him. some rando disciple? "lmfao out of my way loser, im gay"

also i kinda wanna see that confidence stripped away until he's a mewling mess but thats just my desire to break down confident characters and make them cry pfff

its so much funnier to me if airplane was actually a pretty impervious sort of person, it's only the extreme nature of his current situation that turned him into a crybaby lmfao

idk if im making sense, i just kinda think of airplane as being a hilarious mixture of "the most self assured guy you've ever met, to an obnoxious extent" and "wait does he have any self esteem at all?!? is he okay?!?" in a fun contradictory way, cuz thats the impression i got of him from canon

also modern au mobei jun getting Very upset bc it feels absolutely impossible to get under airplane's skin. like he's sitting here trying his best to get a reaction and airplane is just "lmfao yea but idgaf abt your opinion sooooooooo"

look, i also think it'd just be awesome if mobei jun is actually most attracted to the egotistical side of shang qinghua. like sure, he thinks that cowering sobbing pathetic hamster shang qinghua is delicious, but give him shang qinghua cackling arrogantly at his detractors with the air of an emperor? mobei jun might actually faint with desire

so like, mobei jun visiting an ding peak so much initially because shang qinghua is sus as fuck and all that jazz, but eventually he's sneaking in as often as possible so that he gets to peak that side of shang qinghua.

like he first notices it when shang qinghua is too absorbed in his paperwork to remember there's a demon lord casually napping on his bed and starts making fun of the lousy penmanship, his fellow disciples, other peak lords, no one is except from his sharp mocking tongue and laughing criticism. but he notices it more and more

someone comes to qinghua's door to throw their weight around? sure, qinghua acts all small and harmless with them there but when they leave, he's cackling about "annndd that pathetic loser thinks that no one knows abt his porn stache, pssshhh, get on my level pleb. especially with your frankly boring as fuck tastes" and qinghua has a dirty sense of humor too and it's sort of driving mobei jun insane

so maybe sometimes he shows up at the peak without announcing his presence, trying to peak what sort of shit that shang qinghua might say about him behind his back and mmaaaayyybbe mobei jun is a bit excited at the prospect and disappointed when it's difficult to hear his name on shang qinghua's tongue

until one glorious day when his timing is just right and shang qinghua is neck deep in the middle of northern desert paperwork and he lets loose and mobei jun isnt sure whats worse: the things that shang qinghua's biting insults are doing to him or how, in stark comparison to the way that shang qinghua insults to others, all of shang qinghua's insults are accompanied by dirty commentary about mobei jun's body and potential sexual prowess in a quite positive light. normally shang qinghua is all "lmfao mr. never-gonna-get-fucked qi-ge is gonna tell me what to do? tough shit my lil bitch, i might be your daddy but i know the full depth of malicious compliance! go back to your brat-kink with jiu-whatever. you might as well be dickless for all the success you've had, mr. virgin mcbitch" but with mobei jun it's a lot more like "oh so mr. sexier than the fucking literal god of this world could have imagined in his dirtiest dreams wants this paperwork by next week? unreasonable brat, so spoiled, i should spoil him, he'd look reeeeaallly hot when spoiled absolutely rotten beneath me hehehh wait above me? hm, anyway, he's being a little bitch but i'll forgive it for that face but also man i wanna just pinch those fucking cheeks sometimes and then--man i bet he'd be really fucking wild in the sack to and--"

absolutely charmed by the display, mobei jun immediately reveals himself and beats shang qinghua senseless as a very clear indication of his intentions. to his absolute dismay, he never hears shang qinghua insulting him again and he doubles the beatings in desperation to somehow get shang qinghua's attention

(shang qinghua does not, in fact, have any actual bad blood against his zhangmen-shixiong, he just has a bad habit of going for the throat when he's in the middle of a tirade bc he was once an internet troll who shamelessly thrived on the anonymity of being able to say anything to anyone. he just really likes to talk shit and if he was in a position of power, would absolutely abuse it to talk shit alllll the time lmfao)

anyway i got pretty off topic bUT MY POINT IS that shang qinghua is best (imho) when he is a shameless egotistical shit-talker who's more or less impervious to the criticism of others

((man just fucking IMAGINE mobei jun's reaction when the ascension ceremony happens? like he FINALLY gets shang qinghua to talk shit to his face no less and then IMMEDIATELY gets abandoned. and like, it was kinda Really Bad Timing and also mobei jun never really wanted to just be a passive participant! he wanted to retort back! he wanted a back and forth! he wanted to refute shang qinghua's claims that he was spoiled just as much as he wanted to hear those claims! he wants the push and pull!!!! SO WHY IS SHANG QINGHUA RUNNING AWAY THAT FUCKING TEASE?!?!))

also as a general note i do think that shang qinghua's whole impervious thing is prolly routed in a lot of the trauma of being unwanted by family and all of that stuff, there was no one around to build his ego up so he built it up all on his own and he's really fucking good at building things up

[just-some-user-hunny]

Something something, stag/deer coded knight Simon riley, because that characterisation is just speaking to me.

