#sticky bomb rice

[aggresively-doesnt-know]

pants vs zombies

[sugarpuptard]

yesstyle haul from april ❤︎ $66 ε(*´･ω･)з

i felt like sharing how i feel about the stuff i got! the price raise on yesstyle goes crazy compared to the true price in japan but i got stuff on sale + with coupon codes (use my rewards code here! or use EBHJPT for money off any YesStyle orders Σ(ノ°▽°)ノ)

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❤︎ Products *:ﾟ*｡⋆ฺ(*´◡`)

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クリアターン うるうるBOMBマスク (clear turn uruuru bomb face mask) ❤︎ $11.70 on YS, ¥527 in JP

❥ これが大好き hydrating asf it rlly lives up to the name, its for dry skin and it really helped plump my skin when i notice dehydration lines. it has ingredients such as white jellyfish extract, hyaluronic acid, amino acids & others and is very gentle, i have sensitive skin and this works wonders! it has so much serum too

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クリアターン ごめんね素肌 キニナルマスク (clear turn gomenne bare skin kinishinai mask) ❤︎ $11.70 on YS, ¥660-¥718 in JP

❥ another mask from the same brand i rlly like, this one is for acne breakouts using stuff like salicylic acid, licorice for anti inflammation, yokuinin calendula, niacinamide, lactic and amino acids, and vitamin C to take care of blemishes gently, it works really well on my sensitive skin, sometimes SA makes my skin react but this didn't! it works quite fast too

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ロート製薬 肌ラボ 極潤 ヒアルロン乳液 (hada labo gokujyun hyaluronic acid hydrating milk) ❤︎ $12.06 on YS, ¥868 in JP

❥ i need all the hydration i can get and this lotion/milk is amazing for that, it doesn't feel heavy or sticky to me and it soaks in very well, i like to layer it on depending on how much hydration i need. sometimes i wear another moisturizer on top but especially during the day this works great as a moisturizer on its own

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ファイントゥデイ資生堂 fino（フィーノ） プレミアムタッチ浸透美容液ヘアマスク (fino premium touch hair mask) ❤︎ $15.90 on YS, ¥752 in JP

❥ my hair gets so shiny with this mask and it helps make it a lot softer, i used it while also using rice water on my hair and my hair was the softest i've ever felt it, it smells so good too it feels like a nice salon product

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花王 ビオレUV アクアリッチウォータリーエッセンス (biore UV aqua rich watery essence sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++) ❤︎ $15.40 on YS, ¥785 in JP

❥ i only tried this once so far since i haven't really been leaving the house so i cant give a full review but i like it so far, its not heavy to me but it does make me look quite shiny, but i think some setting powder would fix that issue easily

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資生堂 尿素10％クリーム チューブ (shiseido urea 10% hand & foot cream) ❤︎ $9.70 on YS, ¥906 in JP

❥ love this stuff, i get dry spots and this helps heal them pretty fast, definitely will be repurchasing

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mask fit red cushion foundation trial kit ❤︎ $1.00 on YS, ¥??? in JP

❥ i actually haven't tried this yet (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀) but i'll update when i do

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（アンドハニー） &honey Melty モイストリペア シャンプー1.0／ヘアトリートメント2.0 お試し 10ml+10g シャンプー・コンディショナーセット (&honey melty moist repair trial set) ❤︎ $1.00 on YS, ¥110 in JP

❥ this smells so good omllllll, my hair felt quite nice after too, i wanna get more trials tho and see how it is using the whole packet in one wash instead of half, my hair is pretty thick so i might of not washed it 100% good

[elijahhendley]

７月27號 Day 16: Day in Taitung!

Today I decided to wake up around 6:30am. After getting ready, I went to breakfast around 7:15am and I was the only person in the entire room. The hotel breakfast room was giant and could probably seat almost 200 people yet I was the only one there. There was even a lot of food there that was prepared really nicely and I was the only one eating it. After a while some of my friends walked in, but no strangers. The county we are in is known for having the least amount of people. We are staying in a hotel that has 2 buildings and 15 floors for rooms. Since the hotel was so big I was expecting there to be more people at breakfast. But after breakfast, I went back upstairs and noticed something that I noticed in the last hotel. A lot of the electricity around the hotel was off. Like the central AC seemed to be off because the hallways and laundry room were hot. Then I went to the room balcony and every room that I could see had the AC unit off. So I don’t think there were many people staying in this hotel. So they turn the electricity off to save money.

We loaded up on the bus at 9:30 and our first stop was to the rice school museum. It was a small place with not that much going on but it was cool to see how the different types of rice are made and the different stages of rice. Peter also bought us snacks to try. He bought apple mochi and dried squid. The squid was really good. Then we made a quick stop at the “green tunnel” which was just a nice canopy of trees. As we drove through the green tunnel there were some graves which were very detailed. Then we continued on our way to get hot pot on Peter(such a great guy)! It was really good and he even ordered an extra plate of beef for our table. After eating hotpot, we went to the national museum of prehistory. I learned and saw so many different things. It was one of the best museums we have been to in my opinion. Especially since everything was in chronological order. It was amazing to see how things advanced and some things remained the same. 

After leaving the museum we drove by the Music Village, which was almost empty due to the bad weather. Then we ended the day going to a pharmacy, 7-11, and a bakery. At the pharmacy store a couple of us had fun taking our blood pressures while waiting for others to finish buying medicine. There is a sickness going around. Then we went to the hotel and we played poker and Cambio again.

Academic Reflection.

It is surprising to me and it probably will be surprising to you, that the rice industry in Taiwan is actually at risk. The amount of rice eaten, according to the Taiwan panorama article “A Rice Renaissance”, has reached an all time low in Taiwan. It is being outcompeted by wheat products, such as pasta and bread, and also rice imports from other countries. Ever since 2002 when Taiwan opened its borders to rice imports, domestic sustainability of rice has decreased. It is a sad reality that is slowly trying to be changed. I also learned about the main types of rice. The article splits it into 3 varieties. First being sticky rice, like Japanese Koshihikari rice. The second, a high water content, gelatinous rice with a soft texture known as Congee rice. The last being firm “frying” rice. 

Another thing I want to highlight about today was the Prehistory museum. Besides experiencing how the people of Taiwan lived, how they made pots both red and black, how they made and used knives, cultivated farm land, and even how they buried their dead during the prehistoric times. I learned a lot of interesting things. Moana, my favorite Disney movie, was based on the oceanic cultures and had a lot of influence from Taiwan prehistoric native culture. I saw boats similar to those depicted in the movie. I also learned that the movie Godzilla was inspired from a nuclear bomb that was tested by the US in the pacific ocean. A nearby fishing boat named Lucky dragon 5 was near this nuclear bomb testing and all the crewmates were contaminated. Thus, Godzilla was formed.

Until next time, 再見！

[brehaaorgana]

I put I don't really care because there's no option for ¿Porque no los dos?

I'm Mexican American and my family's "mexican rice"/arroz rojo isn't a short grain sticky rice BUT Mexican food 🤝🏼 Filipino food and bonding over Spanish colonialism, and Filipinos definitely have good sticky rice.

Like you could be having bomb ass fusion desserts with sticky rice ngl. Not just Filipino fusion but other Asian sticky rice dishes + Latino fusion = yum. Catch me out here cooking mango sticky rice I sprinkle with red chili powder for a summer sweet.

OH WAIT also!!! arroz con leche.

I love both. Rice should be all kinds. If you mean like a rice pilaf then ofc it shouldn't be sticky, because it's a long grain rice that won't be sticky if cooked correctly. But there's other types of rice dishes, just like I don't think refried pinto beans are the only kinda bean dish allowed lol.

Reblog for sample size etc

[the-last-human-war]

GodofWar Punisher WarMachine FutureWinterSoldier MolagBal Sauron

60. Sling Shot - Tranq Pellets (Like Green Hornet's Gas Gun where he ends up in a coma.)

61. Sling Shot - Itchy Poison Pellets

62. Sling Shot - Permanent GLITTER BOMB!!!

63. Sling Shot - Berserker Hallucinogen Neurotoxic Gas

64. Sling Shot - Fear Gas - THE BATMAN!!

65. La Bola

66. Jack Spikes

67. Gogo's Bladed Chain Ball

68. Sheath Aka Scabbard

69. Wooden Sword

70. Iron Sparring Sword

71. Stealth - Cane Sword

72. Spiked Knuckles

73. Acid disguised as Ricen Strips. Or is it Ricen Strips disguised as Acid?

74. Mask obviously

75. Rebreather

76. Gas Mask

77. Demon Mask Lmfao

78. Spray Paint - to Mark your Sign

79. Plated Armor obviously

80. Hoodie obviously

81. Flip-flops obviously

82. Straps and Ropes

83. Black Leather obviously

84. Kimono obviously

85. Enuf with the obviously obviously

86. War Paint not so obvious

87. Helmet

88. Kara Jishi Full Mask

89. Kara Jishi Mouth Mask

90. Long Spear

91. Mandalorian Javelin

92. Harpoon Gun

93. Ninja Fisherman Trident

94. Net

95. Snare Traps

96. Triple Bladed Nunchacku

97. Fiber Wire CQC

98. Laser Cutter

99. Strobe Light

100. Drone

101. Bladed Boomerang

102. Static Stun Boomerang

103. Gas Boomerang

104. Boomerang Drone

105. Sushi just in case there's a Hibachi Steak-Out

106. Pet Scouts

107. House of Flying Axes

108. Combat Knife or Swiss Army Knife - Ima Gut im like a Fish. Engrave & Enamel a Rainbow Koi Fish on the handle.

109. Mind Freak - Splittable Double Bladed Sword

110. Jade Fox Ribbons

111. Jade Fox Undetectable Bounty Mug Shot

112. Calligraphy Paint Brush

113. Chop Sticks

114. Peasant Disguise - Straw Hat, Bandana, Tattered Wool Robes, River Carp Fishing Pole, Master Yoda's Cane

115. Whistle

116. Rice Cakes

117. Bladed Fan

118. Umbrella Shield

119. Half-Shell

120. Shredder Forearm Blades

121. SUPER-SHREDDER Razor Armor Suit

122. Delivery Bag for Boxes of PIZZA

123. Forearm Speed Crossbow or Pellet Shooter

124. Guns Blazing - Blunderbuss - BLAST FROM THE PAST MOTHAFUCKA!!

125. Spy Kite - can Deploy and Disperse all sorts of things

126. Traditional Hair Style

127. Some Yakuza Tats

128. Potion Bombs

129. Buddhist Monk Candy Pouch

130. Sword Oil - cleaning

131. Sword Oil - Poisons

132. Sword Oil - Fire Sword

133. Flamethrower - Dragon Mouth Staff

134. Squash Gourd - Sacred Mountain Dew

135. Squash Gourd - Sake

136. Squash Gourd - Koshu Wine

137. Squash Gourd - Spaghetti Western Whiskey

138. Divine Confetti... In yo Face!!

139. Origami

140. Predator Whistle Calls & Bait Lures

141. Anti-Venoms

142. Lock-Picks

143. El Trompo

144. Sticky Hand Slapper

145. Superball or Skyball

146. Crystal Ball Mallet Staff - Only Hammer a Ninja would ever consider wielding

147. Trippy Yo-Yo

148. Secret Satchel hiding a Russian Nesting Doll for Divine Cookies

Lightsaber & Star Wars Weapons

1. B

[yanawildstar]

It's all about ME, ME, ME!

My fave music

Well for those who still haven't know me, obviously Avril Lavigne is my ultimate no 1 Favourite! I've love her as long as i can remember. She's my IDOL. And I've learned a lot from her.  Im damn proud and happy for her huge comeback this year. She's AMAZING. Let them know she still Rock N Roll!!!  I also do love Taylor Swift. Can't believe She's rules the music world era for years, and she the same age as me. The other music I listen to and really enjoy include Pink, Simple Plan, Billie Ellis, Justin Timberlake, Eminem, the Black Eyed Peas, Jason Derulo, Shawn Mendes. 

My fave book

I  really love Bloom by Estee Lalonde. Been rereading her book so often. Such an inspiring book for me. Always sth that motivate me to do better in life. I also do book from Tanya Burr, Love Tanya, Girl Online by Zoe Sugg, La Candy a novel, series by Lauren Conrad, and also anything by Rainbow Rowell and Sophie Kinsella. Basically, I simply love anything girly, chic flick novels.

My fave two makeup product

Well Honestly I actually only wear this two makeup whenever I'm going out. Simply cant be bothered with the others. First my fave lipgloss,the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. Its super cute, and I love the shiny light pink shade. It have shea butter enriches from within. Wearing it sure makes my lips look instantly fuller, with a non-sticky formula that’s super shiny and has an addictive peach-vanilla scent I just can’t get enough of. I loves smoky eye and light lip look. One can never forget my fave signature smoky, kohl-rimmed eyes.So yeah my second fave makeup will be my black eyeliner esp MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner. Been using this since my early teens! I'd always LOVES those black eyes when I was younger, in fact, I still do now too actually. I still will use whatever I could get my hands on. It was so hard to find a black eyeliner that had pigment. Everything i put on was gray. So It was a lot of smudging with eyeliner. 

My List of The World Hottest Guys:

My HUSBAND! of coz, dhuh!

My Dad!

Adam Levine

Andrew Garfield

Ryan Reynolds

Eminem

The Yana Diet on how to maintain my body figure!

Lol! Firstly, damn. Im not afraid to eat fast food as often as I can. From McDonald to KFC, to Dominos I always order the largest portion of Fries or Pizza.otherwise, I tend to just want more. Hehe. 

I eat pasta as often as I can too. I cook the best tuna mayo fussili pasta at home. Fast and easy recipe that I come up with one rainy day! My own creations! So telll me again, who says I can't and dunno how to cook? Just because I don't post about my cooking that often over on the internet doesn't mean I can't surprise my hubby by cooking dinner once awhile. Alhamdulliah, my hubby LOVES it. not because he suppose to, but because he genuinely think it really taste marvellous. He often request me to make dem!

I loves eating sushi, esp salmon sashimi. Yums!The combination of fresh fish, rice and seasonings makes sushi a perfect healthy meal, at least for me! 

I do eat as much chocolate as I can. For me, chocolate seems sinful, and therefore they never fails to makes me happy. My favourite will always be Kinder Buneo!

One thing for sure,I NEVER take any diet/Vitamin pills ever. Simply said I don't do drugs.

Generally,I do what I want, eat what I want, whenever I want. Life too short not to enjoy it. 

[nm-mattuz]

Background: Motel 6, east of Needles California. As referenced by several songs by Clutch

Anankos is killing fhgwhagads for jocking him trying to play like "you know me"

Bowser is fighting Tharja

Alfonse sees Bowser fighting Tharja and is worried

Luigi is scared of Tharja's presence

Mario is going super saiyan

Kirby needs a ride home

Upsidedown scout schadenfreude

Link with ball and chain about to get some noob rekt

The 6 on the sign for Motel 6 is replaced by Fomortiis

Anna front and center with the team captain hat with the burning flame unusual effect and the dangeresque, too? shades iconicly worn by demopan

Anna's trunk has a batarang and a sticky bomb on the side of it

On the table is the following:

There is a stout shako next to exactly 2 refined to further reference demopan

A pokéball

Gormet meat and rice (icon from BOTW)

Kirby Burgy™

The sacred heart ripped straight from the album cover of Dio's album "The Sacred Heart"

A Sunrise on Slaughter Beach album by Clutch physical copy (which my dad actually owns)

Is this too much?

[trolls-poppy-specialist]

its done !!!

SEASON 1 ✅

Becoming Carmen Sandiego Pt. 2

Carmen gets sick on the boat (motion sick, perhaps) and probably throws up into the river.

“Guys, I don’t feel well… could you slow down the boat a little… please?”

The Sticky Rice Caper

Carmen gets heatstroke due to the heat in Jakarta. She faints in the outdoors.

“Little did she know that the heat would become this unbearable. It manifested…”

The Duke Of Amsterdam Caper

Carmen faints in the van during the drive with Ivy, who has no choice but to reroute back to the hotel.

“Zack, Player, I’m commencing a reroute!”

