#state azure your work is chefs kiss

[flesh-into--gear]

uggghhhggh just wire it directly to my brain please

[just-a-new-gi-writer]

"Creator Reforged" is (chef's kiss) concise and yet Exactly What It Says On The Tin lmao, big brain! Poor Sucrose in Ch7 tho: she must be traumatised too, for lack of better description.

Oh oh! May I send an ask for the Follower Special? How would the acolytes react to a creator who crochets/knits/sews them various clothes and accessories? I feel like Childe would appreciate (and definitely smugly show off) any scarves or coats you make him lmao??? Liyue has nobles and society stuff, so maybe when Ningguang or the other Qixing wear trinkets/shawls that the Creator made, there'd be similar clothes in fashion? Inazuma and Sumeru seem pretty big on textiles (Silk, Cotton, maybe Wool/Fur?) so would they be smug at their textiles being featured in some of the creator's works??

Also, just a last thing: your writing style ABSOLUTELY gives off shounen light novel vibes. It's honestly perfect for Genshin, imo.

Yeah, no one in that situation is really in their best mind at that point. Albedo, Sucrose, and the reader are all likely not thinking straight. (Hopefully going to get back to work on it soon...)

And thank you for the compliment! I'm honestly not all that familiar with shounen light novels, but I hope that the eldritch/weird moments that undergird party of my writing don't distract too hard.

A/N: Getting back on the wagon. ...And I let myself stray to an adjacent yet (in my opinion) equally interesting version of the Creator. Hope you all enjoy!

Word Count: 2.7k

CW: None?

Masterpost

taglist @iyohme

The night in Liyue was young. Though the furthest edge of the sky still wore the faintest remnant of the day’s glory, the rest of the sky glammered with pearlescent stars, crowned with a nearly full moon, and bounded in the north where an azure comet tugged at the sky as it fell.

Far below these celestial sights, the opulent city of Liyue slumbered, nestled between its towering mountains and perched beside the tranquil sea. Uncountable lanterns burned quiet and low, illuminating the streets just enough so the guards could patrol yet low enough to allow the citizens to rest.

Though the thousand hands of the industrious city lay low, not all of the city was asleep. In the city’s main hall, where the highest matters of state and commerce were conducted by words and contracts, through coins and goods, by bribes and threats, different kinds of activity were taking place. Heads of states, merchants, nobles, and the like from nearby Sumeru, Inazuma, Fontaine, and a few from even further afield, met and socialized with each other. They forged and renewed acquaintanceships, sought new avenues of commerce and trade, discussed and reviewed new discoveries and theories.

The event there was in full swing. Chandeliers with ornate carvings in Cor Lapis diffused amber light across the whole room. People clustered around the room, conversations flowing as freely as the drinks. The front of the hall was dominated by a stained glass relief of the Creator, The Forge of Days. Though no light filtered in through the myriad colors, the veiled image of Her figure seemed to glow with its own glorious light.

Gathered at the front of the room were piles of gifts and offerings. In years past, they would have been iron and copper, silver and gold, crystals with shimmering hues and gems with an unfathomably deep color.

But recently, their Creator had undergone a change of hobbies. The hands of The Forge rarely sat idle, but the items She created would change with her interests. For months, Her hammer and tongs sat idle, Her billows quiet, and Her fires cold. She’d found a new craft to occupy Her hands for a while, and the people followed Her whims.

A different bounty had been gathered tonight at her feet: bolts of cloth in all kinds of dyes and textures, spools of thread in every color imaginable, skeins of yarn that seemed to glimmer with gold spun into their material. These, the people hoped, would gather Her attention and affection enough to be worthy of receiving a gift from Her in turn. Though She chafed at formalities and ceremonies, these She would bear to see Her creations given.

Tonight, there was no shortage of people gathered to show off the artifacts that She had personally forged, crafted, or spun and then given so generously. It was hard to miss the heads of state and important nobles- Ningguang was garbed with plenty of jewelry of gold and amber and topaz. Keqing kept at her side, displayed prominently, a sword forged of impossibly sharp steel and inlaid with awe-inspiring arrangements of Inazuman amethyst.

Few were arrayed so brilliantly as them, but one person stood taller and prouder than both. In the middle of a group of weary and exasperated onlookers, a peculiar Snezhnyy man bragged about and paraded off his new gift. Tartaglia was not much loved by the people of Liyue- connections to the Fatui tended to do that- but showing off the new turquoise scarf generously pooled around his shoulders, studded with constellations of pearl stars, strained the patience of most.

“Oh, what’s the matter, Afong?” Tartaglia chided a merchant who finally had enough of him and tried to leave, “Can’t stand the sight of someone who has one of Her new styles? What do you have, just a tarnished, old bracelet? I think She’d be embarrassed to see that old thing in public! It’s probably for the best that She tosses that dull thing back into the furnace and starts over from scratch.”

A small, timid voice came up behind him, “Tartaglia, isn’t that enough?” He spun on his heel to see who spoke up, the half-adeptus Ganyu. She was carrying a tray of food in her arms which clearly had a wide selection. “You’re going too far with what you’re saying.”