There's this gritty wilderness to him that's unlike a predator- he's not made of snarling jaws and frosted black fur that creeps and stalks, keening to sink his teeth into anything he deems tasty. He's something else- something just as enduring and strong. Something that survives in this cutthroat existence, despite being something that can be perceived as prey.

He's made of muscle and height and jagged antlers. Sharp keen eyes, and a stare that sees through walls. Listening. Watching. Observing for danger to fend off. His strength is silent. All he needs to do is stand in a room and command with his eyes and stance, and onlookers will fall meek. He doesn't even seem like a man- more like a creature from the woods, one that parents would warn their children of to stay away if they want to stay alive. The way he intensely stares with his dark doe eyes and stands tall as if he were bearing a breast of muscle and bone and soul of something old and wise beyond his years.

He'd always shedding velvet, shedding skin, shedding weakness and identity. Losing parts of himself to become anew- become something that can serve something more than just desire. Purpose.

He was once a little spindly legged fawn. Freckled and small, fluttery blonde lashes and wide black eyes. Always stumbling and coping- pushed to the back of the group and dismissed, left to fend for himself. Cast aside to survive in this harsh world that devours anything meek and soft. No longer a little fawn that scrapes by to survive. Now he's the trees that he once looked up at with awe and fright and wonder. All imposing height. Towering and formidable- proud and stoic and unwavering. Moody and territorial and righteous by his own means.

He grew out of his meek body and thin skin and tearful eyes to be something that could protect you- to be the thing he needed to be- no, wanted to be.

He doesn't blame you for not recognising him, sweet thing. It was so long ago. You couldn't possibly guess that the forgotten little doe that once shyly approached you in that barn all those years ago is now your formidable protector who bestows the grace and brute strength of a stag now. Rough and grizzled and bloodied.

Maybe once he's content with playing this little guessing game by giving you glances and gentle passive looks, he'll tell you who he is. Watch your face fall in awe and shock, maybe a little fear, and then finally into something akin to happiness.

There's no reason to fear anymore. He did it, like he said he would... He said he'd look after you, didn't he? Now he can.

[shepscapades]

SHEP. SHEP YOUVE DEVASTATED ME ONCE AGAIN.

Bigshot as Andriod 24....you're so right. It so encapsulates what 24 thinks of Xisuma

"You're always just a bit shy following behind/I think you've spent enough time singing the same lines" <- 24's resentment toward Xisuma, perhaps? Or a desire for something more, something better?

"I'm screaming for a life that I cannot have" AAAUUUGHHH perishing. throwing up. rolling over in agony. When the music cuts out and it's raw vocals really adds to the effect

And the oh's at the end, the screaming. I love Jhariah's music so much and I feel like it showcases the rawness of 24's emotions that us, from the perspective of Xisuma, don't get to see often.

AND the transition into FIRE4FUN feels like if 24 spiraled into slight insanity.

Anyways I'm a huge Jhariah fan and will now be thinking of every song in the context of dbhc (especially Russian Doll as Etho post-destruction).

RAHHHHHHH YES!!!!! oh my god yes absolutely all of this!!! There's so much i could freaking say about this song, and If you'll indulge me a slight ramble: i think so much of it is like, this double meaning with lyrics. Like, yes, BIG SHOT. 24 hates Xisuma so much (for some reason, later to be explored, but hinted at a little bit in the spotify wrapped art), he sneeringly calls X a bigshot, because X must think he's so big and powerful and important, but this song also feels like. almost like 24 is beating up on himself? Like, "oh, you think you're a big shot, huh? Think you're so big and strong and powerful despite how small you feel?" and that sense of fighting to overcome his sense of inadequacy and shame and anger is just SO infuriating that it fuels him even more.

Lyrics like "You're always just a bit shy, following behind" AGAIN, could totally be 24 sneering at Xisuma, because X isn't the most outwardly outgoing person, and from 24's perspective, it's like ohhhhh, you're putting up this shy guy front, you must think you're so smart! BUT ALSO. "a bit shy" as in, coming up just short of a goal, always falling short, and that as a double meaning for both 24 and Xisuma is just so. passes out. I could go on like this for like every lyric i need to eat glass OH AND!!! FIRE4FUN is actually on Cub's playlist >:3 god so many songs from the TRUST CEREMONY album are on various dbhc playlists, but primarily 24 and hels. Xisuma has one and cub has one, but that's it (i think).