The Opera In The Outback Caper

Gray finds Carmen throwing up in the toilet with a fever, caused by a stomach bug. Don’t ask why, he just heard retching from the ladies’ bathroom and got scared while scaring all the ladies out. Consider his memories not wiped.

“Everything’s cold…”

The Chasing Paper Caper

During the fight with Paper Star in the museum, the pre-existing cold she caught before the mission (her stubborn self still insisted on going so V.I.L.E wouldn’t win) causes her to wear out quickly after a few paper cuts, and she collapses halfway through, barely managing to get away from ACME before passing out in a dark corner.

The Lucky Cat Caper

Carmen shows up to the charity auction with a fever.

“Charities matter more than I do, Player; I’ll get through this, go back to the hotel room, and rest. Deal?”

The French Connection Caper

Carmen battles Coach Brunt (she still breaks some ribs and gets herself beaten up) while running a fever, and she faints in the team’s vehicle on the way back to the hotel. Makes Carmen’s condition three times worse. She probably gets so delirious to the point that she starts to see Shadowsan in her mind.

“Carm’s down!”

SEASON 2 (THE INTRODUCTION OF DADOWSAN) ✅

The Hot Rocks Of Rio Caper Pt. 1

Carmen burns herself out trying to rid the visions of her father and seek some answers, so much so that she doesn’t manage to catch sleep but catches a viral infection, and she faints while trying to follow the man with the Alexandrite. (Shadowsan may make a pop-up here.)

“I’m on… my way… just…”

The Hot Rocks Of Rio Caper Pt. 2

Another bout of motion sickness exacerbated by nerves and burnout, so she ends up puking on Shadowsan, who’s stunned but also concerned.

“I am so sorry… I… I didn’t mean to…”

The Daisho Caper 📓

Carmen being sleep-deprived and down with a viral infection on the train. Things go from there.

“Jacket. Blanket. Water bottle.”

The Fashionista Caper

Carmen falls ill on the plane from a combination of burnout, stress and a little bit of nerves.

“But who’ll substitute her this time? We can’t afford to let Carmen risk her life like this, especially when she’s sick!”

The Boston Tea Party Caper 📓

Zack and Ivy tell their backstory and how they met Carmen when Carmen is cooped up in bed in their hotel room with a bad cold.

“She is sleeping. Please refrain from disturbing—”

The Need For Speed Caper

Carmen faints after raging at Zack and Ivy when she’s about to get on her motorcycle.

“She’s burning up, and her heartbeat’s going at a mile an hour.”

The Crackle Goes Kiwi Caper

The mission goes wrong (and talk about awkward) when Carmen faints in Gray’s arms while he’s deactivating the bomb.

“Crikey!”

The Deep Dive Caper 📓

Carmen gets so stressed out after finding out about her past from Shadowsan that she practically stays up for three entire days trying to pinpoint clues. But it backfires and she ends up fainting in her room on the fourth night from a sleep deprivation and stress-induced fever while searching for clues.

“One more clue to finding my father… or failing.”

SEASON 3 ✅

The Luchadora Tango Caper 📓

Carmen (yet again) running a fever while fighting Coach Brunt in the wrestling ring with Lupe Peligro. A little change here. She suddenly faints in the wrestling ring and almost gets pounded and beaten by Coach Brunt.

“¡Carmen! Aah… ZACK! IVY!”

The Day Of The Dead Caper

Carmen, on the car ride with Sonia, starts to develop a fever that escalates so quickly that she needs help from Sonia to walk back to the hotel room (they have an extra bed).

“Something’s up with Carmen.”

The Haunted Bayou Caper 📓

Carmen faints during the party in the mansion (she excused herself to some dark corner so she wouldn’t get caught by V.I.L.E operatives or anyone else) because she insisted on turning up with a 40-degree fever and a sore throat.

“Give me one second… just need to, uh… catch my breath…”

The Masks Of Venice Caper

Carmen faints in the museum after beating Neal The Eel (and Hideo gets worried).

“Well, that’s done. Now we need to…”

The Jolly Good Show Caper

Carmen falls ill after Nigel Braithwaite gets arrested, and Team Red is worried when she doesn’t rendezvous where they’re supposed to meet.

“Speaking of which, where is Carmen? We agreed to meet here.”

SEASON 4

The Beijing Bullion Caper

Carmen is yet again burnt out from the quest for her mother, and ends up vomitting badly from contracting a virus during the mission to rescue Xifeng’s father.

“Hang on a second, guys…”

The Big Bad Ivy Caper

Rendezvous… more like wrong-dezvous when

The Robo Caper

Sleep deprivation is once again acknowledged and experienced by Carmen. Further exhausted and dazed by the hit she took on the head by Roby, she dozes off during the plane ride to save Gray and misses out important details of the plan. So she nearly screws up due to a suspected concussion and resulting delirium and fever.

“Hand him… over…”

The Himalayan Rescue Caper

Carmen catches a cold/near hypothermia after being in the Himalayas.

“The cold must’ve hit. It hit me like a slap to my face.”

The Egyptian Decryption Caper

Carmen once again suffers from heatstroke in the desert. But this time, Devineaux is the one who has to try and offer help to her.

“Hot… need water…”

“We have some. Do you… need any?”

The Dark Red Caper

Some mind-wipe side effects for Carmen.

“I think I’m going to be sick…”

Note: still thinking of something for The VILE History Caper that’s not hypothermia or like a cold because it’s then essentially a repeat of The Himalayan Rescue Caper.

okay now I need a fic compilation of what were to happen if carmen were to be sick in every episode of the series

like, getting taken by VILE or some team red comfort (especially with the introduction of dadowsan)…

[trulylino]

=> Gifts They Give You - BTS

Pairing: bts x gn!reader

Genre: fluff

Summary: just a collection of the little things that the bts members would do for you when they're in love with you.

Warnings: Christmas mentions

Masterlist

Jin

I mean we all know this man loves to cook. If he wanted to do something nice for you he would definitely tell you to dress up nice and meet him at his apartment. When you get there he's set up his table with a candle and proper set out cutlery and he's made the fanciest food he could think of making. The type of person to pretend to take your order despite being thirty years old but it's fine because he's so sweet while doing it. Would get fully pouty if you didn't immediately pepper him with kisses when you saw it because he just put in all this effort for you to not give him a peck on the nose?

Yoongi

He likes to buy you little packets of sweets. Him and the boys will have been out shooting and he'll have gone and found a shop somewhere just to make sure he had something to give to you. He tries to get you something different every time, just to make it feel exciting but he likes to get what he knows is your favourite. Loves to see your reaction as you squeal in delight trying to open the packet to try some. If you didn't let him try one he would hug you from behind as you attempt to keep the packet out of reach, but eventually you cave. Sugary kisses afterwards because your lips are coated in whatever treat he bought for you this time.

Jhope

He's a complete sucker for bath bombs. Anything hygiene related which has a nice scent, really. Don't let this man anywhere near Lush because he will walk out with whole bags of things for you. If he notices you've been stressed out recently from school or work the next day he'll make a special trip and buy you a bath bomb or something similar just so you relax properly and watch the fizzing colours dissolve. Sometimes he demands that he joins you, saying "I want to see the pretty colours too!" but really it's just an excuse to spend time with you. Despite knowing this, you don't really care as you love spending time with Hobi.

Namjoon

I hate to be stereotypical but he loves giving you books. Specifically books he's read and even put little notes into. You can't count the amount of small little sticky bookmarks are around your house because he's constantly marking his favourite parts or commenting on them. When you get around to reading it yourself you can follow his train of thought. He loves being able to discuss the book with you afterwards, questioning your own opinions on the bits he marked, eager to know if you enjoyed them as much as he did.

Jimin

While being quite silly in nature he really loves getting you practical gifts every now and then. It makes him feel useful. You make a passing comment over text about having to buy more coffee and he's over in an hour, coffee in hand, just the sort he knows you love. It got to the point where he was practically just doing your weekly shop for you with his small trips to the local corner shop. For your birthday or for Christmas he again likes to buy you useful things. You've been complaining for three months about your rice cooker not working well? Sorted. Loves to take care of you so much its actually unreal.

Taehyung

You cannot convince me this man isn't a flowers man. He'll show up at your door in the middle of the day with a bunch of flowers of the prettiest colours and all you can do about it is swoon and thank him with a kiss. Sometimes you'll get into work or school and just find your favourite flowers with a little card on it telling you that he loves you. It would melt his heart even more if you kept the petals and dried them to do something with as a reminder that he loves you. I don't think he would let a week go by without you having a fresh pair of flowers in a vase in your kitchen. Biggest simp in the universe.

Jungkook

I think that Kookie would melt at the idea of you wearing something that he made. Because that means only you have that thing and no one else does. He would definitely spend hours threading on beads onto thread for a bracelet for you or painting a canvas for your house. It just proves to him that you're his because you don't wear or hang up things which other people make for you. He honestly feels like the most special guy in the world when you have his homemade clay earrings through your ears and are smiling at him from across the room. Gets so sad when he sees you wearing a normal necklace or bracelet because why would you wear that when you could wear one that he made?

Taglist: @dreamescapeswriting @sparkyprotectionsquad @bang-me-chan

Credit: Header by @b-bunnykoo

[circethegoblin]

STAYING ALIVE MASTERPOST, FROM A BROKE TEEN WITH ADHD

here you go. some down to earth tips on how to not die metally nor physically.

tired of those "drink three liters of water everyday uwu" and "wake up at 5 am" and "buy a bath bomb and a fec mask and some other things you don't have the money for" shit? i'm here for ya.

1. NOT DYING

eat at least three meals a day, one of which m u s t be warm and above 300 kcal (it can be istant ramen with an egg added if you have to)

you technically should shower everyday, but we know how it is. A change of clothes is sometimes enough.

DRY SHAMPOO AND BABY WIPES!!!

keep bottles with water everywhere. On your desk, near that spot on the floor you always end up sitting on, near your bed, basically whenever you know you spend a lot of time. No need to get up and go to the kitchen will help. Obviously change the water in the bottles as often as you can.

Get some form of physical activity. It doesn't have to be much, you can for example replace scrolling on tiktok by walking around your room and scrolling on tiktok! Brilliant, isn't it? Obviously, running or doing those 10 minutes workouts from youtube is better, but you are still getting like an hour of walking.

Buy blankets. Steal blankets. Summon blankets from other dimensions. Just make sure you have a lot of warm, soft blankets in your house. You will thank me when you won't have the anergy to wash your sheets (just take them off and throw some blankets on your bed), or when the power goes out.

If you have pets, ALWAYS keep spare food that'll last for a week for them.

things to always have in the kitchen: milk, eggs, flour, rice, pasta, yeast, cheese, oil, a leafy vegetable, onions, tomatoes, apples, patatoes, some flavourful sauce, sugar, salt, spices and an emergency chocolate bar. You can make a lot of food with those. Just make sure you won't eat the chocolate too fast.

Have a lot of spare batteries. A lot.

Get urself a flashlight, a lighter, and a pocket knife.

Remember the apples? eat one a day. if you don't like apples or you can't eat them for any other reason, you can take a kiwi, banana, orange, basically something that will give you vitamins and non processed sugar.

do the dishes before your sink starts developing it's own ecosystem

drugs from that one guy around the corner = very bad time

2. NOT DYING INSIDE

Open the damn window.

Don't watch so many commentary videos. You are probably not even checking the sources, so you can easily make unjust judgement, and like. did you even hear of half of those people before?

make a discord server just for yourself. get into the habit of writing little things that happened to you there. rant about the fanfics you read. or the movies. vent there if you don't have anyone you can vent to. write your ideas there, write e v e r y t h i n g. make a section for passwords, for quick ideas, for your to do lists. you won't lose it as you do with sticky notes or notebooks. there is no risk anyone will see it. oh, and when you'll have a strong impulse to tell emily that you hate her? write that message in your private server and list all ur arguments. look at tat the next day and decide if you really mean that.

life sucks. come to peace with it.

cuddle ur pets if you have them

1 hour a day without a lot of sensory input. if you have to, reduce to half an hour.

if you find yourself scrolling endlessly through social media, make sure it's pintrest (just don't compare urself to the people here; if you have issues with that, tumblr may be better)

delete. twitter. from. your. phone.

influencers are lying to you; maybe not even intentionally. remember when you were watching that cute-aesthetic-productive morning routine, and you were wondering why your life isn't that pretty? why your room is a mess? why you cannot for the life of god be aesthetic 24/7? its the filter. don't worry about it, their lifes arent that nice either.

realize there's actually nothing stopping you from screaming as loud as you can right now. like there is no physical barrier. think about it. realize there's no actual physical barierr to many other things.

your body is your body. you can decide how it looks like; just remember it's in your greatest interest to keep it healthy.

3. BEING A LITTLE BETTER THAN JUST ALIVE

If you wear make up, take it off before you go to sleep.

moisturize your body; everything is better when your skin doesn't feel dry

have a one brand of cosmetics that you love and buy things mainly from it. they often have sets of products that complete each other. i like ziaja. it's a polish brand, it's surprisingly cheap and has nice quality

cleanser, moisturizer, face mist

of you can, change your sheets once every two weeks

do the dishes before your sink starts developing it's own ecosystem

do a deep house clean once a month (don't beat yourself up when you don't tho)

keep your workspace organized (it doesn't have to look organized to other people, remember)

sunscreen

cook your own food

keep a calendar

no money for scented candles? got ya. make a simmer pot: throw some apple peel, a couple of cinnamon sticks and whatever spices that smell good you have into a pot, add some water and simmer. boom. your house smells good, and you haven't spend 20 dollars.

If you really like candles, buy scented wax melts. it's cheaper.

Buy urself scented mists. they're pretty cheap and will make you feel A LOT better.

keep your clothes clean. if you aren't sure if that shirt thats on your chair is dirty or not, throw it in the washing mashine anyway. better be sure.

if you can, make your bed right when you get up

wear clothes that make you feel good. put some effort into your outfits. really.