“Listen, Цилинь,” Childe plucked one of the morsels from her tray, something skewered on a wooden pick, “talk to me when Her Grace decides to visit you with something noteworthy. I can tell,” he gestured down to the arm he could see, “that She gave you some pity. I remember hearing about that meager ring She made, Her last product before turning her sights to Her new craft.” He eyed the ring set with an aquamarine gem, then slid his gaze to what sat on her wrist. “But I didn’t hear about that.”

A dainty, delicate work of lace lay barely hidden under her sleeve, like a fine layer of ice had been worked around her wrist. While many would merely overlook it, it contained many curious details the likes of which would only be seen with Her handiwork- notably, the centerpiece of it was a recreation of Ganyu’s vision- frame, cryo symbol, even the subtle cracks and chips were represented through Her handiwork.

“The Forge of Days generously gifted it to me.”

“An early work of hers, probably. Most likely, she made it to familiarize herself with the craft, getting the early failures out of her system.”

“Did Her Diligence make a single weapon for you?”

There was a momentary flash of anger on his face- the first anyone had seen that night. It was quickly gone, but Ganyu had turned and left before she could notice. She heard another conversation haltingly spin up as she walked away, before fading into the noises of the party.

Ganyu left the party, following a familiar path of hallways as the sounds behind her began to become muddled and indistinct under the weight of their echoes. She turned a few corners, passing various shrines placed to honor and venerate the Adepti, mostly, but also the other benevolent beings who shared the region with the city and who helped guide its people in the past. Designed to impress and show off Liyue’s splendor like the main hall, there was little expense spared for these collections as well.

She slowed, then came to a stop. She was nearly on the other side of the building from the main hall, and her surroundings looked like it. This space was dominated by a large door formed of wood and metal, something that looked more at home in the industrial sections of the city, not here among the shrines. The walls and floor here were dirty- darkened soot seemed to almost grow on any available surface and the air was thick with the smell of earth and fire.

To a place built to celebrate the divine and the supernatural beasts that crowned this corner of the earth, this seemed wildly out of place. But Ganyu, among other important people in Liyue’s governing bodies, knew the truth of this location.

Ganyu balanced her tray on one hand and reached out to one of the enormous door handles. It took a bit of force, but the doors began gliding open, ethereally and unearthly quiet. She passed through the doors and began descending the stairs below, each one decorated with a different pattern of golden crystals that glowed in a circle around anyone walking down them. To Ganyu, it looked like the steps were being cast from the darkness just steps ahead of her as she descended. As she reached the bottom of the staircase, she heard the doors behind her gently close by themselves, a soft but unmistakable noise through the space she just entered.

And what a space it was.

Lit by larger clusters embedded in the walls, not too dissimilar to those on the stairs, the room was a crafter’s dream. Uncountable machines of industry filled the space, of every type and make, most repaired by hand after their user damaged them from overuse or overapplication of force. They were distributed about the room by trade- over there sat the forge, its bellows quiet and the stockpiles of coal, iron, silver, gold, and countless other metals full and ready; there rested every tool one needed to hew art and purpose from any stock of lumber one chose; there rested 

And through the middle of it all, and under the low dais in the center, ran a stream, to quench and cool the products of the forge, to supply the (currently disengaged) mechanisms with power.

And sitting there on that dais, bathed in light from a ring of crystals suspended over Her head, surrounded by an impressive array of tools and stock of materials all at Her fingertips, the Creator moved with impressive speed. Her hands flew from one movement to the next, a blindingly fast dance between Her fingers, the tools, and the dress that She was weaving on the mannequin in front of Her.

Ganyu set the tray down on a nearby table that wasn’t totally overrun with supplies and materials, pushing a few bolts of cloth out of the way. She carefully stepped through a field of bobbins, careful not to upset or step on any. As she approached the Creator, she wondered if She had actually noticed her. “Pardon?” She tried to get Her attention, stretching a hand out to Her shoulder. “Burning Forge–?”

The Forge of Days suddenly snapped out of the way, Her head whirling around to glare at Ganyu, Her eyes burning a brilliant yellow-white from the focus on Her activity. Her glare was uncomforting on the best of days, but when She wielded it like this, Ganyu could almost feel the heat of the forge pouring on, through, and around her. She could feel some of her hair begin to singe.

Ganyu took a step back, covering her face. “M-My apologies! Ningguang only wanted me to check on You!” The heat began to bleed away from her, quickly dropping to a simmering heat. When Ganyu risked a glance, she found Her back at Her craft, continuing to weave like She hadn’t been interrupted. “I wanted to check in on you as well. I know it’s quiet down here, and I know you don’t like crowds–”

Her Industriousness made a noise of frustration as she pulled the last of the yarn taut. She spun in place, planting the hook in the dress, then grabbed a plain knife and walking (at a speed that should have been called running) over to a spinning wheel. She began gathering up Her hair in large handfuls, then cutting them off with quick, clean cuts of the knife.