[berberriescorner]

Riding Home for Christmas🏍️🎄♥️

Character: Husband!Jax Teller x Black!Reader.

Word Count: 800+.

"A Season of Love Christmas Series 🎄♥️"

The crisp winter air nipped at your cheeks as you stepped out onto the porch, the faint sound of laughter and the warm glow of lights spilling from inside the house. Christmas had arrived in Charming, and you had insisted on a small gathering, hoping to bring a sense of joy and warmth to the club after a tumultuous year.

As you leaned against the railing, sipping a cup of hot cocoa, you thought about Jax. He had left early that morning for a ride with the guys, a tradition that had become a part of your lives. You couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him—his signature grin, the way he brushed his hair back with his hand, and the way he loved fiercely, even when the world around him was chaotic.

Just then, the rumble of motorcycle engines broke through your thoughts, and you felt your heart leap in anticipation. You turned to see Jax and the rest of the crew pulling up, their bikes roaring to a stop in the driveway. He was at the front, looking effortlessly handsome in his black leather jacket, a wool beanie pulled low over his blonde hair.

“Hey, darlin’!” he called out, a wide smile breaking across his face as he approached.

“Hey, you! Missed you!” you replied, setting your mug down and rushing to meet him.

He scooped you up in his arms, spinning you around in the chilly air. Your laughter filled the space between you, the warmth of his embrace banishing the cold. “Missed you too. You ready for a little Christmas cheer?”

“Absolutely!” you laughed, your heart racing from the excitement of seeing him and the sheer joy of the season.

As the group filed inside, you couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in Jax’s eyes. He pulled you close, whispering, “I’ve got a surprise for you later.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What is it?”

“Just wait and see,” he said, the playful smirk on his lips promising mischief.

The afternoon flew by, filled with laughter, good food, and the warmth of friendship. You reveled in the camaraderie of the club, the chaos of the holidays weaving a beautiful tapestry of love and connection. You wore your favorite red dress, the fabric hugging your curves in all the right places, and you could feel Jax’s appreciative gaze on you throughout the day, making you feel beautiful and desired.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow across the living room, Jax took your hand, leading you outside. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

You followed him, curiosity bubbling inside you. He led you to a small clearing behind the house, where a fire pit had been set up, the flames flickering against the twilight sky. Nearby, a beautifully decorated tree sparkled with lights, the smell of pine wafting through the air.

“Jax, this is amazing!” you exclaimed, taking in the scene.

He grinned, looking proud. “I thought we could have our own little celebration. Just you and me.”

“Looks like you thought of everything,” you said, glancing up at him with admiration.

He stepped closer, his gaze serious yet tender. “I wanted this year to be special for you. You’ve brought so much light into my life, and I wanted to give you a piece of that back.”

Your heart swelled, and you reached out to cup his cheek. “You don’t have to do anything grand to make me feel special, love. Just being here with you is enough.”

He smiled, a genuine warmth lighting up his blue eyes. “I know, but I wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”

Before you could respond, he leaned in, capturing your lips with his in a passionate kiss that left you breathless. The world around you faded as he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding to your waist, pulling you close. You melted against him, feeling every inch of his body against yours, igniting a warmth that spread through you.

When he finally pulled back, you both were breathless. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he murmured, his forehead resting against yours.

“Merry Christmas,” you whispered back, a smile spreading across your face.

He stepped back, retrieving a small gift from behind the tree. “Okay, now for the surprise.”

You took the small, wrapped box from his hands, your heart racing with excitement. You carefully peeled away the paper, revealing a delicate silver necklace adorned with a small charm shaped like a motorcycle.

“Jax… it’s beautiful!” you exclaimed, your eyes shining with tears of joy.

“Thought you might like something to remind you of us—our rides, our adventures,” he said, a soft smile playing on his lips.

You hugged him tightly, your heart full. “I love it. Thank you!”

As the fire crackled softly in the background, you and Jax stood together, wrapped in the magic of the moment—two souls intertwined, ready to ride into whatever the future held, hand in hand.

Comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated, my babies! MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄♥️!!

Tagging some lovelies:

@darqchilddaydreamz @astoldbychae @amorestevens

@sunshine-flower @starrynite7114 @ravennaortiz @1andonlytashae

@prettyyybrownroundd

[bibibbon]

And this is why no one and I mean no one can convince me that jayce WASN'T actively dying when he came back from that timeline.

That man was dying, and honestly, I wish the animators and the show in general showed us a lot more of the consequences that jayce has to suffer because of the timeline he was in, even if that's just him coughing in a few scenes (could parallel viktor tbh)

Aside from that, I think it's incredibly tragic and somewhat ironic that for jayce to understand why he should destory hextech he had to fully understand the consequences that hextech has on the people of zaun and even piltover.