4. OTHER PEOPLE

be nice to essential workers.

if you have money, give tips.

remember, you do not owe anyone love; it is not something you can force. even if they saved your life. even when they helped you in your darkest time. if you don't love them, you don't.

you don't have to be in a romantic relationship to be happy.

if you want to, date! date everyone! date girls, date boys, date nonbinary people! date people completly different than you, date people from different countries, date them!!! just make sure they're kind and won't kill you. even if you don't end up in a relationship, you can learn a lot.

don't be afraid to piss off people that deserve it

smile to strangers :)

5. NOT FAILING SCHOOL

heard of dark academia? check it out

romanticize the heck out of studying

do not let your studying be just reading the same partagraph over and over again. it won't work. believe me.

seterra for geography, quizlet for everything else

try to make yourself intrestet in whatever you are studying (watch veritasium, listen to podcasts about weird history facts)

notes are for you and you only; don't worry about them looking pretty. doodle on margins, make weird metaphors, squeeze in as much info as you can.

when you're studying, listen to music without words/in a language you don't understand.

chew gum while you study

get the forest app, get attached to the trees, focus.

don't feel guilty for taking breaks

grades aren't everything, but they are important.

eat something in school

don't just use the cheapest pens. invest a couple dollars in something that will make writing enjoyable and smooth

those study with me videos? they're great

if you like to argue with the teachers, take care of your grades becouse. they may not like you afterwards.

be nice to your classmates and help them with homework. if you don't do your homework they'll help you

executive dysfunction won't let you study? been there. sometimes it's better to wake up ealier tommorow and do that homework then.

don't feel guilty for failing a test

go to the goddamn class

don't pull all nighters oh my god don't especially on weekdays

6. OTHER LIFEHACKS

don't get involved in the crime, and if you do always have a believable explanation why you were doing it

have different alarm sounds for every day of the week

set a daily limit of money that you spend

great hobbies that don't require a lot of money; urban exploration, writing, hiking and learning other languages

thrift stores

don't eat grapefruits while on meds

nail polish removers dissolve most strong glues.

if you have a cut on your skin, desinfect it. do it. please just do it.

always have pads with you. even if you don't get periods, at least one of your friends probably does

sign up in your local library. its free

[unknown-songs]

BLACK LIVES MATTER

A list with black artists who have a song in the Unknown Songs That Should Be Known-playlist (Can be a black artist in a band or just solo-artist) (no specific genre)

Bull’s Eye - Blacknuss, Prince Prime - Funk Aftershow - Joe Fox - Alternative Hip-hop Strangers in the Night - Ben L’Oncle Soul - Soul Explore - Mack Wilds - R&B Something To Do - IGBO - Funk

Down With The Trumpets - Rizzle Kicks - Pop Dans ta ville - Dub Inc. - Reggae Dance or Die - Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Funk FACELESS - The PLAYlist, Glenn Lewis - R&B Tell Me Father - Jeangu Macrooy - Soul

Southern Boy - John The Conquerer - Blues Hard Rock Savannah Grass - Kes - Dancehall Dr. Funk - The Main Squeeze - Funk Seems I’m Never Tired of Loving You - Lizz Wright - Jazz Out of My Hands - TheColorGrey, Oddisee - Hip-Hop/Pop

Raised Up in Arkansas - Michael Burks - Blues Black Times - Sean Kuti, Egypt 80, Carlos Santana - Afrobeat Cornerstone - Benjamin Clementine - Indie Shine On - R.I.O., Madcon - Electronic Pop Bass On The Line - Bernie Worrell - Funk

When We Love - Jhené Aiko - R&B Need Your Love - Curtis Harding - Soul Too Dry to Cry - Willis Earl Beal - Folk Your House - Steel Pulse - Reggae Power - Moon Boots, Black Gatsby - Deep House

Vinyl Is My Bible - Brother Strut - Funk Diamond - Izzy Biu - R&B Elusive - blackwave., David Ngyah - Hip-hop Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down - Heritage Blues Orchestra - Blues Sastanàqqàm - Tinariwen - Psychedelic Rock

Disco To Go - Brides of Funkenstein - Funk/Soul Circles - Durand Jones & The Indications - Retro Pop Cheesin’ - Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf, sophie meiers - R&B Changes - Charles Bradley - Soul The Sweetest Sin - RAEVE - House

Gyae Su - Pat Thomas, Kwashibu Area Band - Funk What Am I to Do - Ezra Collective, Loyle Carner - Hip-hop Get Your Groove On - Cedric Burnside - Blues Old Enough To Know Better - Steffen Morrisson - Soul Wassiye - Habib Koité - Khassonke musique

Dance Floor - Zapp - Funk Wake Up - Brass Against, Sophia Urista - Brass Hard-Rock BIG LOVE - Black Eyed Peas - Pop The Greatest - Raleigh Ritchie - R&B DYSFUNCTIONAL - KAYTRANADA, VanJess - Soul

See You Leave - RJD2, STS, Khari Mateen - Hip-hop Sing A Simple Song - Maceo Parker - Jazz/Funk Have Mercy - Eryn Allen Kane - Soul Homenage - Brownout - Latin Funk Can’t Sleep - Gary Clark Jr. - Blues Rock

Toast - Koffee - Dancehall Freedom - Ester Dean - R&B Iskaba - Wande Coal, DJ Tunez - Afropop High Road - Anthony Riley - Alternative Christian Sunny Days - Sabrina Starke - Soul

The Talking Fish - Ibibio Sound Machine - Funk Paralyzed - KWAYE - Indie Purple Heart Blvd - Sebastian Kole - Pop WORSHIP - The Knocks, MNEK - Deep House BMO - Ari Lennox - R&B

Promises - Myles Sanko - Soul .img - Brother Theodore - Funk Singing the Blues - Ruthie Foster, Meshell Ndegeocello - Blues Nobody Like You - Amartey, SBMG, The Livingtons - Hip-hop Starship - Afriquoi, Shabaka Hutchings, Moussa Dembele - Deep House

Lay My Troubles Down - Aaron Taylor - Funk  Bloodstream - Tokio Myers - Classic Sticky - Ravyn Lenae - R&B Why I Try - Jalen N’Gonda - Soul Motivation - Benjamin Booker - Folk

quand c’est - Stromae - Pop Let Me Down (Shy FX Remix) - Jorja Smith, Stormzy, SHY FX - Reggae Funny - Gerald Levert - R&B Salt in my Wounds - Shemekia Copeland - Blues Our Love - Samm Henshaw - Soul

Make You Feel That Way - Blackalicious - Jazz Hip-hop Knock Me Out - Vintage Trouble - Funk Take the Time - Ronald Bruner, Jr., Thundercat - Alternative Thru The Night - Phonte, Eric Roberson - R&B Keep Marchin’ - Raphael Saadiq - Soul

Shake Me In Your Arms - Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ - Blues Meet Me In The Middle - Jodie Abascus - Pop Raise Hell - Sir the Baptist, ChurchPpl - Gospel Pop Mogoya - Oumou Sangaré - Wassoulou Where’s Yesterday - Slakah The Beatchild - Hip-hop

Lose My Cool - Amber Mark - R&B New Funk - Big Sam’s Funky Nation - Funk I Got Love - Nate Dogg - Hip-hop Nothing’s Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson - Soul Crazy Race - The RH Factor - Jazz

Spies Are Watching Me - Voilaaa, Sir Jean - Funk The Leaders - Boka de Banjul - Afrobeat Fast Lane - Rationale - House Conundrum - Hak Baker - Folk Don’t Make It Harder On Me - Chloe x Halle - R&B

Plastic Hamburgers - Fantastic Negrito - Hardrock Beyond - Leon Bridges - Pop God Knows - Dornik - Soul Soleil de volt - Baloji - Afrofunk Do You Remember - Darryl Williams, Michael Lington - Jazz Get Back - McClenney - Alternative Three Words - Aaron Marcellus - Soul

Spotify playlist 

In memory of:

Aaron Bailey Adam Addie Mae Collins Ahmaud Arbery Aiyana Stanley Jones Akai Gurley Alberta Odell Jones Alexia Christian Alfonso Ferguson Alteria Woods Alton Sterling Amadou Diallo Amos Miller Anarcha Westcott Anton de Kom Anthony Hill Antonio Martin Antronie Scott Antwon Rose Jr. Arthur St. Clair Atatiana Jefferson Aubrey Pollard Aura Rosser Bennie Simons Berry Washington Bert Dennis Bettie Jones Betsey Billy Ray Davis Bobby Russ Botham Jean Brandon Jones Breffu Brendon Glenn Breonna Taylor Bud Johnson Bussa

Calin Roquemore Calvin McDowell Calvin Mike and his family Carl Cooper Carlos Carson Carlotta Lucumi Carol Denise McNair Carol Jenkins Carole Robertson Charles Curry Charles Ferguson Charles Lewis Charles Wright Charly Leundeu Keunang Chime Riley Christian Taylor Christopher Sheels Claude Neal Clementa Pickney Clifford Glover Clifton Walker Clinton Briggs Clinton R. Allen Cordella Stevenson Corey Carter Corey Jones Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd Cynthia Wesley

Daniel L. Simmons Danny Bryant Darius Randell Robinson Darius Tarver Darrien Hunt Darrius Stewart David Felix David Joseph David McAtee David Walker and his family Deandre Brunston Deborah Danner Delano Herman Middleton Demarcus Semer Demetrius DuBose Depayne Middleton-Doctor Dion Johnson Dominique Clayton Dontre Hamilton Dred Scott

Edmund Scott Ejaz Choudry Elbert Williams Eleanor Bumpurs Elias Clayton Elijah McClain Eliza Woods Elizabeth Lawrence Elliot Brooks Ellis Hudson Elmer Jackson Elmore Bolling Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. Emmett Till Eric Garner Eric Harris Eric Reason Ernest Lacy Ernest Thomas Ervin Jones Eugene Rice Eugene Williams Ethel Lee Lance Ezell Ford

Felix Kumi Frank Livingston Frank Morris Frank Smart Frazier B. Baker Fred Hampton Fred Rochelle Fred Temple Freddie Carlos Gray Jr.

George Floyd George Grant George Junius Stinney Jr. George Meadows George Waddell George Washington Lee Gregory Gunn

Harriette Vyda Simms Moore Harry Tyson Moore Hazel “Hayes” Turner Henry Ezekial Smith Henry Lowery Henry Ruffin Henry Scott Hosea W. Allen

India Kager Isaac McGhie Isadore Banks Italia Marie Kelly

Jack Turner Jamar Clark Jamel Floyd James Byrd Jr. James Craig Anderson James Earl Chaney James Powell James Ramseur James Tolliver James T. Scott Janet Wilson Jason Harrison Javier Ambler J.C. Farmer Jemel Roberson Jerame Reid Jesse Thornton Jessie Jefferson Jim Eastman Joe Nathan Roberts John Cecil Jones John Crawford III John J. Gilbert John Ruffin John Taylor Johnny Robinson Jonathan Ferrell Jonathan Sanders Jordan Edwards Joseph Mann Julia Baker Julius Jones July Perry Junior Prosper

Kalief Browder Karvas Gamble Jr. Keith Childress, Jr. Kelly Gist Kelso Benjamin Cochrane Kendrick Johnson Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Kenny Long Kevin Hicks Kevin Matthews Kiwane Albert Carrington

Lacy Mitchell Lamar Smith Laquan McDonald Laura Nelson Laura Wood L.B. Reed L.D. Nelson Lemuel Penn Lemuel Walters Leonard Deadwyler Leroy Foley Levi Harrington Lila Bella Carter Lloyd Clay Louis Allen Lucy

M.A. Santa Cruz Maceo Snipes Malcom X Malice Green Malissa Williams Manuel Ellis Marcus Deon Smith Marcus Foster Marielle Franco Mark Clark Maria Martin Lee Anderson Martin Luther King Jr. Matthew Avery Mary Dennis Mary Turner Matthew Ajibade May Noyes Mckenzie Adams Medgar Wiley Evers Michael Brown Michael Donald Michael Griffith Michael Lee Marshall Michael Lorenzo Dean Michael Noel Michael Sabbie Michael Stewart Michelle Cusseaux Miles Hall Moses Green Mya Hall Myra Thompson

Nathaniel Harris Pickett Jr. Natasha McKenna Nicey Brown Nicholas Heyward Jr.

O’Day Short family Orion Anderson Oscar Grant III Otis Newsom

Pamela Turner Paterson Brown Jr. Patrick Dorismond Philando Castile Phillip Pannell Phillip White Phinizee Summerour

Quaco

Ramarley Graham Randy Nelson Raymond Couser Raymond Gunn Regis Korchinski-Paquet Rekia Boyd Renisha McBride Riah Milton Robert Hicks Robert Mallard Robert Truett Rodney King Roe Nathan Roberts Roger Malcolm and his wife Roger Owensby Jr. Ronell Foster Roy Cyril Brooks Rumain Brisbon Ryan Matthew Smith

Sam Carter Sam McFadden Samuel DuBose Samuel Ephesians Hammond Jr. Samuel Hammond Jr. Samuel Leamon Younge Jr. Sandra Bland Sean Bell Shali Tilson Sharonda Coleman-Singleton Shukri Abdi Simon Schuman Slab Pitts Stella Young Stephon Clark Susie Jackson

T.A. Allen Tamir Rice Tamla Horsford Tanisha Anderson Timothy Caughman Timothy Hood Timothy Russell Timothy Stansbury Jr. Timothy Thomas Terrence Crutcher Terrill Thomas Tom Jones Tom Moss Tony McDade Tony Terrell Robinson Jr. Trayvon Martin Troy Hodge Troy Robinson Tula Tyler Gerth Tyre King Tywanza Sanders

Victor Duffy Jr. Victor White III

Walter Lamar Scott Wayne Arnold Jones Wesley Thomas Wilbert Cohen Wilbur Bundley Will Brown Will Head Will Stanley Will Stewart Will Thompson Willie James Howard Willie Johnson Willie McCoy Willie Palmer Willie Turks William Brooks William Butler William Daniels William Fambro William Green William L. Chapman II William Miller William Pittman Wyatt Outlaw

Yusef Kirriem Hawkins

The victims of LaLaurie (1830s) The black victims of the Opelousas massacre (1868) The black victims of the Thibodaux massacre (1887) The black victims of the Wilmington insurrection (1898) The black victims of the Johnson-Jeffries riots (1910) The black victims of the Red summer (1919) The black victims of the Elaine massacre (1919) The black victims of the Ocoee massacre (1920) The victims of the MOVE bombing (1985)

All the people who died during the Atlantic slave trade, be it due to abuse or disease.

All the unnamed victims of mass-incarceration, who were put into jail without the committing of a crime and died while in jail or died after due to mental illness. 

All the unnamed victims of racial violence and discrimination. 

...

My apologies for all the people missing on this list. Feel free to add more names and stories. 

Listen, learn and read about discrimination, racism and black history: (feel free to add more)  Documentaries: 13th (Netflix) The Innocence Files (Netflix) Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix) Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Netflix) I Am Not Your Negro

YouTube videos: We Cannot Stay Silent about George Floyd Waarom ook Nederlanders de straat op gaan tegen racisme (Dutch) Wit is ook een kleur (Dutch) (documentaire)

Books: Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery White Fragility by Robin Deangelo Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge Woman, Race and Class by Angela Davis

Websites: https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/report/ https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/ https://archive.org/details/thirtyyearsoflyn00nati/page/n11/mode/2up https://lab.nos.nl/projects/slavernij/index-english.html https://blacklivesmatter.com/ https://www.zinnedproject.org/

[mangostarjam]

pen!! pals!! 💌

i love these possible jobs thank u 😌 it would be so fun to be a secret spy writing/reading fic in my downtime between tailing someone from a bank to a shady warehouse at the port. as long as i don't accidentally write fic in my case files we're good 👍

aaaaaaah wait i relate to that so hard — growing up i was always pushed out of the kitchen "to focus on studying" and so i never got used to it or familiar. but now if i do try to cook anything, all my family can do is expect better of me which is super counterintuitive to how i learn things lmao. i had a lot more time to mess around and feel better about cooking while i was in college, but thanks to the housing crisis i'm back with my family so it's like. five huge steps backwards in that arena. and yes, 1,001 critiques but no instructions HAHA

i am sorry for the loss of your grandma, and i love that you're still connected to her with cooking (LOVE chicken&pork bone broth) (i am eyeing braised pork uterus... because i'm not gonna lie it looks RLLY FAMILIAR 👀)

i've been pestering my parents about their cooking lately and they were like "tell your friend to facetime us and we'll walk them through it" HAHA but i'll make a note of your questions and get back to you with answers/photos!! i loveeee restaurants run by aunties and uncles who so clearly love the foods they're making and sharing. your cambodian auntie sounds incredible. also very funny to me that she's going for two months bc any time my grandma goes to visit she goes for at least a month but then when she comes back she says she missed her own cooking lmao

"five blup blup blups of soy sauce" made me laugh out loud because holy moly so real!!!

sunny presence 🥺 oh that's so nice 🥺 unfortunately though i am a basic baker banana bread is my best friend and apple crumble cakes are my go to for fall! persimmon bakes though... i'm listening 👀

omg wait i do not have the palate or the words that you have for taste and smells!! i'm just a lil bean who took a coffee class and then worked as a barista for the cafe in a barnes and noble (which — you guessed it — made starbucks drinks LOL) so i can make many types of drinks but my roasting setup was limited! i miss the coffee lab with all its beans and machines! roasting was really so much fun though — i loved the experimentation of it all !! i can't drink coffee much anymore since my caffeine sensitivity shot through the roof with age (this does not stop me from getting boba milk tea, but i try to save it for days i don't need to stick to my bedtime) but i loooove the smell of roasting coffee beans. ugh i hate snobby coffee joints so i'm really glad you found a (nationally roasting!! SO cool!!) coffee shop that actually encourages appreciation for coffee! they sound like the bomb i adore them already 💕

tj maxx candle section my beloved!! but whyyyy would you tell me about this mixed feelings candle it looks like it'd smell SO good!!! oh and there's a mango sticky rice inspired candle....... oh dear. i'm putting it all on my gift list so someone else can get it for me LOL brb gonna find a way to smell matcha meditation!! i was never much of a fragrance/perfume person because i was always worried about bees following me around (lol) but you make me want to be!!