As quickly as She had turned away from Ganyu, the heat had faded away; only the memory of the warmth remained. Ganyu winced to see Her shear so much of Her hair off so carelessly, but she knew there was a method behind Her actions. As She stopped in front of the spinning wheel, She set the knife aside and began turning the spinning wheel, arcs of magical light started being cast from it as it spun faster and faster. When the arcs began to connect into circles, She fed Her hairs into it one at a time, and began winding the resulting golden thread around an empty bobbin.

Ganyu took the moment to look the dress over now that the Weaver of Fates was away from it. The beautiful garment looked like it was painstakingly constructed- the various materials made it look like it was spun from the condensed light that shimmered over Liyue harbor every morning, the angles and sections of construction chosen to mesh with each other so seamlessly. With how She had woven it all together, it felt like the dress was creating itself, like it was destined to simply be.

Thinking back to the excruciating minutiae of measurements that She had made of her body (after she found the demand from her Creator carved on a slab of iron which was unceremoniously deposited on her working desk…), part of her hoped that it would turn out this beautiful.

As she looked back at the spinning wheel, she caught The Forge feeding the last of her liberated hairs into the wheel and loading the last of the thread onto an overloaded bobbin. She snapped it up in one hand and turned back to the mannequin to continue her work.

It was now or never. Her Industriousness hated being interrupted.

“Your Grace?” Ganyu started speaking before She could set down the bobbin. “I was just thinking about you. I know you don’t like social events, and they’d prepared so much for the party- I thought you’d appreciate me bringing you a sample of what they had.” Ganyu began talking faster as she started threading the needle. “I-I made sure to grab some of your favorites as well, and I wanted to…”

She eventually stopped herself. If Her Unending Warmth wasn’t interested in something, it was basically guaranteed to be a futile struggle to get Her to cooperate. None in all Teyvat could match Her strength and endurance, let alone Her abject stubbornness.

Ganyu turned to leave. “I… I should go. I should see if they need me upstairs again. I’ll–” She barely took a few steps before suddenly being stopped. Turning around, she saw that the Creator had lunged towards her to grab on to her, Her incredibly strong and calloused grip, able to crush stone and deform iron, gently but firmly wrapped around her arm.

She looked up and saw The Forge’s face, one that was so used to its grim and steadfast glare that its current one, creased with worry, almost looked unfamiliar. The light in Her eyes was still bright, but had cooled to an orange glow.

“…Stay.”

The single word croaked from Her throat, gravely and unclear from disuse. It was incredibly rare for Her to speak- it was said that lifetimes could come and go without her making so much as a single utterance.

“–! …Alright, I’ll stay here with you.”

Her Grace let go of her breath and the room seemed to warm. She released Her grip on Ganyu, who slipped off to find two chairs that could easily be decluttered and dragged over to the table.

“…For all the work Your Industriousness does, I’m surprised You don’t do more to keep things tidy down here.” She moved an armful of cloth up onto a table, where it likely would be a hazard later on. “But I’m sure no one complains because they just like it when You make things on time.” She struggled to maneuver herself and the chairs around all the other clutter, but Her Grace managed to move through it with surprising, well, grace.

“There.” Ganyu set the two chairs down and it wasn’t long after She sat that She popped the lid off the tray and grabbed two different treats, offering the smaller one to her. She gave Her a light punch on the shoulder (that likely only hurt herself) then accepted it. After She started biting into the delicacy, Ganyu saw the light in Her eyes had dimmed further into a reddish glow, the natural steel gray beginning to show through near Her pupils.

The Forge labored many long hours to hone Her craft and produce all kinds of goods. Ganyu figured it was best to let Her rest for a while.

[utterlyinevitable]

innnnn honor of the shit show going down in America today, why don’t you write a headcanon of MC and Ethans love story if MC/Ethan was president. Kinda like the make believe fic but just The president part shskwkke-loads of love, Ayla🥰

But... didn’t I already write this? 😂

I outlined the fic bit for context and if you wanna see how the story ends I’ve marked it in bold! this is long i didn’t edit, sorry for any mistakes!

A Presidential Love Story 

They met at a gala in Boston. 

Ethan was receiving an award for outstanding work in the community and MC was a political figure there networking before hoping to run for office.

Her and her PA introduced themselves to everyone they could in the short three hour window. One individual that would not accept an introductory pitch was Ethan Ramsey.

In her skin tight green dress, MC sauntered over to him bruiting in the corner. 

Everything about this mystery woman had Ethan intrigued; he was a man after all.

She grabbed two flutes of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray, her sights set on charming the man senseless.

“You look like you could use a refill.”   Ethan sighed, rubbing his forehead, “I could use something stronger.” “What’s your poison?”   “It’s not on hand, I’ve already inquired.”

They spent their time together bonding over liquor and their reasons for being at the event. MC danced around the subject of being politically involved until she sussed him out fully. 

They bonded over his cynical view and her drive to help every one. Both of them selfless in their own ways. 

They became friends. Close friends. But with politics and her being a badass female figure, they could not date openly.

Ethan had a thing for strong, challenging, whirlwind women. 

MC makes it to office and hires Ethan as an advisor. 