We are told that Hextech is actively polluting zaun and in the alternate universe we see jayce stuck all the way down in the bottom presumably he is stuck in the near the fissures meaning that he is actively being exposed to the hextech pollution and radiation. Also, we see that here Ekko mentions how hextech also pollutes the water, and we also see jayce again down in the cave with a highly likely hextech polluted water source that he has had to drink from to at least survive.

There's also the fact that jayce makes his mobility aid from the corrupted hammer that we see in episode 7, and that could have played a role in the infection of Jayce's injury for all we know.

You know, now that I am thinking about it, it's horrifying to learn that you're whole lifes work that you spent every waking hour researching and trying to make a reality in order to help people, to help your partner and to make a legacy. All of that work just ends up being more of a curse than a blessing and with this context jayce's panicked questions towards the mage end up being so justified especially because jayce has had the time to sit alone and ponder on every step that led him here. He has had the time alone haunted by his mistakes to understand how he could let this happen, how a dream and desire so noble and simple as helping people with the magic that once helped him turned so sour and caused the end of the world.

Also, mentioning the grey and jayce being infected by it is so important to me because obviously it adds another layer of understanding that jayce develops towards zaun and viktor people who have had to suffer the consequences of the grey and breathing it in which is another reason why I think jayce is dying because that man couldn't of been okay physically after having to go through all of that.

Aside, if the show had the time to explore this, it should have given us an interesting conflict between caitlyn and jayce. Caitlyn, who in her greif released and gassed the undercity and her brother figure who was in a separate timeline who is now slowly dying due to being exposed to the grey that was released. I think caitlyn seeing jayce and the consequences that he has to suffer from him inhaling the grey would help shake a lot of sense into her about why her mother constructed the vents and as to how her loved ones can get hurt because of it.

Also, there could probably be some self blaming and even maybe a tinge of hatred that jayce would experience. He would probably blame himself for not being there for caitlyn even when he tried in the beginning of season 2 (I still find it interesting how caitlyn had to be FULLY isolated so she could fall for ambessa's manipulation and how she probab wouldn't of gassed the undercity had jayce been there). I also say that there may have been anger or hatred on jayces side towards caitlyn because her actions and it may cause them to get into a small argument, although I see jayce mainly blaming himself instead.

The shimmer aspect of it all is as interesting, but it begs the question as to how he is infected with shimmer? Is it from the mutated lizards, or is it now something that is so involved in the underground that it has become a similar pollutant to the grey and hextech.

I think it may have been a lot more intriguing if jayce somehow just found a vial of shimmer and used it. Cannonically, we never see any piltover member except for salo (a minor character). Use shimmer while we see all the major zaunite characters use shimmer at least once.

I'm only getting it now, but this isn't just Jayce becoming disabled in a similar fashion as Viktor (going through his pain), it's also the mix of all the things that corrupted his flesh.

There's red for blood yes, but also blue for Hextech, green for the Grey and purple for the Shimmer...

[loderlied]

i need you all to know that the main reason (besides a general hunger for attention) niles even accepts aldori’s call is because he got caught stealing his student’s work and passing it off as his own and his reputation as a teacher was obviously ruined. lmao

[beachyserasims]

♡ Episode 20 | FinalPool-Party | GENEVA ISLAND

♡ Autumn has decided that she doesn’t mind being single and she actually enjoys not being tied down to anyone or having to feel responsible for anyone else’s emotional well-being or commitment issues. Spending time with all her friends is her happy space and so she ended the evening after the pool-party feeling super happy. She was the last one dancing, enjoying the vibes.

♡ Judi woke up and realized that since Sean has left that she likes him more than she thought, and she wished that she could ask him to be her boyfriend. She has a habit of wanting what she can’t have and the timing of her revelation shows her level of commitment issues. She talked with Rowan about her issues as she doesn’t want to be that way anymore, but can’t help it.

♡ Jasmine spent the day chatting with Justin and Darion in the kitchen. She is feeling a lot more relaxed about her relationship with Justin since they cut things off with the other islanders and loves the time that they spend together, but she still gets jealousy pangs when he isn’t around because she is nervous he will be flirting behind her back more.

♡ Samora spent a lot of time chatting with Judi as they are both party animals. She was in a bad mood because she started her period and so she was spending time trying to feel better by running and generally taking it easy.

♡ Rowan spent his day relaxing around the villa and enjoying his morning rituals of drinks and working out. He spent a lot of the day chatting with Autumn and he asked her again if she thinks it would be ok if he moved in with her after the island. She agreed! Judi came clean to Rowan about her commitment issues, which he always knew about but it was nice to hear it in her own words.