i still can't believe you don't consider yourself creative when you come up with such incredible ideas!!! how can this be!! even your tag screaming had me tearing up, especially for the proposal, because you managed to pinpoint and hit so many bits and pieces that i wanted people to experience?? it's funny that you said you don't reread your tags because i also don't tend to reread my fics after i post them but after reading your tags i wanted to so i could experience it with your eyes and you reminded me of all the things i loved about the act of writing it. (wow run on sentence alert sorry). and that's an incredible power that you have!! your ability to notice and then articulate the things you notice in writing is sooooo so good. please never feel like you need to stop yapping in tags or comments lol i promise you. i PROMISE you that i am eagerly reading every word and you are giving me something so incredibly precious (your time and attention!!) and i will never forget that!! plus you made me laugh a lot especially with "i want this bastard and his messed up fuckass bowlcut hair" HAHAHA and yeah....... yeah i pick on narumi a lot 😌 but i do love him too i swear. lmao in the proposal narumi mostly was feeling possessive because reader is in the first division so "why's she always going to the third? for that guy with the fuckass bowlcut?? really???" RIP narumi i promise i'll write you a fic that digs into all your issues too someday it's just hard because every time i reread kn8 and i start getting a feel for narumi, matsumoto brings the story back to soshiro!! (not that i can blame him but still!)

this got... long... but talking to you is so fun 🥺

fuji!! how are you doing on this fine day lovely lady? i'm responding to our thread here bc idk what the etiquette is on reblogging long ass conversations on the same thread lmao so to be safe i'll just send u a new ask.

soupmates is so cute and i love when typos become canon jargon in friendships hehe. you've made me crave croissants again and i am wistfully thinking of how we have a rule that while we're in france, if one of us asks "what time is it?" the other is legally obligated to respond "croissant o'clock" and then we go find a boulangerie. this is how we end up eating 8 croissants/day whenever we're there.

wttcsms is on my deep dive list too!! every time i see them on my dash i'm like how does it feel to never be wrong? ack i've just been so busy that the only time i have to trawl tumblr is during my unhinged insomnia hours when i'm only half aware of what i'm keyboard vomiting lmao NO FILTER only screeching.

okay not mushrooms but this weekend i was busy running around the kitchen experimenting with my lil hoard of fig leaves! i made fig leaf syrup, fig leaf oil, and experimented with dehydrating and freezing the leaves for preservation. i also tested different ratios of toasted fig leaves and pandan in creme brulee and panna cotta so i could see how the flavors bloom in dairy in preparation for the idea i had for my cake. then i gave all the excess treats to baristas at our fave local coffee joints bc i'm not a huge sweet tooth and this was tew much dessert! after i found a ratio i thought worked, i made the cake except i'm afraid it's going to turn out hideous (it's still in its cake ring rn) but it's basically a first draft cake and i can refine it next time! you should see the notes i took on it. i always try to start with a neat plan and end up scribbling all over it with ideas and corrections.

tonight we've invited a couple of our friends over so i can do a fig leaf-inspired dinner with hamachi crudo with fig leaf oil, tomato bisque with fig leaf oil drizzle and crouton, slow roasted salmon in fig leaves (finished with a sear from our bernzomatic + searzall bc crispy salmon skin is life), and the fig leaf and strawberry cake. my friend also got cheesybf a new cocktail set for his bday so we can use the fig leaf syrup to make some nice gin cocktails or a fig leaf strawberry mocktail!

right now i'm munching on leftover crying tiger steak and nam jim jaew for lunch with jasmine rice that i steamed with some of the leftover pandan leaves for extra ~aroma. i still have a ton of leaves so i think i'm gonna make a pandan simple for my favorite matcha pandan lattes.

re: urls haha YES chopsticks are the best way to eat flaming hot cheetos and no one can change my mind. i always think of puffins when i think of my own username. those cute lil round birds. with like a lil cheese hat. i also associate you with apples now as we move into fall. but mentally my picture of you is a swirl of the colors in a kent mango, scented by mango skin by vilhelm and just a hint of kilian's apple brandy on the rocks. maybe a waft of mfk 724 and something like clean cotton or a soft white floral.

HAHAHA totally fair i just realized it was getting long maybe i should put my responses under a read more LOL

i'm responding a day (??) late (time is fake) bc i had to recover from how gorgeous your cake looked and sounded tbh. but i'm good!! my new assistant at work is picking things up quickly and has common sense which is sadly in short supply around here lmaooo

there's a vietnamese bakery in my hometown that makes the BEST croissants i've ever had in my life (though tbf i have not been to paris yet!) and they supply all the local taquerias with bolillo so they are Churning Out Breads but i cannot emphasize enough that it's like. a warehouse space. with a door on a side street and the price list handwritten and they only recently started accepting anything but cash. i love them. the croissants are huge and lightly buttery and delicious. i will now be declaring it's croissant o'clock any time we happen to drive nearby haha

wttcsms and dee my beloveds!!! on behalf of all writers though i will say no filter unhinged screaming comments/tags are GREAT to read. i hope your busyness is the good kind!! it's always lovely seeing you pop up on the dash or inbox or wherever but i hope you're having a good time here >ᴗ<

oh my goddddd your fig leaf experiments... divine. glorious. something about the description of "seeing how the flavors bloom in dairy" is just. dreamy?? you sound like a wizard creating your own magical spell book tome with your scribbles and notes and ideas (saying this in SUCH a complimentary way). crispy salmon skin IS life i just had some last night hehe i had to look up crying tiger steak and nam jim jaew but YOOO this reminds me of duk prahok... yum. and oh my god crying tiger steak is like. a summer staple for us. i never knew it had a NAME. not to over share but my family is from cambodia and i have so many recipes in my brain that i just figured were things my dad created LOL

AND I LOVE PUFFINS!!! in like second grade i did a report/presentation on puffins unprompted unsolicited to my class. i read a book about them and was obsessed i wanted everyone to learn about them (yes i am/was a nerd) (bless my teacher for letting me present lmao). and i do love apple scented things mmm. one of my favorite candles ever is autumn air from elder&co (notes of wild apple and pear and fallen oak leaves). i'm so glad it's getting cloudy and cozy season is coming bc i can light my candles without feeling too silly. do you have any favorite candles?? oh these other scents are SO GOOD. i love that!! brb going to find a way to smell these immediately

[muichiroslover]

Part 1

Part 2

Woah are you alright?” Kazuha asks as he comes into your house, you sigh

Your eyes were puffy and dark circles were apparent as you sat down at your couch

“Yeah, just more tired then normal these days” you say rubbing your temples and he sighs making coffee for you and him

“Has things been okay?” He asks and you look at him as tears build up, you wipe at them quickly and he sighs

“Y/n maybe...” he begins and you laugh

“Baji used to make horrible coffee, but yours is even worse then his” you say continuing to sip the bitter drink and he sighs exasperated but smiled laughing a bit

“Is that so?” He asks sipping his and he freezes as he slowly moves the cup from his mouth

“Yeah, that’s the worse thing I’ve ever tasted..” he says dryly and you laugh

When you both finished your coffees you got up and told him to wait on the couch, you went into your room then you came back out

You sat down holding a decently sized box, it was a lock box with a count down of 48 hours

He raised his eyebrow

“What is this?” He asks and you smile at him “it’s a present from me to you, it’ll open when the time on it goes to 0, don’t worry it’s not a bomb” you laugh and he rolls his eyes

“I would hope not” he says and you laugh, after a few laughters and chats Kazuha took his leave, it caught him by surprise when you hugged him

“Thanks Kazuha, you really are the best” you say and he sighs and pats your back jokingly

“You’re scaring me boss” he teases and you laugh as you finally let him leave, when he left you went into your room, you pulled 3 of those same boxes but smaller and put them into a bag

You put the bag over your shoulder as you put on a hood and left your house, you got onto your bike and started riding

You first stopped in front of Mikeys garage room, you got off your bike and opened the bag and placed the box nicely in front of his door

You placed a sticky note on top

“This will open when the time turns to 0 -Y/n”

You got up and quickly walked from the door, you got back onto your bike and headed towards the love hotel

You parked and walked in, when you got in you pulled off your hood after checking around, you went to the reception

“30 for a night and- Oh! Y/n! How long has it been?!” The guy at the desk says and you smile but shush him

“Ken can’t know I’m here” you say and he laughs “kids these days, got into a fight?” He asks and you shrug “you know us” you say and he laughs again

You take out the box and hand it to him

“Give this to Ken, tell him it’ll open when the time hits 0, and let him know it’s from me” you say and the guy nods

You smile at the man “Thank you, I’ll be on my way then” you say and he waved you off as you leave, you get onto your bike and take a deep breath looking at the place one more time before starting your motorcycle and leaving

The final house, a cute little family house, you got off your bike and started walking up to the door, you had to be quick, this was probably the hardest house, you quickly put down the box onto the door step but as you were the door opened

You looked up as you and Mitsuya’s eyes locked onto each other

“Y/n?” He says and you cringe as you stand up

“Mitsuya hey” you say and he raises a brow as he picks up the box you just put down

“Is this for me?” He asks and you sigh and nod

“The box is gonna unlock and open when the timer hits 0” you explain and he nods as he examines the box

“So why were you trying to drop it off secretly?” He asks and you laugh as a cloud of smoke comes out your mouth with it by how cold it was

“You ask a lot of questions” you muse and he snorts just slightly

“Wanna come in? My mom made rice, Luna and Mana would love to see you again” he says putting his hands in his pocket

You smile at the thought

“I miss them too, but sadly I have to get home, I just wanted to drop this off” you say motioning to the box and he nods as a comfortable silence falls between you two

“Mitsuya! Hurry and close the door it’s cold!” His mom calls out from inside the house and you both laugh

You were caught off guard when he hugged you suddenly, your lip quivers slightly as you hug him back

When you guys part you smile at each other

“I trust you y/n” he says and you start to tear up as you wipe at your eyes

“Don’t make me cry now Mitsuya..” you say but it was too late, he pat your head as you cried

“Will i be able to come back and have a bowl of rice with you guys?” You cry and he smiles

“Of course, there’s always gonna be a bowl waiting for you” he says and you sob

“Promise?”

“Promise y/n” he says and you cry for a while as he keeps his hand on your head, after a while you finally stop, sniffling

“Sorry that was embarrassing” you laugh slightly and he smiles

“Nah your good” he says as he takes off his sweater, he drapes it over your shoulder

“Goodnight Y/n” he says and you smile as you wrap the sweater around yourself

“Goodnight Mitsuya” you say and with that you turned around and walked to your bike, you dared not turn around, because you knew if you did you wouldn’t be able to leave

You got onto your bike and with a deep breath you drove off, not looking back

[yutahoes]

Otou-Chan

Yuta Nakamoto x Reader (Y/N) Smut

(Chapter Eighteen)

Summary: 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐰𝐚 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐮𝐭𝐚’𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬.

Warning: Swear Words, Dry Humping, Fluff, Confession 

Word Count: 1.7k

Masterlist

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️

18. Koi No Yokan

Ten had to admit that (Y/N) looked different that Monday morning. "Did you finish your illustration?" He asked and she beamed, sitting on her chair and telling the senior editor that she's going to send the file right now. "What's gotten into her?" The older asked the younger guy who was also staring at their friend.

Jungwoo shrugged then smiled. "Maybe she's getting dicked down." He muttered that made Ten nod. "See? She's wearing a skirt today. Is her boyfriend coming back today?" Ten shrugged, answering 'probably' just as a ping came to his computer.

He opened the file and even Jungwoo was surprised at how arousing her work is. This is definitely a keeper. "I'm glad Yuta is a great influence on her. Our baby is growing up." Ten noted while scrolling her illustration. If Johnny rejects this, he'll definitely hear from him. "I hope Yuta doesn't hurt her."

"I doubt that. Have you seen hearts in his eyes whenever he would look at her? He's whipped." Jungwoo exclaimed then sighed. "Young love." Ten giggled at that, asking about Lucas. "He's in China for a month. That motherfucker."

--

When the 6 pm mark on the clock struck, (Y/N) had already finished putting on lipgloss and powdered her nose. She fixed her skirt just as a shiny black car parked outside the publishing house which made her smile. "Wild night?" Jungwoo asked and the girl only grinned as an answer. "Will you be coming to work tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. I'll call you tomorrow."

Ten giggled. "Don't bother, (Y/N). I'll send you the draft tomorrow just send it to me after getting your Japanese meal." Jungwoo snorted at that and she rolled her eyes at their teasing. "Enjoy your Japanese cock." He waved goodbye at the girl who knocked on the window of the car.

Yuta was wearing a black shirt, grinning when he opened the door for her. "Shouldn't I hand out the souvenirs for your coworkers?" He asked when she's inside the car, earning a frown from her. "I guess I'll give it to them when I see them." She decided to just look outside as Yuta started the engine, crossing her legs to at least give him a hint.

Days of not seeing each other and a promise of a wild night made her so horny that it pissed her off that he's thinking about her coworkers. And she's wearing a short skirt for crying out loud. "Do you want to eat dinner first?"

She rolled her eyes at that. Dinner? Again? Why does he always ask that? She raised an eyebrow at that, maybe there's something she can do. "I want to eat you." She said in a haughty tone that made him chuckle. The girl moved closer, placing a hand on his thigh. "Please Yuta."

Fuck it, Yuta thought, how can he stop her when she's begging like this? She's so fucking pretty. He smiled at her, holding her cheek. "And I badly want you, sweetheart." He confessed. "But I want you to eat first. I don't want you to pass out on me." That made her gasp. He's going to be rough on her?

Will it really happen? The thing she was worried about in Paris? Will he really defeat the sex marathon with her? She might not really come to work tomorrow.

She listened to him the whole span of dinner, even finishing her rice and steak. When he asked for dessert, she declined with a grin and Yuta smiled. The ride home was quiet and when Yuta parked his car, the glint on her eyes looked so tempting. "God, I want you."

In no time, (Y/N) moved from the passenger seat to his lap and the sudden action made him groan. Her lips were already on his own, swallowing the groans when she rocked her body forward. Her hands went inside his shirt, feeling his tone body as her lips moved south to his neck creating supple marks on his skin. "Fuck baby."

The girl positioned her throbbing core on his erection and started grinding on it, the roughness of the zipper creating delicious friction against her wet underwear. (Y/N) started riding his clothed member, moaning at how real the humping is. Her underwear was so wet that it doesn't leave anything in the imagination, she could feel him between her folds and the zipper made it so rough that she was enjoying it almost.

Yuta bucked his hips that made her scream, her sounds are pleasing music to his ear as they both dry humph each other. Damn, who would have thought that days of wanting her would lead to this? "Yuta, I'm close..." she moaned as he kept his speed in thrusting her, even pushing her back to the steering wheel and fucking her wet underwear for her. He's also close, evident on the dark spot forming on his jeans. "Yuta!" she shouted as the wet spot on her underwear grew darker, some of it appearing on his jeans.

He didn't stop his thrusts as she ride her orgasm and he came with a muffled moan against her neck. "You are so amazing, baby." he complimented, giving her neck a kiss going north to her mouth. "I think I owe you an underwear," he said while assessing the current situation they were in.

(Y/N) giggled then eyed his jeans. "And I owe you a pair of jeans." Yuta just gaped at his pants which have a dark spot on his crotch, not knowing whether it was her juice or his own juice.

"Nah, it's my new favorite jeans," he claimed as he smiled at her figure, still seated on his lap. Yuta tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and she mirrored the same smile that he had. "Let's get you upstairs. Can you walk?" He asked and she giggled, nodding at him.

--

The sticky feeling was quickly disregarded when Yuta invited her to the bath even if it made her pout. He filled the tub with warm water, even putting a lavender bath bomb, and some rose petals that made her giggle. Where did he get that? He even helped her get inside the tub, letting her sit in between his legs, back facing him. The lavender scent makes her calm, just like Yuta. "How is your work in New Zealand?"

If possible, she heard him smile. "It's fine. They were really amazed at the technological advances so they're interested in investing. I might come back to New Zealand next month because of that." She leaned on his chest that made him instinctively smile. "Do you want to come with me?" His right hand held her hair.

"Do you think Johnny will allow me?" She asked and he grinned. "Did I tell you that he already accepted my illustration?" He shook his head but still smiling. "My work will be published soon."