He pushed back and adamantly refused.  

That was until she gave him his own task force and vowed to keep her cabinet full of the most knowledgeable and least politically minded people she knew. 

How could he pass on being part of this legacy?  

They spend time together in and out of the office. Lots of late nights consulting on Ethan’s task force.

One night, they let time slip away from them in the West Wing. So MC invited him back to her apartment for late-night pancakes and finish what they were working on. 

The two had breakfast at 1am and fell asleep adjacent on the L-shaped couch. 

Ever since that night, they found her quarters preferable to the composed showrooms of the White House. Within these walls they could simply be two people.  

Ethan had been staying over every so often, with and without intentions.  After a while, he was given clearance to come and go as he pleased, the Secret Service sworn to protect their secret.

Six months after that first night, Ethan conclusively forced his ethical thoughts aside and kissed her unprompted in the middle of her chef’s kitchen as they debated the perfect amount of time needed for delectable golden dollars.

MC had the weight of the nation on her shoulders and was thankful for the distraction Ethan provided. 

No one spoke of the affair. Some members of staff even found their flirtations endearing. Other’s enjoyed the inevitable drama that would befall the unwed pair, watching them balance power and a country. Everyone pretended not to hear their moans and musing through the ancient wooden doors.

Extended Story

As MC’s term proceeded, she was increasingly busy. Doing state visits around the world for weeks and months at a time. Understandably, Ethan couldn’t join. 

They were able to keep up their late-night antics into her second year of presidency. 

But once Ethan’s imitative went into action they lost all precedent to continue seeing one another as often.  

The first single-woman president couldn’t have her term scandalized by an affair story. As far as the American public was concerned, MC was married to the country and could find no greater love than the US of A. 

The last time they woke up in one another’s arms wasn’t intended to be the last time. 

It was the morning after the White House Christmas Gala. 

MC’s Press Secretary stormed into her apartment in a huff. 

Someone had seen MC and Ethan leave together and rumors were circulating. She was going to squash the rumors and the two of them had to end whatever they were doing. 

Her press secretary’s exact chide was: “Be like every other lonely middle aged woman and get yourself a vibrator.” 

Both Ethan and MC’s eyes went wide. 

This was never about just sex between them. 

They’d always had sexual tension, but even more respect and adoration for one another eclipsing the carnal desire. 

They were given an hour before Ethan was to be covertly escorted off the premises. 

Ethan changed into a new set of clothes he kept at her place, and began packing things into a duffle the secretary left for him. 

MC wrapped herself in her robe and watched her heart break right in front of her. 

“What do you want to do?”  “There’s nothing we can do, MC. They’ll use any sort of scandal to try and impeach you. You’re doing too much good to be tarnished that way.”  “So...”  “We knew what this was when we started.”  “And what’s that?”  “Complicated.” 

She sat there toying with the idea of of keeping both Ethan and her position. She ran over every possible scenario as quickly as she could. She wanted to tell him to stay, she needed him. She’d never felt peace until she was wrapped in his arms. 

Ethan compartmentalized the situation. Throwing it in the farthest box he could find. He knew he could never have her completely. He ran through every single way this could end after he kissed her that first time. Every single scenario ended in tragedy. 

Ethan didn’t care. He wanted her in anyway he could. 

And now is was time to amicably end. 

There was no other choice.   

They saw one another at events and meetings about his task force, but they very seldom spoke about other things. It was politics as usual. 

But there was nothing usual about the professional way they regarded one another. 

The years blended together and turned into a second term. 

Ethan’s health care initiative took off and every single American had access to free public health care. 

MC had done so much good for the country in terms of public housing, healthcare, student debts and income gaps. 

During the years, MC remained celabat and Ethan remained devoted to his work. 

It was almost poetic when they bumped into one another at the Easter Dinner her last year in office. Literally. MC walked backwards into Ethan who stood at the side of the bar. 

Ethan had just about been successful in forgetting the way her skin felt warm against him and the way her body seamlessly molded to his. How she was simultaneously his undoing and his saving. 

All of that came rushing back in full force when he caught her from falling over her two left feet. 

“Thank you - Oh, Ethan. Hi.”  “Madame President.” 

Their eyes locked and it was all over. The pleasurable electricity taking over, both succumbing to the pent up desire. 

Her hand found his and he led her to the dance floor. 

Ethan and MC began to see one another again. Though they were smarter than to retire to her apartments, they kept under the cover of professionalism. A tender kiss or two could be shared behind closed doors. They wouldn’t take anything farther than that, not with a few months left of term. 

Her very last Christmas Gala was upon them. They spent it close by and subtly matching outfits - he did it just to make her smile. 

That evening, MC made it a point to be the last two in attendance. When everyone who did not work for her Administration had retired for the evening, Ethan and MC wandered to the biggest window. 

They looked out onto the snowing grass and cloudless sky with twinkling stars. Their hands brushing. It was the most privacy they had out in the open in weeks. 

MC complained about her heels digging into her feet and not being able to walk for a few days. 

“Take them off. Who’s going to condemn you for it?”  “Besides you?” 