♡ Justin spent his day chatting with Jasmine and enjoying her company. They are becoming very close in the villa and its making him feel a lot better about the direction that their relationship is going, becoming more serious about them.

♡ Darion spent his day battling his anxiety again as he is not used to being in such a relaxing environment all the time. He has always loved his career and is finding it hard to be away from his commitments at home. He enjoys chatting with the boys and making friendships with them the most.

The Start || Beginning of Episodes || Previous || Next

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

Honestly fascinated learning more of the fanon vs canon going on here. Truly tempted to read Tim's comics just to see the extent of what's been done to him

[ageofkarme]

When Karme first won the keys to the Athena's Hand, he developed a bit of a complex about his vessel. Between him knowing Lady Juliana would have rather given it to anyone else and suspecting that all who heard about it assumed the opposite and believed nepotism was at play, it wasn't until Beastbane's mission that Karme began to develop some real confidence as a pilot. True, around Vulcan's Vessel there were whispers and looks from the other Apprentices due to "someone like him" having the right to fly Lady Juliana's very first Skytrol-fueled airship, but Karme was getting over that in his own time. Again, a simple affirmation from Polaris made all the difference.   "It is! And it's a lot of fun too! One day, I'm going to get to fly it alongside a dragon. My friend promised me and elvhen can't lie so it's going to happen! Before that though, I do have to modify it to have a grabby-hand or a large basket or something. Harold—that's another friend of mine—will probably need to climb aboard eventually. Now, I could just use a spell to make him smaller, but I think because his companion is a scary witcher he'll keep thinking I'm a snack if I use magic on him. I want to be able to pet him without getting swallowed, so if I can figure this addition out it may endear him to me. I won Torty over—another friend and practically a best friend now—with the best handjob I've ever given, but that won't work for Harold. Really, I want to be able to have all my friends and my boys riding with me to some fun adventure. If I can't use my tools to protect and have fun with the people I care about then what's the point of having them?" Wow, Karme really did have a lot of friends now didn't he? He couldn't be happier.   Luckily for him, Polaris was certainly not in the friend category, especially not after those kisses they shared. He felt seen, desired, and taken seriously by the other, so much so that even a brief peck made his heart flutter. Karme tried to hide his enamorment as best he could because he loathed the idea of just being friends with Polaris, but it bubbled up in small ways he couldn't help. From the rosy color of his cheeks when he acted like he wasn't staring at how handsome Polaris was to the tiny jig his feet did when the elvhen squeezed his hand. Karme was happy, and not because he got to make out and hold hands with probably the most attractive man he'd ever met, but because he got to do so while being himself. Polaris let him be himself, without shame or ridicule. That honestly meant the world to Karme because he liked and admired Polaris so much.   "I don’t know. I've been ratcheting parts together for as long as I can remember, but that may be a Genovian thing." Karme never wished to belong to another family, no matter how badly his house made him feel. He'd like to think he'd always have become an Olympian, but would he have chosen a different patron had the pattern twisted in another direction? "I think … I think I was born to create. Even if I was born to another family, I'd like to think I would've ended up an Apprentice no matter what. Because if that was true, it'd mean I was right about myself. There's something only I can make, I just have to take my time and figure out what that is," he shares with a smile. Karme liked the sound of his own words so much that he started to beam at Polaris. "Is it like that for you? Honestly, I could see you having become a diplomat or even a performer! How did you choose sculpting in The Harmonium, and do you think you'd have chosen a non-bardic path if born under different circumstances?"

"I'll keep that in mind, that ship of yours is convenient." In times like these having an expedient means of getting around the continent was a rare luxury.

Intrusively Polaris's thoughts drifted momentarily to the notion that they might test the parameters of what noise this box could muffle. When this place was his he'd repurpose the largest of them and instill whatever wards were necessary - that was a modification he could lean on Karme for at a later date. Until then he'd let his mind's eye entertain the course that throbbed at the back of his mind: watery eyes, warmth, and wet with the tender bristle of Karme's soft, brown hair threaded between Polaris's fingers.

Polaris leaned in as Karme stood beside him and punctuated the departing thought with a soft press of his lips against Karme's. Chaste, just as the other's had been. "That's going to change someday."

The crisp, open night air brought a welcome sense of sobriety. Even as it teetered toward the later hours, the city felt alive in every way. The bustling, relentless streets harkened evening hours as the distant murmur of the crowds moving through Mercury's Bazaar drifted to the exterior of the Comedy Keep.

Polaris's fingers remained entwined with Karme's, hand in hand, Polaris gave the other an affirming squeeze before he led the way.