He kissed the top of her head. "Congratulations, baby! I knew you can do it." He said while holding her cheek with his left hand. "I'm proud of you."

Those words. The words she wanted to hear all this time.

And it warms her heart that someone is telling this to her. That Yuta is telling this to her.

"I have a question, Yuta." He just raised an eyebrow at her, urging her to continue. "That time, in the plane…" she started that made him nod. "If I didn't follow you that time. Do you think we'll still be like this?"

Yuta laughed at that, making her sit up straight then stared at him. What's funny? "If I didn't ask you to have sex with me at that time, we're probably meeting in an Italian restaurant or watching a movie by now." She raised an eyebrow at that. "I probably took the correct steps in pursuing you and we'll probably be on our tenth date?"

"Why me?"

"I already answered that question."

What was that? He said something Japanese before. "Koi?" She started.

Yuta smiled. "Koi no yokan." He continued for her. "It's a Japanese term, a feeling upon first meeting someone that you knew you will fall in love with them." A shy smile escaped his lips.

"Like a premonition?"

He nodded. "A premonition of love." Yuta pulled her closer that she's now sitting on his lap, the same position as in the car earlier. "It's tough to explain, (Y/N)." She wanted to shrug off the topic before Yuta could say other things but he continued, "I guess love really works that way."

He said it. The L-word. The word she had been avoiding forever. But the way it rolled out his tongue seemed so natural, so real. "You looked surprised." He teased and she just pursed her lips at that. "We don't have to talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable. Let's just stay the way we are, just stay with me."

Before (Y/N) could say something, Yuta held the back of her head and kissed her forehead. "Let's get you out of the tub, princess. It's getting cold." He pulled a towel to wrap her then asked (Y/N) to just get some clothes in his closet to wear since he had to clean the tub.

--

The girl was seated on the couch when he went out of the bedroom after putting on clothes. "Do you want anything? Ramen?" He asked while heading to the kitchen. The girl only muttered a silent 'nothing' before he made his own cup of coffee. "Do you want to go to sleep now?"

"Yuta?" She called and he hummed to ask what she needs. "I told Ten that I won't go to work tomorrow." The guy smiled. How did their arousal turn into something this awkward? Just because of his confession? "Do you want to go out?"

"Go out?" He repeated, walking to where she is with a cup of coffee.

She smiled timidly then stared at him while fiddling her fingers. She's nervous. "Go out." She cleared. "We can eat in an Italian restaurant or watch movies." The guy had to smile at that. Why is she so adorable?

"Okay." He said quickly, grinning at her. "It's a date then."

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️

Chapter 17 / Chapter 19

[oristromboli]

If You Be Our Star, We’ll Be Your Sky | 2

Chapter 2: Shine Like Stolen Gold

Stories aren't meant to be lost and forgotten.

When a timid bird comes knocking at his den, the dragon seizes the rare opportunity presented.

(Smut this chapter: Zhongli/Reader)

So, really, come on. When Aether is cooking some minty meat rolls or sticky honey roast, is it so hard to believe that he thaws their frozen meat to make up for when they lack the ingredients otherwise? Paimon really can’t complain, her mouth waters at the thought of it and a childish smile creeps on her face as her eyes glaze over.

Behind her, Aether is throwing his face in his hands in mortification at the realization that they ran out of chilled meat for goulash. Paimon vaguely registers your voice laugh-crying at Aether that now, they must go fight some unreasonably angry grandpa boars for their next meal.

Yep, the fairy rubs her belly completely content. The sticky honey roast was totally worth it.

She yelps when Aether grabs her ankle to pull her down to their level of reality. “Alright Paimon, think you can handle the cold without that goulash? We ran out of Frostshield Potion a while ago too, which reminds me, can you ask Lisa if she can make more?” Aether turns to you, and you take out your journal to note the next task with a little side note, circled twice: ‘Check all inventories before walking into deadly weather. Obviously.’

Paimon nods, though she puts on a big show of rubbing her arms with a cheeky grin. “Paimon will be okay! The sooner we get off this mountain though, the better.” Nobody disagrees with her, but some hours into climbing the mountain and Paimon is grumbling once again. This time though, it’s not about the cold, oh no.

Aether gave her the golden Seelie to hold and act as a firefly while she scouts for the next torch.

You would laugh harder, really, you would, but every breath you take in this frozen wasteland seems to burn your lungs even more. The sensation reminds you of how Venti once spoke sparkly-eyed about a Snezhnayan drink called Fire-Water that ignites the body while freezing their breath. If not for your collective appearances seeming to be ruefully young for this world, you’re certain that Aether and Venti would have somehow convinced Diluc at this point to import the drink just for them.

Though, come to think of it, you’re not entirely sure if you want to see the havoc that would indubitably follow the drunken duo. After all, you already remember how Aether was shy of throwing a dumpling at Zhongli when he enthusiastically ordered wine-soaked rice balls instead, and that was when Aether was sober.

Your commission involves collecting some of the old books left behind in the libraries littered throughout Dragonspine for the researchers at the base of the mountain. While normally not a difficult task, the blizzard appears to be picking up just to spite you three. If only there was… Aha! “Aether! Paimon!” The two turn at your calls and frantic waving, pointing to the cave just to your right. All three of you missed this hidden entrance – that’s it, time to go inside and wait out the weather. If none of you caught this, then most definitely the visual conditions were progressing from bad to fucked. Stars, you can’t even think beyond trying to get warm.

While Aether kneels to light a cooking fire, you shuffle forward and take stock of your surroundings. All in all, the walls certainly saw better days, but there is no shortage of old books to rifle through for information. Paimon is a step ahead of you though as she floats (wobbles) towards you, carrying two books that are double her size at least. Through your combined efforts, you manage to find a decent number of books to ferry back for the researchers while Aether finishes cooking some jewelry soup.

Gods, the speed Paimon dive bombs for her bowl rivals the hawks over the Liyuen mountains. Magpies are cute and dive too, right? Maybe Paimon is part magpie, with her big eyes and penchant for swooping the unfortunate souls who wander too close to her food.

You shake the thoughts out as you consume your own dish. The silence among you three is not unwelcoming, though you can tell Paimon is itching to say something. Bracing yourself, you take in a deep breath and –

“Do you and Aether ever visit old worlds again?”

Choke on your food. You choke on your food, all elegance and style gone as Aether is clearly not expecting such a question either. Paimon huffs, though she looks more concerned about the wasted food Aether spat out rather than Aether himself.

“We, uh…” Aether coughs, hitting his chest a bit before going silent. There is a shift in the atmosphere, even the embers in the fire long ago dying to merely whispers of warmth. Golden eyes mellow as Aether looks hazy, distant all of a sudden. “We don’t go back usually, no. Why do you ask?”

Paimon scratches her head. “Well, Paimon noticed that every time we come here, there seems to be more to the story of an old kingdom here. The paintings and the books… It’s like they wanted to be remembered, but they weren’t.”

You close your eyes, ears straining as Aether attempts to formulate a proper response. “It’s… We,” he gestures between you two, “We don’t belong to any world. We never did.”

The wind picks up, nearly deafening. What a confession, the wind whispers. What a blessing of freedom.

What a burden.

“You remember how I told you that we were travelers? Well, our people are tasked with, ah, watching those we encounter. We try to learn all of the stories and knowledge of our charges; to our people, that is worth more than all the golden Mora in Teyvat.”

“Oh! Oh! Is that why you’re so glowy and yellow?”

Aether laughs, shoulders relaxing a bit. “Yeah, I just took all the wealth of our old worlds and made it a part of my outfit. That way I’ll always be rich.”

“Ehhh? But why waste treasure like that?”

“Because I’m the real treasured cutie here,” he deadpans, proudly puffing out his chest, only to duck when you and Paimon immediately throw your spoons at him. The atmosphere is lighter now, happier.

You don’t hear the wind anymore, just Paimon and Aether. Only them, always them.

“Anyway… That’s the great paradox of our duty, though. We learn best by walking among them, but never with them. But we try not to visit the same place twice. Stories, once ended, always make way for another chapter. Each new world we walk into, we carry with us the knowledge of all worlds past and try to understand why people act the way they do. We were never mortal, so it’s…” He trails off, unable to complete that sentence.

“Paimon doesn’t get it though. Why do your people watch, if they never actually participate? Isn’t that the whole point of reading a book versus building a library?”

Aether stops, stunned into silence. You close your eyes tightly. Sometimes, Paimon’s naiveté can really hit the mark on all things wrong in a system.

When you were born into the universe, you were simply given one duty: to watch and record. The blinding brilliance a new star is meant to guide, acting as the light in the night sky. However, the only answer your elders gave was that it was the will of the primordial force guiding you all. Your family promised you then that you would find more explanations in the mortal realms, for no star is truly alone.

These answers still elude you, though, as they do Aether. How long have you been lost like this?

Did you stop counting your age because of your immortality, or because you refused to face another year no closer to the truth?

Nobody remembers who came before. Nobody talks of the distant, quiet stars above your own people, separate from their arrogant claims.

“There is a saying from one world we traveled to,” you begin carefully, “that says ‘you can never go home.’ It means that when you leave a place, you can never come back to the memories you made there. Nothing will be the same, because you will have changed in your journey.”

Paimon floats gently down between you and Aether. It is then you notice she still cradles the Seelie, her wide eyes reflecting the golden light that pulses. She kindly reaches for Aether’s hand and gives him back their newest companion before softly smiling. “Not all journeys are bad ones though, right?”

“Paimon,” Aether breathes, “I – “

“Like our next journey to get the heck outta here! Paimon’s hungry.”

“And there it is,” you laugh. Standing up, you offer your hand to Aether as you pull out the map. He leans forward before tapping a point near the camp full of adventurers. Paimon squints and nods, then disappears in a show of light. It’s beautiful, you admit to yourself. All the light, the warp of space-time, the blessed departure of squeaky Paimon. Really brings a tear to your eye sometimes.

“Hey,” Aether says, grabbing your arm. “Are you okay?”

You raise your eyebrow at him. “You’re the one who answered her question. Are you?”

He laughs and looks away. “Yeah, I am. Just shocked that Paimon used up her daily brain power allowance in one go.”

 ---

 Later, when you three stop by Wangshu Inn, Aether strides to the edge of a balcony from one of the many layers and can’t help his wandering thoughts to Paimon. He never cared much for deeper probing and purposes to his journey, he left that to you and Lumine. Adventure and fun always drew him instead, the promise of being chainless. He saw the ability to travel between worlds as a blessing, one where he can be untethered to nearly everything. No, he’s sure his sudden obsession with Paimon’s question is just because he didn’t expect Paimon to be so insightful. That’s it, it has to be.

He thinks of Lumine, of how she would have thoroughly enjoyed this view.

She is always the one reaching out to the locals, to guide and let them follow her back to the path of righteousness – or whatever was deemed lawful during that time, at least. Different worlds, different definitions. At least here, he tries to do what’s right by the people and helping with their (endless) errands. That’s what Lumine would have wanted. What does he want, though?

Well, for starters, he wants to find his sister, his other half, his twin star. Aether smiles to himself as he counts off all the nicknames he has for his little sister, how he plans on releasing Paimon on Lumine to see what the little fairy’s new nickname for her would be. A frown graces his lips though as he follows that thought, of names and designation and purpose.

It’s no secret that the Vigilant Yaksha established here his… home? Home, Aether decides, if only to avoid the sadder options. He remembers Xiao’s long conversation with him beneath the floating lanterns, of how Rex Lapis gifted him his name to give him renewed meaning and life. To protect those he once consumed.

Aether hopes that the adeptus can find that peace one day; as someone who travels worlds, who has seen that darkness between the stars, he knows the shadows are no welcoming place. Still, his heart warms when he remembers Xiao’s tireless watch, knowing that the spirit will come to his aid should Aether ever call his name. He never had someone do that for him, if he was being honest, that level of attentive care. It was always his people helping others.

It’s nice, he thinks. Real nice.

That’s why he resolved long ago to offer the same protection to the adeptus, much to the latter’s scorn, but Aether really didn’t care to listen to his grumbling, he was going to help, damn it. Aether thinks back to Venti, to the bard’s soulful flute and insistence on freedom from chains.

When he goes back inside, he muses, he’ll ask you to write a new quest: ‘Introduce Xiao to Venti.’ Somehow, someway, he plans on helping Xiao out of that darkness that Lumine fell into. Maybe this is his own redemption. Penance for lifetimes of no responsibilities, no cares, no duty to uphold for a singular cause. Look at where it got him now. He’s lost without Lumine as a tether.

He’s not going to give up on Xiao, damn all the others that did. Xiao never gave up on Liyue, so why should Aether?

The blonde turns when he hears your approaching steps and smiles. You return it, bringing him a bowl of sweet almond tofu. Not your own cooking – Aether would have heard the commotion first – but he’s grateful, nonetheless.

“There’s some jerk bullying a kid!” Both of your ears piqued at that, but you don’t bother trying to contain the fit of giggles at the ridiculous statement. You’re sure that someone would have dealt with the jerk by now, anyway.

“Who bullies a kid anyway? It’s like kicking puppies,” you mumble around the food in your mouth. Come on now, that’s a new low, even for Hilichurls.

Aether looks down and spies Paimon with two bowls of sweet almond tofu, full speed ahead like the devil himself is on her heels. Only, when he discovers the figure behind her, the flash of green and smoke and a spear trying to turn Paimon into a kebab, he nearly chokes again on his food.

Hey. Hey, wait, that’s –

“Shit,” he grumbles, “that’s my idiot.”

 ---

 The sun is kissing the horizon by the time you three make it back to Liyue Harbor. Your daily commissions complete and with enough Mora for the week, you nearly make it back to your inn before you catch the unmistakable lilt of a deep voice in the air. Zhongli?

Aether and Paimon catch on, and after a second, make their way to the source of the sound. The former Archon spots you three and his eyes crinkle before he stands. “Oh? I didn’t think I would see you here.”

Be still, beating heart, and thank the stars for the fading light casting everyone with a soft glow to hide your flush. You close your eyes, listening to Aether and the archaeologists ramble about Lord of Geo this, God of Wealth and Commerce that, something about the catalytic power of Mora.

When you open your eyes, you find Zhongli’s own on you instead. Huh?

Aether kicks your foot lightly and you turn to him, blinking again. “Hey, saddle up. We’re going on another adventure.” You deflate slightly; to be honest, you were hoping for a chance to rest and reflect on the conversation with Paimon. Stars, you can’t handle more of this right now, not in this… state. Mentally you’re flailing, trying to keep thoughts buried while you open your journal to mark the next task, because with thinking came emotion and with emotion came trying to understand why Paimon’s question stung you. You always believed these idle thoughts to be private questions, private sins about your loneliness in your duty. How far from the path have you two strayed for even an outlander to notice?

Still, you bite your trembling lip and nod. Back to work like always.

 ---

 You grab Zhongli’s hand as he hoists you up the cliff, your own arms quick to turn to jello. In front of you, you can hear the Fatui agent and archaeologist bickering over something, but you’re frankly too tired to care. Aether’s voice cuts through, trying to make peace. Or, really, trying not to pummel them both, but who cares about nuances? You say tomato and Aether says ‘gimme a sword.’

As you sigh and stretch your back, Zhongli smiles at you before observing the ocean once more.

Your throat is parched, but that’s not the first thing you think of. “I miss him,” you say, “Tartaglia.”

He nods. “I do as well. Are we selfish in desiring his company over his duty?”

You hum. “Well, it’s only natural to want to see your friend again, right?”

Zhongli blinks. “Indeed. Friend.”

Curious. The old god wanted Tartaglia to stay, to study him, thrilled in discovering a mortal so foolish for the first time in many millennia to challenge the Lord of Geo. A selfish want, yes, but present nonetheless.

He thinks he hears Guizhong. “Morax,” she chides, “you cannot hoard people.”

Did you want Tartaglia to stay for something else? He was certain you understood his own desire for the man with your gift mirroring his symbolic chopsticks, even if the Harbinger did not. Is Zhongli’s courting too old-fashioned?

“Ye-ap,” you smile. “He was a good partner-in-crime.”

Not for the first time, Zhongli thinks that perhaps, something is lost in translation.