Ethan chuckled and offered his shoulder to lean on. 

They bent down at the same time. 

“I got it,” Ethan held his hand up to stop her, prompting her to hold onto his shoulder and revel in the feeling of a free foot.  “Oh my god, I love you.” 

MC was too lost in the freeing sensation to recognize her words. It took a couple of seconds of them standing there still before she realized. 

When she looked down, Ethan’s azure orbs were on her, a playful glimmer in his irises. 

“I -” she stuttered. Not really sure how to recover from this one. 

No political training taught her how to keep from telling her all-but-boyfriend she loved him. 

“I love you too.” 

MC was stunned to silence. A jovial smirk adorned Ethan’s features. 

While she composed herself, he tapped her other leg to free her foot. 

Ethan stood up and suddenly MC was 5 inches shorter - just tall enough to rest her head against his shoulder. 

One of his hands grabbed hers and the other held onto her shoes as they walked in comfortable silence to her apartment. 

She broke the silence: “Really?”  “Really.”  “Since when?”  “Since always.”  “Hm. Me too.” 

He tenderly kissed her goodnight just outside her apartment door and handed her her shoes.  “Goodnight, MC.”  “Goodnight, Ethan.” 

He leaned in one last time to place a delicate kiss to her cheek. His final words lingering against the shell of her ear: “I love you.” 

She said it back and kissed him again. They pulled away reluctantly, but happily. They only had one month left until she was out of office. 

The day MC left the White House for good was one of the happiest days of her life. 

She did her country proud. She made a difference in the lives of every American. Her Mission was accomplished. There was nothing but positive things in her future. 

And now she was moving to Rhode Island into a secluded home overlooking the water. The perfect place for her to retire this chapter of her life. 

Pulling up to the house, MC spotted her love standing on the stoop with a smile and arms wide open. 

She was finally home.   

[fuckyeahjerik]

Prompt list? 27: "Hey remember when I told you I had everything under control ? Well...I lied" Plez?

Hey anon! Hope you enjoy this little ficlet. <3 Pairing: Jellal/Erik Word count: 1.6k

“You’ll be okay alone?” Erik checks one last time, pinning his boyfriend with a hard stare. Jellal, thin and pale and drowning in his too-large white shirt, nods with a wan smile.

“I’ll be okay, I promise. I have everything under control. I swear.” Bright brown eyes are filled with raw earnestness, making no effort to hide either the pain or the love that brews in their depths. Erik cannot say no to Jellal when he lays himself bare before him in that fashion. 

“Okay.” Erik sighs, grabbing his bag and moving towards the door. But as he goes to put on his shoes, he stops abruptly.

I’m missing something!

Without a second thought, he turns around and runs towards Jellal, whose features morph from calm to concerned.

“What’s wrong?” he asks anxiously. Erik grins at him, taking Jellal’s cheeks in his hands and bringing their faces close together.

“Forgot something important,” he says impishly, and kisses Jellal. 

There’s a cherry-red blush dusting Jellal’s cheeks when Erik pulls away, still smiling devilishly. It satisfies the little demon in his heart - making Jellal blush is his favorite pastime. He walks backwards to the door, waving a little at his boyfriend as he steps out and closes it behind him. 

The smile on Jellal’s face and the wave he receives in return is more than worth the fact that he trips and falls flat the second he’s out of the house.

Picking himself up, Erik dusts his clothes off and climbs onto his bike, Cubellios. It doesn’t take very long for him to get the old girl fired up and on the road, and the wind pulls at his hair in just the way that he likes as he speeds along the empty highways to make it in time for his shift.

It’s a small coffee shop where he works, one of those little businesses owned by locals that somehow end up being the most warm and inviting places ever. It’s funny that this one, Rosen Krone, should be, since its owner Ultear is literally the least warm and inviting person Erik knows. But that’s off-topic; today, as the chef, he gets to decide the Friday special, and he’s already planning on making apple tarts. They’re Jellal’s favourite - just imagining the soft look in brown eyes, and the silly smile he will make as he devours each one whole, makes Erik giggle to himself. 

He doesn’t even scold himself for being a sap. At this point, he’s pretty much accepted how whipped he is for his sweet blueberry boyfriend.

Erik pulls into the parking lot of the cafe and locks his bike before practically rushing inside, excitement bubbling out of his entire body as he thinks about how he’ll surprise Jellal. He doesn’t even hear Ultear’s snarky comment on his sudden enthusiasm or Sorano’s giggled, “Whipped,” as he hurriedly takes out the ingredients and starts to put together the perfect tart.

He slices the apples at the speed of light, only the sheer precision built up from years of cooking stopping him from cutting off a chunk of his finger. Tossing them into a bowl, he adds cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar, lemon juice and a bit of salt to the mixture and shakes the bowl to mix them all up properly. He slides a lid onto the apples, allowing them to marinate, and turns to the pastry.

He’s measuring out the third cup of flour when his phone rings. 

At first, Erik clicks his tongue in annoyance, wondering who on Earth would call now. He’s cooking, and all his friends know that hell hath no fury like an Erik who is disturbed from cooking. 