"Did you always want to be an inventor?" That was the best way that Polaris could define it: sorcerer and artificer felt hollow but the question scratched at something inherently curious at the back of the dragon's mind. Understanding was one of several of his goals and while they'd had their share of distractions tonight, Polaris was looking forward to getting to know Karme more intimately. Polaris could've also guessed that any Chrystanthos would be pushed toward the industry by some measure, even if it was active discouragement. "Could you say this was the path you'd have chosen if you were born into a different family?"

[rimouskis]

I'm going to preface this story by saying: I don't necessarily believe in karma, but

I may have been walking through today with a vague sense of disbelief tainted with unkind smugness after my tiktok fyp was flooded with poor fans who tried to get presale ticket to one mr n. kahan's new tour only to find that demand was through the roof and GA pit tickets were seriously going for $300, in presale, and even the "worst" tickets in the lawn were going for $70

and while I undoubtedly think it's deeply unethical for both platforms (thanks ticketmaster) and artists to allow such dramatic ticket cost inflation, I also generally don't relate...

I (VERY LUCKILY) gravitate towards smaller acts, and the most I've paid for a ticket all year has been, like... $90 for a ticket to beyonce, which got cancelled and I was refunded lol. if I look back at all my receipts from shows this year, most have been around $50/ticket after fees, and several have been closer to $20. my favorite show I've seen all year was a $15 ticket.

it's mostly luck—I tend to like smaller acts, and I've been seeing mainly rock acts this year, and those tickets simply don't run as high as pop acts. and part of me is honestly very grateful that I haven't been swept into any of the really recent huge acts.

I think of all the people scrabbling for boygenius or taylor swift tickets and how much money they've had to shell out... how a lot of them don't even GET to see the acts they want to see because they've been priced out or tickets sold out. I can't remember the last time a show I wanted to go to sold out lol. maybe bastille in london?

and again, it's just a matter of luck that I'm not really into any of these megastars and therefore don't have to compete in the gladiator arena to try to see shows I want to see, but sometimes luck manifests as a feeling of self-satisfaction, you know? who among us hasn't experienced a little self-superiority from time to time.

look, if YOUR tiktok was flooded with people saying concerts have been awful since 2021 (including rock and metal shows), but every concert YOU'VE been to since 2021 was amazing and the crowds were really good and you always got tickets and it never broke the bank, you'd feel pretty validated in your choice of musicians and the crowds they attract too, alright?? sue me! I felt frugal AND undeservedly clever!

anyways back to karma. guess who got invited and subsequently agreed to shell out $70 to sit in a lawn and listen to mr. n. kahan sing. I'll give you a hint, her tumblr username starts with an r and ends with an s

[omarwolaeth]

thinking 'bout how the lads interact with what the bracelets represent, especially in their decks

[hagfishviperfish]

eieudururururuffggh… it’s definitely along the lines of limerence. u think its fine when ur sitting together, it’s actualized that this is someone you could never be together with, and really he’s not all that glittering attractive in terms of someone you would want to be in a relationship with anyway. but then there’s the twofold dream of living with him, then wandering around a city aimless with the thought resounding “i love you so much please text me back”

i think it’s a sign of needing to reconcile something in myself but i don’t know what. i am left with these feelings that i do not know how to deal with. i desire him so much but he is not present. he never will be. it’s just how he is. i don’t know why he’s worth it in terms of my brain/heart. as i said, there are so many things about him that are extremely unattractive in terms of a relationship. This is a consequence of coming back into his life, but really this was happening anyway, in the past two years. it was so nice to just sit with him and not want for more, except i feel bad drawing him to speak to me but that’s fine

i don’t trust him with anything in the world, i feel that i don’t really know who he is, if he’s even a real person — but also that it’s so simple and he’s much more simple than i think. except it’s just that i don’t know. i can only assume and assume and theorize because he’s never around. i don’t know why i wish to know him specifically. Maybe it’s an ego thing. Maybe it’s an issue.

I had a dream that i think was a sequel to an existing dream but i dont know. It was like. I was adopted by the queen and king of england, they looked over me and raised me for a bit. And eventually i had to go back home to my mother. This dream was the sequel where I come back to see them again and see how every influence I had on their castle and lives and everything was stripped away and muttered about as ill-fashion— “oh, that old thing.” whereas i looked up to them so much, i was devoted and dedicated so much to them. they taught me how to dance, i taught the king jokes, things like so.

upon seeing all the ways i meant nothing to them I proceeded to have a breakdown in the dream, taking it out on them, everyone around me, tearing things down, playing into the ill worth they regarded me with by giving them something to be actually disgusted by.