“Indeed.”

 ---

 Forget Dragonspine. Things have somehow gone from fucked to holy stars keep it together don’t cry don’t cry –

“Your legacy? Your legacy,” you begin, voice shaky. Zhongli turns to stare at you, like… Like… “No. No, you do not get to look at me like that, like you’re Morax. Morax wouldn’t do this.”

Aether and Paimon whip their heads to look at you then. You stop and turn upwards, eyes searching, and take a deep breath to calm your nerves.

Clouds cover the night sky. Cowards.

“We are tasked with remembering, yes. You know this. But don’t you dare imply your legacy was for naught.”

Zhongli’s lips tighten. A single tear falls when you look back at him.

“Mora transforms, yes? Maybe then,” you start and begin waving your arm around, gesturing to the ocean before you all. “Maybe this is a transformation. No god that passes is ever truly gone in Teyvat, so don’t you dare say that something so sacred has departed Liyue. She lives on in her ideals, her beliefs.”

The old god turns to look at the ocean. He thinks back to Ningguang and Guizhong. “Like a cycle? Is this what you have learned on your travels?”

You nod. “Morax knew there was power in mortals, there was potential. As the God of Wealth, does it not logically follow that he would understand that mankind is divinity transmuted? When these men come and go, their souls return to the divine. Nothing is ever truly gone.”

He scoffs at that, but nothing infuriating. It sounds more disbelieving. Still, he turns to you, though you don’t see it. “Rain that rejoins the river into the great ocean is no different than the clouds that made it.” His heart aches. Why does his heart ache? “Perhaps, when the clouds form once more, we shall see the revival and birth of gods anew.”

When you look at him, Zhongli is already gazing back out at the see, a distant memory washing across his eyes. You know of his connection to Guizhong, know of his pride to discover that her tablets still stand strong when you and Aether stumbled across them.

Suddenly, your heart falls in your stomach and you feel sick. “Come on,” you mumble to the other two present. They nod and you open the map, once again deciding that tonight is just too much.

Zhongli stares long and hard at the spot you three stood in, then turns to the stars above as they emerge from cover. The ring in his hand is gently twisted, around and around. He thinks of Aether, of Paimon, of you. Of how, no matter how close to the heavens a mountain dares to try and touch, it can only wait for the light to warm its barren earth and the rain to form once more.

The stars only twinkle back.

 ---

 All right, well, the plan to stay in your inn and once again contemplate Teyvat’s frankly depressing history just went out the window. Literally.

You jump from the bedroom and open your glider to land in a hidden corner to not attract too much attention. Moments like this, Mondstadt is perfect for you; the drunkards leaving the tavern at this hour would just look at you glide by and raise their mugs in understanding. Life is like that sometimes.

Aether and Paimon long ago fell asleep, you made sure of that. It’s annoying that your exhaustion is now to the point where you can’t even fall asleep, thoughts dance just out of your reach, and even the ocean breeze as you shuffle close to the docks no longer tickles your senses.

When you hear your name called, you stop and turn around to find Zhongli ten paces behind you. Ah  shit, here we go again.

“I was hoping, though not expecting, to find you out. You appeared distraught when you left, so I went to Bubu Pharmacy to retrieve some medicine.” As he walks closer, you stand up straight and look at the bag in hand. He holds it out to you and you smile at his amber eyes, pupils in slits as he presents his gift to you with all the grandeur of a cat dragging a mouse to its master.

However, when you open the bag, you stop and look back at him. “Chamomile,” you say, voice flat.

“Yes.”

“You got me tea.”

“Yes. Is something the matter?”

You sigh and rub your eyes. “You could have gotten this at a regular herb shop and not been robbed blind.” He winces as realization dawns on him, nodding along, but then.

Then you start giggling.

It’s stupid, it’s so stupid and your mind is tired beyond reason and here you are laughing at the God of Wealth spending his money for you and got robbed for it. You cover your mouth, but you feel your wrist gently pried from your mouth and you gasp as Zhongli examines at you inquisitively. He smiles too. “Would you care for me to brew this tonight?”

You nod and babble what you hope to be a thank you, incapable beyond reason of any coherent thought, save for one. Food. Flipping him around, you instead take him towards the nearest food stands still open at this hour – at least feeding drunkards is universal – and lead him to the most appetizing.

It doesn’t escape you that his hand glides down your wrist to grasp your fingers gently.

 ---

 Some hours passed and you both settled long ago in front of Wanmin Restaurant for a gamble of Xiangling’s choice of mystery dish. When you first discovered this new weekly option, the three of you had widely ranging reactions: you politely tried to hide your shudder, Aether more openly grimaced, and Paimon was dragging you both by the collars as you desperately dug your heels in.

Conversation flows easy between you two, and you click your chopsticks at Zhongli as you take another bite from a perfectly cooked chunk of meat. “I think you would benefit from some hobbies other than work, you know.”

He arches an eyebrow and puts down his cup of baijiu. “I am attempting to integrate a mortal life. Is it not logical to work within Liyue as one?”

“Well, yes, but actually no,” you drawl and smile behind your cup at Zhongli’s expression. “You should do other things, too! Enjoy life, take long walks, play some xiangqi, meditate – “

“Dear Celestia,” he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I am not some grandfather you need to care for. I am old, not dying.” Vaguely, you register a quiet grumble and a why do I even bother.

“What was that, hmm?” You raise your hands to cup your ears, hoping to draw out more of his frustration. Instead, Zhongli’s lips curve up at you with a combined expression of haughtiness and mirth.

“Apparently, I am not the one who requires hearing aids.”

“Touché.” You swipe the bottle of baijiu and pour a small shot for yourself. “D’ya remember in the immediate aftermath of it all, Childe kept bowing and calling you zu fu? I personally think he was on to something.”

The ancient god only grouses as he pours himself another drink. “My temptation to indulge his battle lust then has never been so appetizing. The argumentative fool.”

You shrug. “He was looking to get a reaction out of you. It worked, didn’t it? The great Rex Lapis irritated by an incessant fly! Oh, the scandal that would cause, the humiliation.” Dramatically, you throw your hand over your forehead and lean back, the spitting image of a damsel-in-distress in one of Lady Ying’er’s lustier novels.

Zhongli smirks then and laughs low, a purr more than anything, before gathering his empty dishes to leave a bag of Mora in the center of the table. You’re proud, you really are, though you bite your tongue from any more comments on the old god remembering his money for once.

It’s a while before you both speak again, a silent agreement between the two of you to finish your bottle before moving on. He is the first to break, though you don’t expect the next words. “When I took the seat of Geo Archon offered by Celestia, I never thought this day would come.”

Tilting your head, you scoot a bit closer. He glances at you, posture pristine and relaxed, though you feel rather than see the tension in his taut body. “Why?”

“Because,” he begins, pursing his lips as he thinks. “I am – we are – immortal. Therefore, I suppose I simply did not see an end to my duty.”

“How sad,” you murmur. His eyes dim, so you put your hand on his shoulder to ground him before he sinks further into his memories. “Duties should only be taken when you see a future for it, rather than a lack of an ending. When the day came, I am glad you recognized the need to put down the mantle.”

Zhongli’s eyes burn into you, and realization dawns on you as you think of the potential reason for his intensity. Is it because of - ?

“I’m really sorry for my behavior at Wangsheng, really, I am. You were burdened with a seemingly never-ending duty, it wasn’t fair for my anger to cloud my judgment.” You try to look away, but Zhongli’s hand placed over yours keeps you still.

“Your frustration was reasonable.” He pauses for a second. What was that look in his eye? “You observe those around you just as I once did, though I have stepped into the story. Are you and Aether able to put down your duties as well?”

You quickly withdraw your hand and look away, biting the inside of your cheek. Not him too. “I don’t know,” you breathe. If Zhongli wasn’t so close, he wouldn’t have heard you. He takes a deep breath before offering his hand. Taking it, you both stand, and he releases you as he begins walking away from the restaurant.

“I believe we still have some tea to brew, yes?” You grin at his question, warmth settling in your stomach. Tea. That sounds nice.

As you travel with him, the silence stretching once again, you can’t help but think of Zhongli’s eyes once more. Bah, damn your crush, he only looked at you as a god would a pleading mortal, he’s beyond your realm of comprehension and –

You try to stamp the disappointment before that thought keeps going further. Exhaustion begins to creep in your bones, you’re certain the late night is the cause for your distress, but that doesn’t stop your cynicism.

How could a god understand the burden of stories, of keeping records tirelessly? He’s the God of Contracts, but your contract doesn’t end.

Damn the pity in his eyes.

 ---

 (It wasn’t pity, something whispers. Compassion. Tenderness. Wrath.

All things must be fair, Zhongli thinks. Your contract never was.)

 ---

 By the time you’re in his apartment and sitting at his table, you’re sure you’ve spent the better part of ten minutes gaping like a fish at the luxury of it all. Each item’s quality is beyond description, truly, but you still fumble about in your mind trying to find the words anyway. Rich? Decadent? Unnecessary but very nice? Paper lamps are littered around you, both hanging in the air and on side tables, and you can’t help but notice the soft, hazy golden glow the light casts over the room. Somehow, you’re sure you smell incense burning somewhere…

The colors are earthy in tone, but what surprises you is the abundance of plants – mostly silk flowers and glaze lilies - along the windows and corners carefully placed, following the patterns of feng shui. Stone walls curve around, and the plants appear to rest in the embrace of the circular patterns carved within, perfectly matching the decorations. As the hand-carved furniture, laced with golden accents and filigree, weave into the background, you can’t help but appreciate the apartment’s forest-like ambiance. His den is warm, welcoming, and soft, a far cry from the image of a Geo Archon. All that’s missing is some art and –

There it is. That tapestry Childe bought the day you received your own token.

Before you can stop it, the quiet voice in your mind croons at the memory of him.

You’re only snapped out of your thoughts when Zhongli returns with a tea set and places one cup before you to carefully pour before joining your side. He blows the tea before sipping it, all the serenity afforded to an ancient god.

You pause, smile lost now. “I’m sorry.”

Amber eyes open and scrutinize you. “For what? You have already apologized before for nothing, starlight.”

Rolling your head side to side, you lower your gaze and find solace instead at the steam rising from the tea. There goes that damn nickname again. “For disrespecting your wishes. Your legacy is important to me, but what’s important to you is that you… You…”

It doesn’t have to be said. Zhongli pauses and puts his own teacup down. “You and Aether once informed me of your people’s duties in recording stories. My hope is that my time as Zhongli marks the end of Liyue’s need of me, to close that chapter in Morax’s story.” You frown at that.

“As Zhongli?”

“Yes,” he breathes, smile small but distant, “you were right on the cliff. Morax would not have made the decision Zhongli did. I am no longer that god.”

You reach over and grab his hand, his eyes meeting yours again. “If you are no longer him, then why is Zhongli the end of Morax’s story and not the beginning of his own?” He only makes a soft rumble in response, and not for the first time do you marvel at how lost he appears. “Your journey as Zhongli is not another contract. You shouldn’t start this journey the same way you started your duties as the Geo Archon.”

“Oh?”

Suddenly, Paimon’s question rings clear in your head. “As immortals, we naturally process things slower, we have more time to. Time is given to us to see the future and learn, not to dwell on the past. Otherwise, we waste this gift,” you murmur. Gods help you; you think this next statement is going to kill you but it needs to be said. “I’m sorry about all those you’ve lost.”

Great, just great, way to bring up his old friends. Still, you felt the need to blurt it out, if only so someone could say it to him once. Just once.

Zhongli’s hand turns so that his palm faces yours and his fingers entwine in your own. It’s a long time before he speaks, and if it wasn’t for his gentle grasp, you were sure that the former Archon was furious.

He must be using his elemental powers, he has to be. Why else are you petrified?

His eyes move, looking through your hands. Beyond, beyond. What does he see?

“They would have wanted me to move forward. I honor their memory through remembrance, and hopefully now, movement. All things must return to dust, though I do not rush the journey,” he eventually replies. Only, you look closer, and his eyebrows are barely furrowed, the only sign on his otherwise perfectly composed face of the emotion lurking underneath. “I do not know how she saw fit to be my mentor, to guide such a bloody god out of the battlefield. She saw a nurturer, where I saw only the destruction my hands have wrought eons ago.”

You don’t have to ask to know who he refers to.

It’s stupid, it’s bold, it’s desperate, but you’ve already gone this far, haven’t you? You bite your lip and ask gently, selfishly, “May I remove your gloves?”

He looks to you and nods, relaxing his grip and not bothering to hide the confusion carved all over his face. As you slowly peel off his gloves, you see his dark hands lined with geometric patterns glow dimly, the shade matching his own amber eyes. Fuck, he’s so beautiful, the statues and paintings of him do him no justice; the muscles along his arm flex in reaction when you begin to trace his fingers, inch-by-inch, from the tips to the palm. Reverence fills your eyes as you suddenly understand why so many mortals threw themselves to the floor beneath him in worship.

These are just his hands, though. Should you ever be blessed to see him fully, by the stars, you think you would die and ascend to Celestia right there.

You feel his steady gaze on you, but you don’t care. Home stretch, here we go, how much further can you test these boundaries?

“Do you ever wish you could have changed the outcome?”

He scoffs. “Wish? A god does not wish. What Celestia commands, we obey. Seven seats there were, and so the fighting began until seven victors remained.”

“Sure, but I mean, that’s in the past now. A name both defines a purpose and limits it.” A sentiment both you and Aether share, for those who traveled countless worlds surely held countless names. Zhongli fondly remembers his first encounter with Alatus, but he frowns, nonetheless.

“I will forever carry the scars as the former Geo Archon. I may leave Morax behind, but I can never forget that I am still him, buried beneath this visage and burdened with the weight of that knowledge.” He clenches his hand again, but you spread them out and begin slowly tracing the golden lines along his palm and forearm.

“Hm,” you hum, “that’s odd.”

“What do you see?” Zhongli says, voice pitched an octave lower than before. Subtly, you feel your core heat and you rub your thighs together, though not enough to draw attention.

“Your hands… I don’t see any blood, just these flowers you’ve cultivated,” you beam, eyes flicking to the silk flowers and glaze lilies permeating the room. Maybe it’s the scent, or the lingering baijiu in your system, or the fact that Zhongli’s eyes are on you, but you feel drunk and bold and stupid so you bring his hand up to your face to snuggle. The anxiety in your stomach melts when you feel his rough hands against your cheek. “Warm too. They’re no different than a man’s. Than Zhongli’s.”

When his lips part, your eyes follow the movement and he stares at you for a long time. Those eyes flicker between yours, fully present and watching you now as they pierce your own.

Are you leaning in, or is he? Fuck it. “Kiss me,” you rasp, pleading and hopeful.

You groan when he moves forward and finishes that thought, deftly moving his other hand to your hip to rub small circles with his thumb. How are his lips so soft? All you can feel is his movements against yours, though you register him eventually breaking apart. His pants mingle with yours, and gods if he doesn’t come back you’re going to throw a bitch fit.

“Was that alright?” he murmurs. Ever the gentleman, you bemoan. Instead, you opt to whine lightly as you drag your unoccupied hand up his chest, cooing at his own gasps as you creep farther up.

“Yes, please,” you whisper, “Please, again, let me –“ You reach over and begin unbuttoning his shirt. Zhongli leans back slightly to allow you more access – though the cheeky god turns his head and peppers your forehead with kisses along the way -  and you move both hands to wrangle off his garments. After a few minutes of fumbling, you manage to bare his upper chest, but you pause in appreciation.

Oh, oh stars, you thought you were going crazy for his hands. Truly, you feel like a debauched Sister to Barbatos when you took all of Zhongli in; his hair tussled, lips mumbling something, and his eyes – fuck they are following your every motion. It’s almost predatory. You register somewhere that he’s still rumbling something, but you raise your eyebrows and dig your hands into his chest again, twisting the silken fabric. “I d-don’t, I don’t speak Liyuean, what was that?”

He laughs, solid and rich and you’re in deep. Zhongli takes one of your hands to kiss the palm, then the wrist. His eyes flutter open and look at you again, all mischief and pride still lacing his perfectly composed features.

It’s not fair, you think. Some stupid divine gift of being perfect all the time.