Then the ringtone - Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, unironically his and Jellal’s song - properly registers itself in his ears, and Erik promptly spills the cup of flour all over himself with shock.

Jellal?!

He fumbles for the phone in his pocket, forgetting everything else. The world could be crashing around his ears right now and he wouldn’t care - Jellal’s calling, and that means there’s something wrong. 

Worry dampens his entire body like ice as Erik swipes the ‘Accept’ button, pressing the phone to his ear and practically barking, “Jellal! Love, what’s wrong?”

There’s a pause, during which harsh, ragged breaths that sound suspiciously like crying come through the other end. Erik doesn’t waste a second, keeping the phone in place with his shoulder as he removes his apron and hangs it up. He has to go home now; Jellal clearly needs him.

Whispered words from the other side of the line barely make it to his ears, but Erik’s hearing is far better than anyone else’s, and so it is that he clearly picks them up.

“Remember when I said I had it under control? Well, um… I might have… lied…” Jellal’s voice is high, notes of panic filling it. Erik’s breath stumbles over his words; he can’t get them out fast enough as he shouts into the receiver of the phone, “What happened? Are you - are you okay?!” 

“I don’t know,” Jellal whispers softly. “I don’t know. All I know is it feels like I’m drowning-”

“‘M coming,” Erik says firmly. He looks over at Ultear, mouthing, ‘He’s not okay’; she nods gravely, motioning for him to leave. 

She’s accommodating like that. Erik couldn’t have been more grateful for it as he speeds out of the back door of the cafe, slamming his key into his bike and starting to drive haphazardly even as he keeps murmuring platitudes into the phone.

He hears Jellal hiccupping and crying. Erik’s heart breaks, imagining his boyfriend curled into himself, red-faced and blaming himself for everything that is wrong in this world. All he can do now is whisper softly, “I’m coming, love. Don’t you worry. I love you so much. You’re amazing.” 

He’s powerless over the phone, and he hates it.

Clenching his fists around the acceleration button on his bike, Erik wills Cubellios to fly faster than she has ever gone. He pushes her to the limit, not stopping for a second, breaking every traffic rule known to mankind in his single-minded determination to get home in time.

I’m coming, baby. Don’t worry a second. 

Hastily pulling up in front of the house, Erik leaps off of Cubellios and rushes to the door. The bike clatters to the ground behind him; but he’ll worry about that later. For now, Jellal comes first.

Erik wrenches the door open and heads straight upstairs to the bedroom where he knows Jellal will be lying, curled in a ball and weeping softly. He’s proven right as he opens the door and shuts it with a soft click to find his boyfriend’s blue head buried in a mountain of pillows, his thin shoulders shaking weakly.

“Jellal,” he calls tenderly, making his way over to the bed with deliberate, loud steps. Jellal doesn’t like to be surprised when he’s feeling down. “Love, it’s me. I’m here.”

“Erik,” Jellal rasps out, his voice raw from crying. “I… why’d you…”

Erik perches himself on the edge of the bed and cards a hand through Jellal’s azure locks.

“‘Cause I’m your boyfriend, and I wanna be here for you when you’re not okay.”

“But I…” Jellal lifts his face, tearful brown eyes meeting gentle purple ones. “I dragged you away from work. I’m horr-”

Erik puts a finger on Jellal’s lips, shaking his head. “You’re wonderful,” he stresses quickly, emphasizing his point. “You’re wonderful and I love you.”

“No.” Jellal sniffles. “No. I’m terrible. I just hurt people and tear them away from things they need to do and-”

“No!” Erik cries out. He needs to stop this before Jellal starts spiralling. He can’t allow his boyfriend to go into that state again. Taking off his socks, he settles himself properly on the bed and pulls Jellal into his flour-covered chest, kissing and petting the other man with the same gentleness one would show a baby.

“No, love,” he breathes. “You’ve given me so much. You’re my world. You’re so kind and so good.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t matter. You can find someone else, someone better to love,” Jellal hiccups. 

Erik swats his back lightly. “None of that.” he says bluntly, truthfully. “I could never love anyone else. To me, there’s no one better than you. Your love saved me more times than I can count. I love you. I’ll always choose you.” 

Jellal exhales into Erik’s shoulder. There’s silence for a few beats before he speaks again - 

“You really have horrible taste.”

It’s barely a whisper, more of an exhausted breath. But it’s a victory, because it means Jellal’s feeling just a bit better: and Erik will make sure to build on that bit, to keep building on it until Jellal is calm once more. And even after that, because to make his boyfriend happy is the best thing in the world, and he’ll always be here.

He doesn’t reply to Jellal’s comment, simply pulling him in closer, ensconcing him in warmth. They lie like that for awhile, just relishing in each other’s presence, Erik rubbing circles into Jellal’s back - his signal to say ‘I love you’ when he doesn’t feel like talking. 

Jellal is Erik’s entire world: capable, bright and friendly, kind and intelligent, absolutely beautiful, basically everything anyone could want. But of all the people, it’s silly, stupid Erik who has gotten this amazing person to call his. 