My ex was there— he was there because he heard it was me, on the news, in the rumors, and came to witness. he was talking to people about me, telling them who i was and who he was, *defending* me. Which was crazy. So fond. but when i really think about it I think he was there because ultimately being the child of the queen of england and then coming back to see i meant nothing felt like what it was like to be in a relationship with him.

Why i am drawn to people i mean nothing to. I dont know. why their validation in my worth means so much. i dont know. why i see my worth through others. i dont know. this is what i need to reconcile in myself but. i don’t know. How. I even feel like its fine most of the time, but then i look up to someone and it all comes back.

I just wish he cared about me enough to come by. But he doesnt and i need to find someone who does. Thats the path i’m trying to take. It’s just sorrowful. What also overtakes me sometimes is that when he’s not there, he claims to be thinking of me. Stalking my twitter. Watching what i’m doing wherever. Songs that make him think about me. Which kind of makes it worse. All of that and it’s still not enough to draw him near. He was right in saying I am someone that needs someone to be there for me and it was hardly a kindness that he let go of me when saying that, especially considering the circumstances, but at least he could admit he was not that person. it’s this wish i have that i need to reconcile. the fact that it exists at all. I wish it could go away, I’ve been trying to make it go away, forcing it to by looking at all the facts and realities, but yet its still here, I don’t know how to change, I need to be strong

[satoruxx]

normally toji prides himself on being the perfect guard dog—not that he would ever tell you that. but you never have to worry about guys coming up to you when your hulking monster of a boyfriend remains at your side, continuously glaring down his nose at everyone he sees.

this usually works pretty well.

on adults.

but now, as you and him wait in line at the counter of the grocery store, he can only let out a huff of irritation as he watches the little brat in front of you both stare over his mother’s shoulder—big wide eyes locked on you.

at first you don’t really notice, too busy blabbering about something silly as you look around the store. but when you finally lock eyes with the child, you notice the way he seems to go shy, pressing his cheek deeper into his mom’s shoulder. his eyes flick away from your face for just a second, before timidly looking back. as soon as he does, you break into the sweetest, most giddy smile.

(toji would move mountains for a glimpse of that smile—and yet here this kid is just getting it without a shred of work.)

you tilt your head, raising a hand to gently wave at the boy, who flushes further under your attention, but lifts his cheek a little more. chubby fingers come up to meekly wave back, and you hold back a silent coo of affection, eyes filled with honey-like sweetness. with every little giggle and silly face you make at the boy, he seems to get more and more comfortable—toji watches you melt.

the unlucky little brat then quickly peeks at the giant man looming beside you, and toji can’t resist. his face pulls into a evil smile, teeth on full display as he wiggles his fingers sinisterly. the expression has its desired effect—the kid recoils, eyes going wide before burying his face into his mother’s neck. in a few minutes, the boy and his mom are heading out the store and you and toji start loading the groceries onto the belt.

“i saw that, you know?”

toji glances up, seeing your semi disapproving frown, and he cocks his head in faux innocence. “saw what?”

“you’re mean,” you shake your head, crossing your arms. “scaring little kids like that. quite literally the object of their nightmares.”

“ah, he’ll be alright,” toji grunts, taking the bags from the cashier in one hand and reaching for your palm with the other. “it’ll build his character.”

you snort. “he’ll have trauma.”

“like i said,” he grins, a canine display. “character.”

you roll your eyes as he tugs you out of the store—your grip on him unwilling to falter.

toji lives just like this, successful in scaring off any other person who considers giving you attention, whether that’s an adult or a little kid. and despite your exasperated complaints to at least lay off the children (they’re harmless), toji has known for a long time that he can be nothing but selfish when it comes to you.

so forgive him, if he quickly turns to this evil little tactic to scare away kids—it’s all he can really do. besides, it always works.

until now.

you’re sitting under a tree at a small park, working on some dumb assignment for one of your lectures. toji lays on his back next to you, arm draped over his eyes in a momentary respite from the normal danger of his life—eerily content.

the peace is broken by the rustling of tiny footsteps in the grass.

“here you go.”

toji pulls his arm away to peer at the owner of the voice. a boy stands there, hair tousled as he waits in front of you with his arm outstretched—in between his chubby fingers is a singular dandelion.

your eyes widen, cheeks splitting into a wide smile as you coo out your affection. “aw for me?”

the boy nods mutely, cheeks flushed as he thrusts the flower further into your view. you delicately pluck it from his hands, inhaling the fragrance with a grateful smile. “well thank you. it’s beautiful.”

he shyly kicks at a spot of grass, lips pulling up into a giddy smile under your sweet praise. “just like you,” he mumbles under his breath and you squeal softly, giggling at how adorable this kid truly is.

toji sits up before you can say anything else, lips pulled into a displeased frown as he crosses his bulky arms across his chest. “hey.” his voice comes out low and tense, even as he stares down his nose at the boy. “what are you doing?”

you turn to look at your boyfriend, at the exaggerated sneer that normally works wonders in scaring kids away, and you hold back an exasperated sigh. “toji—“

“who are you?” the boy frowns, sass appearing out of thin air as he looks toji up and down like he’s nothing but dirt under his colorful sneakers. you gape at him, eyes darting back and forth between the two as a smile threatens to make its way into your face. toji’s lips part in surprise, a tingle of heat crawling up his neck as he hears your hushed gasp of held back laughter.