“I spoke Common, dear,” he replies and slowly kisses up your arm before moving to your shoulder. You tense as he leans forward, all but nuzzling your cheek as he whispers, “I asked if you would prefer to take this to the bedroom?” He says something else after, and this time you’re sure it’s Liyuean as he concludes by gently, playfully grazing his teeth over your cheeks and jaw and neck. 

Two can play that game.

You mumble something in response with your own native tongue, all chirps and purrs and light tones. Zhongli pauses and turns back to look at you inquisitively, single eyebrow arched. It’s endearing. “I said that tonight, you’re mine.”

He smiles and you suddenly feel the world spin as – oh fuck are you being lifted? You were trying to be smooth with your earlier statement, corny as it sounded, but this. This fucker literally swept you off your feet.

Yeah, not fair at all.

“Then, dear starlight, allow this old adeptus to humbly offer himself to your whims.”

“Hmm,” you purr, “You offer? Sounds awfully sacrilegious coming from a former Archon.”

As you’re taken to his bedroom, Cor Lapis eyes make a show of inspecting your body he carries before eventually meeting your own. “I am no longer that Archon.” His voices dips even lower, sultry and husky and possessive. “Tonight, I am Zhongli. I am yours.” You gasp as he sits down on his bed and pulls you back in with another kiss, light nips and moans. The debilitating arousal that hits you soaks your undergarments as you realize that this god, Prime of the Adepti, is begging for more on his proverbial knees.

Yeah, you think as you open your mouth and welcome him, this works. His tongue is warm and silky; somewhere, you feel his hands making quick work of your clothing, so you try to return the favor. After you unceremoniously toss his clothes – and ignore his offended puffs – you lean back, admiring the now shirtless Morax as he spread his legs further, nearly coy if not for that devilish smirk. His brown and gold marks extend all the way to his shoulders, reminding you once more of all that those hands have achieved.

Maybe… Maybe will do to you later too, you think, suddenly shy. When you feel cold air strike your core, you shiver, only now realizing that the god stripped you quickly without your notice.

Seeing him spread out like this, legs apart and chest bare, you can’t help but wonder how the statues littering Liyue do him no justice, not by a long shot. You sink to your knees before him, and he makes a confused sound, leaning forward only to halt when you place a hand beneath his naval.

“I thought you were the one to be worshipped tonight,” he mumbles, though clearly not opposed.

“Mm, my whims, right? I just – “ You lean forward and trail your lips up his thighs. “ – really – “ Another kiss, closer, closer. “ – want to taste you.” His breath stutters as you kiss his bulge, relishing in his earthy scent. Somehow, he always still smells of silk flowers, an undercurrent to what you experience now. You glance up at him and undo his pants; as you reach forward, you let just enough of his cock through before you shift forward and let him slide into your hot mouth.

Morax growls at you, and oh fuck that’s doing something to you as another wave floods you, settling low and deep to soak your thighs. He bucks his hips slightly to reach further into your hot mouth and you rush to keep your hands on his thighs. Not that it would help, really, but it reassures you that somehow, you’re still in control. As you move forward to further take him in your mouth, you simultaneously strip him of his last clothing and pull it down to his ankles before he kicks it away somewhere. Truth be told, you’re torn between making this as slow and reverent as possible or drink from him like he’s a fountain in a desert.

You settle for somewhere in between as you slowly move your head back and forth, swallowing around him when you can’t take any more, and you lift your hands to stroke what’s left. Stars, he’s thick and long, your jaws ache just from taking him this much.

As you pull back, a trail of spit connecting his leaking head to your lips, and you flush when you realize – “Only halfway?”

Zhongli chuckles above you and cards his hand through your hair. “It’s okay, starlight, we can – “

“No.” You interrupt him to take his throbbing cock again, but you begin tracing a warm and wet line down his shaft instead, and he groans low. You’ve wanted to taste him for so long and you’re sure there’s some bullshit adeptus aphrodisiac in his precum, because gods above he tastes exquisite everywhere. Somewhere above you, Zhongli is writhing and panting as you take his head again to swallow around it, drunk on his noises. The saltiness in your mouth only encourages your efforts, determined to give him the best performance he’s ever had.

You lay your tongue flat against his frenulum and he jumps, barely incoherent as he tugs incessantly. “Wai – nnngh – wait, I-I’m close, I’m… Haah.”

Warmth blooms within as you release his cock with a pop and look at him, eyes hooded. “I want to taste you,” you slur. “All of you.” He looks stricken as you resume your ministrations, and soon you feel him throb more insistently. Zhongli is a God of War, right? Maybe… Maybe if you do this –

You drag your nails fierce and unexpected down his hips and thighs and he cums, hard. Suddenly you’re forced to hold his legs for purchase as you swallow, it’s all you can really do as you feel his tight grip hold you in place to face-fuck you and you milk him for all he’s worth. Which, y’know, you’re fine with too. Your eyes flutter closed as you hear soft coos and praises tumble from his lips, and you release his cock to look back up as it twitches lightly, already missing your wet mouth. Between the two of you, you’re not sure who looks more drunk.

 No, actually, you’re sure that you look more drunk, because even though Zhongli’s eyes are deep in reverie as watches you stand up, he looks like the perfect image of serenity. His bed is vast, linen sheets with a ridiculously high thread count and shimmering amber patterns over the black base, and his headboard is a deep grey with Cor Lapis geometric decorations littering it almost haphazardly. You realize that the design mimics his throne in the Geo Archon statues.

Around the room, you suddenly notice more silk flowers and glaze lilies, with a window spanning nearly  the entire wall to your right with a view of Liyue only afforded to royalty. There are jade statues and crimson tapestries framing a weapon rack hanging on the wall to your left with multiple spears adorning it, each likely worth a king’s ransom.

And here you are, standing in front of Rex Lapis as he moans your name and nearly pouts for more attention. How many have seen this great emperor laid so low?

Suddenly, you yelp as the man grows impatient and grabs your hand to pull you to him before rolling over you. His glowing eyes narrow as he growls, though it isn’t threatening so much as restless, and you keen when he lowers his mouth to your neck. Ah, there it is, that dominating Archon present once more.

Zhongli’s lips trail kisses as he travels down the curve of your throat to your sternum, before shifting to one breast and flicking his tongue over your nipple. You jolt and moan again, louder when he bites, then nurses it again with kisses to sooth. Then, you feel it, those skillful and calloused hands as one traces your hips before reaching your core. You whine and lift your hips, grabbing a fistful of Zhongli’s hair as he moves to your other breast. “Please, please, please.”

He smiles against your skin as one tickles around your folds, suddenly in the mood to go slowly and tease. Right when you are about to complain, a digit touches your clit and you whine as you jerk your hips again. Only, the sly fucker moves his hand back with your hips so you never feel that pressure tending to your need. You moan out his name, an absolute mess as he massages you idly like he has all the time in the world.

Well, technically, you both do, but you want it now, damn it.

When he moves his head back up to your neck to begin kissing again, you snake your hand around his throat to pull him in close and seethe, “If you keep playing with me, so help me I will – “ The words die in your mouth as he suddenly plunges a finger in and moans at how tight and silky you are, the wet noises drowned out by your cry. Zhongli never breaks eye contact as he watches exactly how you come undone from just one finger.

You can’t find it in yourself to be embarrassed at how easily he calls your bluff with the overwhelming relief that comes from him stoking that fire deep within. He twists his hand around and a lazy smile graces his lips, the pristine image of composure while you’re twitching and mumbling underneath. You claw at his back and moan incoherently, desperately looking at him and hoping he understands.

Oh, oh he does, but Zhongli purrs regardless when he leans forward to whisper in your ear, “Words, darling, use your words.” Right when you begin forming them, though, he slides another finger to join the first to cut you off. Cheeky bastard. A third quickly joins, and you throw your head back, noises growing in your throat when you feel yourself getting closer, closer, yes there -

The god looks at you and frowns lightly as he tuts. “So loud,” he says, and you feel his fingers leave you as you clamp around nothing, right at the precipice. Zhongli laughs, silvery in sound, when he spies your frustrated bearing, about a threatening as a kitten’s, and he nips your jaw with a quiet, “Open wide.” When you oblige, you feel him slide his fingers in your mouth, and you move your tongue between them to taste yourself. He moans appreciatively and you smile as you lick again. You never thought you could be into this, but with him? Fuck yes you can be.

“How do you taste, little one?” You sigh at him and smile but pause again when you spot that glint in his eye, the one that spells all sorts of trouble for you. When Zhongli withdraws his fingers, you watch as he gracefully climbs down your body, all slow movements and muscles flexing like an elegant beast.

A dragon, really.

His eyes flick up to yours as you watch, thighs twitching around his head when he leans in closer to kiss your velvety folds. You close your own as you squeak and feel his laugh, before you throw your body up when you feel his tongue slide deep into your pussy without hesitation, the top of his mouth wrapping your bud in a furnace. God of the Stove? Something, something, something –

Your hips struggle to meet his lips, but you feel one hand hold you down with his growling. Stay put. “Ohhh, f-fuck, please – “ You try again and this time, his nails dig deep into your skin and you hiss with pleasure. His other hand creeps up and slides a finger in to match his tongue, and stars you suddenly can’t breathe.

When you look down again and see his golden eyes just fucking watching you, intense and concentrated, you realize the inevitable. “Nnngh, f-fuck I-I’m – “ you stutter, barely having enough wherewithal to warn him, “I’m g-going to –“

The devil smirks wickedly and he sucks on your clit, and you’re tumbling. Gods above, something tears through you as you cum with a ragged, hoarse cry of his name as euphoria streaks through you unforgivingly. Your muscles spasm and you grip the sheets harder, all too aware of your limited mobility and it’s like your body made your orgasm all the more intense, knowing it can only express itself there. White-hot pleasure concentrates around the god’s head, and you can’t figure out if the heat is from you or him.

Each spasm has you releasing more wetness from your cunt to Zhongli’s mouth and he groans deeply, lapping it all the while he finger-fucks you through your orgasm. When it gets to be too much, your oversensitive bud begging for a gods-deserved break, you lightly swat at his head to stop drinking you; he only purrs softly into your folds before slowly withdrawing his fingers.

When the former Archon sits back up and slowly, deliberately licks each of his fingers as he makes eye contact with you, your throat seizes. “Fuck,” you breathe. Oh, oh gods, if you were native Teyvaten, it’s him you would worship, you would throw yourself down and suck him dry all day if he would let you, ride his thighs on his throne, fuck he’s so sexy, so handsome, so fucking good to you –

Only when his eyes crinkle with pleasure did you realize you… You were saying those things out loud, each one of those statements tumbling and traitorous.

You quickly look away, mortified and all too aware suddenly of your current situation, the fact that you’re in bed with him. You’ve harbored a cru- fondness for him for so long, you lost yourself to the ecstasy before being brought back to reality.

Zhongli frowns and crawls forward, gently taking hold of your chin to turn you to him. His eyes. Stars, they’re so warm and welcoming and… Tender. “Starlight,” he rumbles, “Was that… All right?” Stupefied. You’re stupefied as you realize this ancient god thought you were embarrassed of him, of his performance somehow and not your own childish blunderings.

“Y-Yes!” you squeal and immediately wrap your arms around his shoulders. He falls forward with an oof as your legs find purchase around his hips, and you begin trailing kisses down his cheek and jaw to his neck in an attempt to rectify this. “Y-yes, that was so good, I-I just… I can’t believe you… We…”

Zhongli chuckles and you can hear the smirk in his voice when he says, “Well, perhaps we can keep proving you wrong?” When he bucks his hips, your pussy feels electric as you realize the angle you’re hanging off of him allows his cock to slide just outside of your slit. Again, you’re sure you would’ve been more embarrassed at the fact that you’re practically a sloth hanging off of him, but, well, come on. Who doesn’t want to climb this tree?

As he’s slowly rocking and coating his cock with your slick, back and forth and whispering sweet nothings between kisses along your temple, you realize belatedly that he’s asking for permission. “Please,” you mumble.

He doesn’t need anything more as you feel his hips angle, the tip poking just the entrance. When he slides in, slowly at first and barely the head inside you, you wheeze. “B-Big,” you huff unceremoniously and Zhongli pauses, waiting for you to adjust.

You both stay like that for a moment, breaths mingling, and you feel his back muscles flex under your nails. Eventually, your eyes open and you see how his are tightly shut and he’s painfully biting his lip. All those centuries carefully cultivating a strong discipline is being tested, here and now, and stars he looks to be in terrible pain as he holds, waiting for you to adjust.

Hm. A thought strikes you, lighting in your head with a faint ping.

Slowly, to not startle him – though his eyes snap open anyway when you touch his shoulder – you creep your hand up and go to the back of his head. He looks at you, curious and distracted for a moment while you reach for his ribbon. When you pull it undone, eyes scrutinizing his every movement to see if he enjoys this, you card your hand through his waves as they cascade around you two.

Then, you tug. Hard.

Shit, that does it as Zhongli sinks his head to your neck and groans, low and open and raw as he thrust his hips further, suddenly sinking in half of his length into you. You gasp and hold on to his hair tighter when he pauses, but you only tug again – lighter, this time – and he gets the hint. Slowly, the god begins rocking his hips once more; this time, he works inch-by-agonizing-inch into you.

You have a hard time breathing as his girth practically splits you open and glides along, your hips already aching from how wide you spread them to accommodate his size. Nothing about him is soft, it’s all hard planes of muscles and jagged edges, and yet. And yet. When he leans forward to capture your lips again, it’s all you can think of when you think of him. Soft.

The obscene noises your pussy makes around him is silenced as he slows, finally reaching the base and hips meet your own. You have to give him credit, those gentle kisses were excellent distractions, because you’re not sure if you could have survived otherwise. When you lean forward to nip his bottom lip, he hums and begins to draw back before rocking back in.

It’s torturous, really, it is, the way his cock rolls along your velvet walls hitting every nerve point with deliberation. He wants to drag this out as long as he can, and impatient as you are, you want him to instead be going faster. Amber eyes meet yours, and neither of you have to say it. It’s now a fight for control, for who can direct the pace of this little skirmish.

For every whine and lift of your hips, his own draws back to match you. “I… Have raised – urgh,” Zhongli starts, grunting when you nip at a spot on his collarbone, “Liyue meticulously… L-little one, let me b-b-hhuild – “ You lap at another spot as you claw his back. “ – you, worship you.”

“Mmmno,” you reply, huffing in protest when Zhongli captures your mouth again and begins exploring it with the same vigor he did your cunt. When you realize that, you squeeze at the memory, but he only groans and shifts for a deeper angle. You let out a noise somewhere between a chirp and a squeal as he begins hitting that one spot. “I-I a-a-am not… Hah… Not a sta-tuueee to worship and erect, Zhongli.”

He laughs. “Interesting choice of words.” You barely hear him though as he begins thrusting with greater power, and you keen as you feel yourself approaching the edge again while you clamp harder around him. Each thrust from his hips punches a slight gasp out of you, and feel teeth drag along your jugular until you’re meeting his piercing eyes. His golden pupils are slits now, absolutely proud and feral. Thank all the gods in all the worlds above because Zhongli doesn’t stop, doesn’t tease you this time. Instead, he guides you to that precipice with the same slow determination he promised.

“Hh-haah, oh fuck,” you whimper, “I-I’m - !”

He kisses your temple and murmurs, “I know.”

Any annoyance you feel at his haughtiness is swept away when another orgasm is drawn from you, and you gasp, tugging his hair needily. His rhythm doesn’t change, only the intensity, but that’s all you need as you feel your pleasure building in waves. You knew this was coming, but you don’t expect how quickly it arrives nor the duration.

No, while your first orgasm was passionate and blazing, striking you like lightning, this one made you feel as though you are in a boat on a turbulent ocean. Each wave you crest over only gets higher, your euphoria growing as you bite his shoulder in an attempt to hide at least some of your cries, but you fail utterly. The noises coming from your core as it floods are downright obscene, and… Shit, is he talking?