So it’s okay if Jellal sometimes forgets just how much he is worth, because Erik will always, always be here to remind him.

[eyoricka]

dreamy vacation

Summary: This is prompt 4 “When we laugh into the microphone and sing with our sunglasses on, to our favorite song” (Nothings gonna hurt you baby by Cigarettes After Sex) 

Words: 2400

Warnings: none

You finally managed to get vacation for more than a week and at the same time as your boyfriend. You had been dating for years now and that was the first time that it happened. You were so happy that it was hard for you to contain your joy even during inconvenient moment such as professional meetings. Theseus was really better at hiding his excitement but as soon as he got home he would checked at the luggage, read books about what you could do, counted down to you the days before your departure. When the D day came Theseus woke you up with a huge grin like a little kid and you reflected his expression. You insisted to take a breakfast, Theseus argued that it was a loss of time and you shook gently your head in a no, insisting that it was important and you had plenty of time now. Plus your portkey was ready at eleven and not before. He accepted the plate of eggs and hash browns and ate quickly which made you chuckled. After a last check at everything you left your house with a smile plastered on your face. you couldn’t help but walk quickly to the portkey even if your baggage were heavy.

As you arrived at the hotel you admired your surroundings. The sun was warmer than in London however it wasn’t too hot either. A perfect weather for a perfect place for perfect vacations.  You checked the time and decided to grab a lunch. The groom advised you to go to a local restaurant to enjoy a real Casado. You noted the address and tried to not get lost around San Jose. After the delicious meal Theseus asked you what you wanted to visit first and you thought. You were hesitating between the visit of the Mercado Central to taste a real coffee, the Museo nacional de Costa Rica or the national theater to see a play. After some moment of indecision you decided to visit the Mercado Central and go to the museum the following day and watch a play on the evening. Theseus agreed with your plan and the two days in the capital were really interesting and instructive.

After those two days Theseus apparated you both to a small cottage in the village next to the natural park of Manuel Antonio. It was said that it was the smallest but best park to explore the locale fauna. Theseus was really fond of magical creatures however he was still astonished by the diversity of normal animals. And you, since your childhood, loved animals so much, you were a huge fan of Newt’s work and had worked under his supervision when you were younger, that is how you had met Theseus. Since when you arrived you were a bit tired you decided to take a day of at the Playa Espadilla Sur. From where you were laying on the sand you notice the savage path that led to the tropical forest. You had taken a book with you and you were focused on the action when you felt warm hand on you back massaging you. you let out a hum of satisfaction and heard Theseus chuckled. “I bet you forgot to put some sunscreen on” your giggle was the only answer he needed since he continued to massage you. he took your book away and you frowned however it was soon replaced by a smile when he kissed your forehead, your cheeks, your shoulders and finally your lips. As he deepened the kiss you noticed that he had let your book and you discreetly grabbed it with one hand while the other was playing with his curls. You then broke the embrace and managed to find your page. Theseus stared at you with a playful smile “Is a book more interesting than your marvelous boyfriend?” You laughed before replied “I was about to discover if Leon would become the second lover of Emma, that a crucial moment! And by the way I would say that you are marvelous. Average in the best case.” Theseus fake-pouted but he stopped as soon as you brushed some curls away from his forehead, he couldn’t resist when you were doing that.

You woke up really early to avoid the other tourists and truly enjoyed the calm nature in the park. You groaned a bit complaining that it was too much to have to wake at that time during holydays. Theseus told you to say a bit more in bed and he would cook the breakfast. A part of you wanted to stand up and avoid the upcoming catastrophe of Theseus trying to cook something else than pasta and rice. Since the last evening he was determined to master the cooking of grilled plantain bananas and you anticipated the result. However you were too tired to prevent that mess and you let him try the recipe as you fall back to sleep. The second time you woke up an agreeable smell was shrouding the house and you walked to the kitchen to find a plate full of plantain bananas, patacones (fried plantain bananas) and a warm cup of coffee. You looked at him weirdly and he sent you a proud smile saying “you see I know how to cook, stop underestimated me”.  you sat and he pushed the plate before you. you carefully took a bit of the bananas and it actually tasted very good. “did you really cook that alone?” “Duh, who do you think I am?” “The guy who almost put the house on fire while trying to do a sunny side up eggs.” He rolled his eyes but didn’t add a word. As you helped him to clean the kitchen you opened the fridge and found a box full of patacones and grilled bananas with a note in Spanish. It was signed by the chef of the restaurant you went the previous day and explained how to reheat the food. You busted into a roar of laughter when you saw Theseus guilty face as he noticed you read the paper. “Nice try, next time hide the evidence, would be useful to not get caught, didn’t you learn that in your auror training?” he kissed you to shut you up and when he broke the embrace he said “high time to leave to visit the park, get ready!” You quickly did as he asked you and you walked excitedly to the forest. Everything was beautiful, so pure like primal state of the nature, like nothing had changed since the creation of the earth. You were in an awe, you heard Theseus joked “it seems that this place is full of you” as he showed you some sloths. You stuck your tongue out and prepared to reply something but then you noticed some armadillo. You were lost in your contemplation. After a while like that, the auror grabbed your hand and you continued to walk. There were colorful parrots, howler monkeys, iguanas, pelicans… it was like the Garden of Eden. A living dream.