“her boyfriend,” he grunts back, eyes narrowed in a way that’s oddly similar to the expression on the kid’s face.

“no way!” the boy huffs, pouting indignantly. his cheeks flush as he glares at toji—unfazed.

“uh, yes way.” toji realizes how petty he sounds, but he’s adamant—unwilling to stand down in anything that involves you.

the boy crosses his arms, mirroring toji’s pose. he rolls his eyes emphatically, lip curling as he sneers down his nose.

“isn’t she too pretty for you?” he asks bluntly. you smother another disbelieving gasp, and toji suddenly feels an unfamiliar thrill rush through his veins—this kid had guts.

“what do you know, brat?” there’s a smirk evident in toji’s voice now, and he uncrosses his arms to lean back on his palms, eyes shining with feral mirth.

“i have eyes,” the boy snaps back, putting both hands on his hips to appear more intimidating—it doesn’t work, he just looks cuter. “i can see her.”

“well quit it,” toji huffs in return. “not yours to look at.”

the kid narrows his eyes. “you’re mean!”

“and you’re nosy!”

“how am i nosy?”

“you’re comin’ over here and givin’ my girl flowers!”

“she deserves flowers!”

“of course she does! from me, you little brat!”

“you suck, old man!”

“what did you just call me?!”

a shout from across the park disrupts the heated bickering, and you all turn to see an older woman waving the boy over. he looks down at you, a sweet smile washing over his face as he tilts his head innocently. “that’s my mom. i have to go home now.”

“heh, sure thing. get home safe, okay?” you shoot toji an amused glance as you speak, and he sends a displeased glare back as he stubbornly crosses his arms again.

the boy nods, beaming at you. “okay! see you later!” he chirps. but just as he’s about to leave he turns back, eyes fixated on toji. “i hope your boyfriend learns how to be nice!”

and then he runs off.

you snort out another laugh, which only gets louder when you catch a glimpse of the way toji is practically sulking in the corner—scowling at the kid’s back with narrowed eyes.

the whole thing is so unbelievably endearing, and you can’t stop grinning as you pack up your things and stand up.

“let’s go home, toji.” you hold your palm out for him, and you’re rewarded with a pointed glance—he takes your hand anyway. even as you both exit the park, toji has an unamused pout on his face, glaring ahead.

you can’t resist.

“don’t tell me you actually feel threatened now,” you giggle, grabbing his bicep and pressing close. toji glances at you from the corner of his eyes, unamused—which only seems to make you laugh harder. “oh come on! he was so cute!”

“little brat,” he grumbles in return. “couldn’t take a hint.”

“you’re mad because the eight year old kid at the park didn’t want to believe you were my boyfriend?”

“the fuck do you think? of course i am. what do i look like if not your fucking boyfriend?”

you chortle, practically falling on him with the weight of your amusement. he sighs, disgruntled.

“it’s not funny, kid.” toji rolls his eyes at you—internally, he’s trying not to grin.

“it’s so funny, toji.” you straighten up, smiling at him with stars in your eyes. “you’re ridiculous and it’s so cute.”

he scoffs, giving you a sidelong glance before reaching up to tug at your cheek. “i’m definitely not the cute one.” he murmurs offhandedly before internally smirking at the way you seem to be caught off guard by his statement.

“whatever,” you mumble, holding his arm as you both continue walking home in relative silence. from the corner of your eye you can see toji’s expression as he mutely stares ahead, deep in thought. you decide not to disturb him, content on just feeling his warmth bleeding into your palm—always at your side.

toji replays the incident in his head multiple times as you head home. the bickering, the sass, and the unfiltered adoration that little brat seemed to have for you.

something clicks.

as you’re pushing open the door of your apartment, you hear toji quietly chuckle from behind you, and you turn to look at him over you shoulder. “what?”

he shakes his head slowly, eyes shut even as an uncharacteristically soft smile tugs at his lips. “just thinking…”

“about what?” you ask curiously.

toji grins at you, cocking his head fondly. “when we have a kid, i want the little brat to be just like that.”