After few reposing days you decided to go to the Turrialba volcano considering that all the locals told you that the view was absolutely magnificent. You spent few hours at the national park next to the volcano. You were wearing warm clothes to prevent you from the coldness at the peak of the volcano. The walk to the peak of it was supposed to last four hours, you had decided to leave at ten am, do a break for a nice pick nick and then walk two hours again to be on the top around two pm. The first two hours went well and the lunch was rather good. You enjoyed the fresh air and walking hands in hands with Theseus, it was a perfect moment. However after the lunch as you were happily walking, you tripped on the floor and let out a scream of pain. Your boyfriend rushed to you and asked you if you were okay. You nodded but winced when you stood up, you realized that you would certainly have a bruise. Theseus didn’t seem to be fully convinced by your words when you said you were okay. As you continued to walk he regularly stopped to check if you were really okay. It was a bit annoying but you found it cute, he really cared about you and that made your heart melted. Ten minutes before arriving to the top you had an idea. You looked at your boyfriend with puppy eyes and asked with a voice you knew he couldn’t resist to “I am a bit tired of walking, can I have a piggy back?” he remained silent pretending that he was thinking but judging the look on his face you were sure that he already had made his decision. He nodded and let you install yourself conformably. He carried you to the top and he giggled a bit when he felt your fingers played with the back of his hair, or the kisses you left on his neck. As you arrived at the top he let you down and you enjoyed the view, it was truly wonderful, you never imagined that a country could have such beautiful landscape, it was so different from England, more preserved, no one touched it for the moment, you wished it would stay like that forever. You couldn’t help but exclaimed “That the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen!!” “oh really I thought that the most beautiful view you’ve ever seen was me leaving the shower with only a towel wrapped around me.” You playfully rolled your eyes at him and punched his arm. He rose an eyebrow at you and a smirk grew on his lips. That was a bad sign and you wondered what he was going to do. He didn’t let you a lot of time to think as he tickled you. you begged him to stop but he acted like he was hearing you. “Please… Theseus, have mercy!” you shrieked between two laughter. “Maybe I will have some but you have to prove me that you deserve my mercy” you refrained a snarky comment and instead went for a “But babe you know I was joking, you are obviously the most beautiful view of this world, nothing can compare your beauty, not even that landscape or the seven wonders.” He eventually stopped and replied “You see when you want, you can say the truth even if you certainly did too much with the seven wonders.” After that you both stayed silent for while just enjoying the moment before finally heading back to your hotel.

You spent the last few days in a cute cottage on the beach of Penca. The sand was white, there were coconut trees, the sea was azure, it was like a painting. There were many people either and you felt a bit like two explorers discovering a retired island. Since there were few surfers and you told how this sport was sexy to your opinion Theseus decided to impress you and took some classes with the surfers already there. it was truly funny to see him trying to keep his balance on the board and miserably failed each time. you had rarely laughed some much during an afternoon. As he realized that he was not impressing you and rather ridiculous he thanked the guys and jogged towards you with an upset face. he didn’t have the habit to fail, he was one of the most brilliant wizard of his generation and he couldn’t admit that a simple board on waves was resisting to him. he grumped and complained all the rest of the evening saying that it was a stupid sport, not interesting…  After a while he stopped his rambling and insisted to go for a swim with you. the water was crystal clear and as you were swimming you could see the sand, your feet… you were lost in your contemplation when you felt a splash of water on your skin. You faced Theseus and he splashed you even more. You replied to his war declaration and splashed him even more. From afar you certainly looked like two children or young people living their teenage dream and honestly that is how you felt. He grabbed you by the waist and threw you in the water. As you were falling in the water you managed to grip him by the arms and he fell too. As you emerged from the water you ran to the beach and he followed you running too. He was faster than you and joined you rapidly. He wrapped his arms around your waist spun your around to hug you.

The rest of your holidays flew away quickly and as you were back in London you cherished those moments of your life. The years went on and your boyfriend became your husband and then the father of your children. You grew old together and never stopped loving each other. You were both with your grandchildren talking about your best memories and naturally you both recounted those vacations and when they asked you your best memory of that day you began to tell the story of how you learn to snorkel and the beautiful water creatures you had swum with. Theseus hesitated a while, he said that he couldn’t only pick one memory but after some insistence he said “ Y/N do you remember our last night in that beach bar when we laugh into the microphone and sing with our sunglasses on, to our favorite song? I am sure that the moment I realized I could never live without you and I needed you forever in my life, that the moment I decided that I had to marry you and never let you go. I think it is one of my favorite moment of my life and I am happy to have live it with you, I am happy that I had a life full of happy moments with you. I loved you, I love you and I will never stop loving you.” “I love you too Theseus”. You kissed him and he kissed you back and you stop giggling when you heard your grandchildren screamed “gross!”