“ – lovely, perfect little one, pretty thing just squeezing around my cock, aren’t you? Good girl, you are perfect -”

You sob and nod vigorously, yes you are a good little girl, just keep pounding Zhongli and you’ll be good for him all night. “I – I,” you start, quite uselessly if you’re honest, and he looks at you curiously but doesn’t stop his movements. “I – I… Am still… I-iiiiiin cont-rhhhol.”

“Yes, you are,” he coos and leans forward to kiss you, his hips finally, finally moving slightly faster. Only slightly, though.

Are you, though? Are you really? Because as Zhongli smirks at your debauched expression, drool coming out slightly and covered in blooming bruises, you wonder if this is another one of his games to make the other think they were the victor all along. You wouldn’t put it past him.

“T-then,” you croon, “f-fuck me harder, Zhongli.”

“Mm?”

“H-Harder, faster, oh stars,” you whine, “I need it, p-please, I can take it!”

His eyes become hooded, and suddenly, you feel him pull out. Hey, hey wait, that’s the exact opposite of what you want. It isn’t long, though, and you’re flipped on your stomach with a stone grip yanking your hips up for him. Instinctually you arch your back and mewl as you present yourself, and you hear a string of Liyuen curses fall from his mouth as he palms one of your cheeks before you feel a slap. Oh, that one drew a loud moan.

You feel brave and look over your shoulder, only to be devastatingly aroused at the sight of him inspecting your dripping hole. “Filthy,” he murmurs, clearly pleased with his handwork as his other hand strokes his cock. Zhongli’s eyes meet you then and he smiles, shifting closer, clearly not wanting to waste time.

In a single thrust he’s sheathed fully inside you again, and you cry out as you feel both hands move to your hips in a bruising grip. He begins pounding in earnest, mumbling more praises under his breath, but you don’t register it, all you feel is him, just him.

However, it isn’t long before you’re frustrated. Not with him or his divine cock, but you feel like you’re missing something. You grumble, wanting some of the icy pain you gave him inflicted on you too. “Z-Zhongli!” you cry, turning around again and determination written on your face.

He doesn’t miss a beat in his movements as he meets your stare again, perfect eyebrow arched. “I can take it,” you grouse. “I can take you, don’t hold back, please. Stop treating me so gently. Be rough with me, I’m begging you, be a beast and use me. It’s you and me tonight, remember?”

The god suddenly freezes, eyes wide as saucers at your demand, and you barely stop an embarrassed wince from creeping on your face. Shit, was that too much? Except, when he smiles, all teeth and eyes glowing with pleasure and long eyelashes fluttering, your heart suddenly shoots into your throat with anticipation and no small amount of fear. “Very well.”

He leans forward to kiss the small of your back as he pulls out, your pussy clenching around emptiness once again. Before your very eyes, you watch scales erupt from his shoulders and you feel claws pricking your hips, sure to draw blood if they pressed any further. You vaguely register a sudden weight to your right; gasping, you watch a long, draconic tail wrap around your hand, flicking with all the excitement of a pleased cat. However, when you look back, his whole being seems to have grown larger and you feel small; the dark brown coloring of his shoulders bleeds now to his pecs and journey – delicate like paint strokes – to his naval. You don’t miss fangs grace his open smile and Cor Lapis antlers rising from his head, shy of scraping the ceiling. They glow rhythmically with the markings on his arms, pulsing like a primordial heart. Stars, it’s truly a radiant crown befitting the Prime Adeptus, Morax, emperor of Liyue.

You swear to yourself then to never ever ever tell Zhongli your original intent, not on your fucking life. Truth be told, you meant something more along the lines of biting, scratching your back or something, never in your wildest fantasies did you think he would take your dare so literally.

Well, maybe in your wildest fantasies, but that’s a secret between you and the stars.

When your eyes take in all the glory that is Rex Lapis, your breath hitches when you finally spy his cock, practically weeping with pre-cum and twitching to be back inside you. What gives you pause is the fact that, well, every part of him grew with his transformation. Not only the length and girth, but the very appearance shifted, looking more draconic. Ridges line his darkened member and like his arms, there are golden markings glimmering along his shaft that throb in time with every other.

Immediately, you hear two sides inside you war: fuck yes fuck yes fill me completely and can that even fit or will I die first?

What a way to go, you decide, and shyly meet his eyes again. The entire time he sits under your inspection, he is rigid and chest slightly puffed. He preens under your appreciative noises, and when you finally match his eyes again, there is a renewed hunger lurking in those amber depths. “Last warning,” he rumbles.

You feel the vibrations of his voice, deep and shattering like a rockslide, and another wave of arousal practically seeps out as you moan. The leak doesn’t escape his sharp eyes and he smirks, taking this as your approval. Grabbing his cock in one hand and holding you steady with the other, he begins the slow breach, and oh fuck does it hurt in the best way possible. Some of the loudest cries from you yet are quickly silenced as you bury your head into your arms, only to come out again when one of his hands snake around your hips to begin steadily rubbing your clit. You feel a slight jut and you’re pushed forward, but he doesn’t move. Instead, Zhongli’s head rests between your shoulder blades panting hot and wet while he focuses on getting you to relax.

“M-move,” you mumble, and he growls in response and presses just an inch further before stopping again. You whine, an impatient brat, and try to take more of his cock by rolling your hips back. Hissing, you feel his claws pierce skin as his grip tightens to keep you in place; you choose to ignore the warning and try again, only to yelp when you feel a sharp bite to your shoulder.

You’re pretty sure that if you move this time, his fangs will draw blood, so you still. Okay. Okay, yeah, nope. You’re not in charge anymore. You may have won the battle, but it’s only fitting that Rex Lapis won the war.

“H-How far?” you ask, almost scared of the answer.

Eventually he releases his jaws and begins tenderly licking your skin – is his tongue forked? – and he hums. “About a quarter of the way.”

“A-a quarter of the - ?! Oh, for fuck’s sake,” you sputter. You grab his tail and tug on it insistently, trying to get his attention. “Hey, pull out a sec.”

He doesn’t move.

“Zhongli.”

Grumbles.

“Zhongli.”

The god pulls out, and when you turn back, you can’t help the laugh that escapes your lips at the expression he wears. Liyue’s denizens will surely kill you if they ever saw how you reduced their once mighty Archon to a pouting mess. “Good boy,” you coo. You hear a deep purr rise from his chest, and you lean forward to kiss before shifting around and grabbing his shoulders. “Now, turn around and lay on the bed.”

You don’t have to repeat yourself as he quickly lifts you again – not fair – and twists around so that you’re straddling his waist while his tail curls around one of your feet. When he settles back against the headboard, watching you intently for your next command, you marvel once again at the failure of the statues to truly capture his glory.

Biting your lip, you dig your hands into the brown scales framing his shoulders, but quickly fumble around for different purchase as some of his scales jut into your hand. When you finally find a good position, you release a long sigh and Zhongli curves his lips up before pulling you close for another kiss.

“We don’t have to,” he says when you break apart.

“No, we do, we have to,” you drawl, somber expression contrasting his amused one. “It’s the law, I demand it.”

He huffs, indignant, but offers no further protest. When you look down, your thighs begin quaking as you realize how close his cock already is. You reach down and take it, giving it a firm squeeze around the head and feel him buck into your hand. Eventually, you balance yourself over the head and begin the slow descent into madness.

Because holllyyyy stars, feeling his cock spear you like that is enough to make you become dizzy with pleasure. Still, you made a promise to yourself, so you sink further and work him in deeper. The ridges brush against every nerve ending and you curl your toes, electricity shooting up your spine as you cry out in raw pleasure. Zhongli digs his claws into your hips again and leans forward, snarling at the sensation of you fluttering around him.

By the time you reach the base, you’re a quivering mess; when the god moves his hips to readjust, you openly sob at his cock resting deep and filling you so completely. “Look at you,” he coos, and you feel one hand drag to your stomach. When you look down, you gasp as you see a thick bulge pushing out, marking you in exactly all the ways that Zhongli is filling you. “Taking me so well.”

His fingers drag along your stomach, idly moving in circles. Or diamonds? They feel almost... Purposeful. Hissing, you move forward as you hear him hum something in a language foreign to you while the skin around your belly burns before slowly soothing.

You kiss him again, allowing his tongue to snake in and explore your mouth anew. Deciding to take a page out of his book, you roll your hips against his instead of moving up and down, though he doesn’t seem to mind if the noises he makes are anything to go by.

You can’t help it, you break the kiss and fall forward against his chest and keen when he grabs your hips to begin moving earnestly himself. It’s clear you’re no more than a cocksleeve, legs gone and you can only hold on for the ride. One of your hands winds up to grapple his antlers for stability, prompting greater speed from him. Your voice begins rising in pitch, and the fire within begins burning anew, quick and merciless once again. Zhongli takes one hand and claws his way down your back, marking you and tearing you apart like you’re his prey and you love it. Soon, all you can hear is your heart hammering in your head; you sink further into that dream of bliss, all sense quickly departing except for full –

“One more,” you hear somewhere distant, beckoning. “Grant me one more. Cum for me.”

And that single word yanks you back to the present, growls and moans ringing loud and clear around you as your orgasm tears through you unexpectedly. Oh, how you obey your lord, because that orgasm somehow reaches new heights the previous one didn’t, and you begin openly crying. You register a forked tongue lapping at the salty streaks down your cheeks, but you don’t care, you’re only focusing on your pleasure burning all other thoughts away and rendering you mute. The vivid energy bleeding through you compels your body to release what little wetness you have left, and just barely, Zhongli’s cock pounding away at you glides easier.

You feel nudging at your head, and you roll it to the side instinctually, bearing your throat in submission to lick a hot stripe along your jugular as his hips move faster, singular focus in seemingly rearranging your insides to make more room for him, for all of his godly power. At his final thrust, he sinks his teeth into the crook of your neck and shoulder in determination, but you long ago lost any serious feeling outside of your oversensitive core. Instead, you lift your hand to card through his hair as you feel his hips roll into your own slowly, hellbent on filling you completely.

Zhongli just keeps cumming and cumming, and a nearly unbearable warmth builds low in your stomach, but the amount is enough that it eventually gushes out of around his cock. When he feels wetness seeping out, he release your shoulder and grumbles, soothing the wound with slow licks. One hand caresses the stretched skin of your stomach around his cock again, handling it with the tender care of a doting lover.

Huh. Lover.

You giggle, stupid and dreamy, and Zhongli smiles with you. “Come on, little one,” he says and begins lifting you off. Oversensitive and raw, you both wheeze at the sensation of the ridges catching again until you’re off and empty and – oops. Mixed cum floods out of you; pink dusts your cheeks, but he merely hums and stands with you. The world spins around you as you are placed on the bed with your legs nudged apart. A few moments pass before you feel a warm, damp cloth wiping at your sensitive core and thighs – ah, there are some bite marks there too – and you sigh, perfectly content with all the stress of the day thoroughly fucked out of you.

Though your eyes are closed, you’re still lucid as you feel yourself gently manhandled and lifted. When you’re placed back down, you whine at the loss of the silky cover, left with the downy blanket underneath. “Forgive me, dear bird,” Zhongli laughs, “But I feel you would not appreciate sleeping in our mess.”

“I forgive you,” you say, and open your eyes when you feel the bed dip. Zhongli settles in next to you back in his human form, and of course, perfect as always. Smiling, you move closer to him, making a pleased sound when he takes this opportunity to begin brushing your hair with his fingers.

“We should go to the pharmacy tomorrow for your wounds.”

“Aw, and cover the marks?” You smirk when you hear his breath hitch.

“You cannot say such things to an adeptus, starlight.”

“Oops.” After some minutes, Zhongli stops and rises out of bed. Your hand shoots out to grab his and you look at him pleadingly. “Where are you going?”

“Ah, I am going to brew some tea. Something to soothe the muscles.”

“Of course you are,” you grin and release him. You’re content to let him fuss over you both. Quietly, you hear soft singing emerge from another room, the words foreign to your ears but pleasant nonetheless.

You feel soft inside.

 ---

 “Will you tell me of your friends one day?”

The former Archon stops and looks at you. “My story is a long and complicated one. Entwined with many others.” A red thread.

You nod. “That’s okay,” you hum. “I have all the time in the world.” A pause. “You remember them, yet choose to not be remembered yourself. Left to be debated and fought over. Why?”

Zhongli pulls the blanket over both of you and wraps an arm around you, whispering into your hair like some dirty confession, some dirty sin. “You remember. Is that not enough?”

“I suppose so,” you mumble. What are friends for?  “I hope, before we leave, I can tell your story again and again. Maybe I can move the heavens, make a constellation for you. Permanent and guiding. Even if you don’t want its name remembered, it will still be there.”

He laughs and closes his eyes. She would defy the heavens?

You close your eyes too. After all, that’s what friends do. They remember each other.

 ---

 (Morax’s heart flutters when he hears we. Can he join? Will Celestia allow it?

Certainly, he can collect the wealth of the heavens to pay back Childe, he muses. A practical decision, of course.

Or perhaps Childe can come collect them himself.)

 ---

 Dust is in the air, clouding his vision. The young god coughs and shuffles forward, hand calloused and tight around his stone spear.

Compassion, he muses. She always preached of love, of tenderness. Where was compassion for her?

Morax keeps walking, dust growing thicker and dark like the night. Obsidian lays around him, shimmering with promises of vengeance. He has failed. Guizhong trusted him to lead without her? They were never his people, they were hers. He was merely the guardian, the infallible stone statue.

And now, their Archon.

When he falls to his knees, he feels warm drops fall on his face, only to realize belatedly why – it is blood. The blood of the countless beings he’s slaughtered for her, as her people watched in horror as he attempted to water the earth with it.

Suddenly, he feels a cool breeze pick up. A rolling storm gathers and relentless rain replaces the blood on his face.

His hands remain stained. Cold. Godly.

The rain doesn’t seem to mind.

Before he stands, the water washes away some of the earth in front of him. Morax leans forward to grasp a shimmering stone. The sun’s warmth floods his hands, but he only grips tighter and cradles it close to his chest as he watches the rain pelt the earth.

 ---

 Zhongli’s eyes blink open, though he still feels the weight of sleep and the taste of dust in his mouth. The sun has not quite risen, but the sky turning brighter tells him the world is still asleep. You are still asleep.

His eyes soften as he looks at you hiding your face in the crook of his neck, hands tucked to his chest. However, the dream lingers in his mind, and he can only move forward to wrap tighter as he settles his arm over your body in a protective stance.

A dragon and his hoard.

He remembers Tartaglia’s question. Do you have a hoard, Rex Lapis? Do you safeguard gold? Maybe I can see it one day in your den. How insolent and forward, he thinks fondly.

Though, eventually, his mind strays to your conversation earlier, of his own misgivings about Celestia.

He remembers the last time he tried to hold something so divine – so fragile – in his mighty grip.

“Please,” he murmurs to the empty room. “Please.” Zhongli, for the first time, feels he understands the mortals on their knees before the gods. But he doesn’t pray to Celestia, he prays to her.

He tries to forget how his heart ached when the Snezhnayan ship breached the horizon, gliding on the calm ocean to take its chaos elsewhere. How the sunset took all the light and warmth from Liyue Harbor that day. How fierce and angry you were with him.

Zhongli closes his eyes, resolved in his conviction that, though you may forgive, you will never forget his manipulations of Childe back then. Tartaglia’s insistence on chipping away his stone armor both infuriated and endeared to him, so he respected the Harbinger as a deserving rival. How could the Warrior God do anything less?

You mumble, and he pulls you in closer.

Despite it all, Zhongli begs to keep this moment to himself, away from the burning and punishing gaze of Celestia. He is thankful that you returned to him, thankful you deemed his presence worthy once more, thankful that his wait for the dawn paid off. This is enough, he thinks, just to hold you. This is to protect you – something he failed to do for the last divine he cared for. It’s safer for you.

(It’s safer for him.)

As he coils tighter around you and exhales a deep breath before closing his eyes, he can only pray that this moment remains hidden.

After all, who could forgive an earthly dragon – a God of Greed  - for the sin of stealing one of heaven’s golden stars?

 ---

 In Dihua Marsh, the cresting dawn’s light dances along the earth. The wind whispers to the flora and carries the dusty earth with it, parting the grass to allow the sun to warm the previous cover. Water from a nearby creek has long since fertilized the earth, and there lies a single green sprout.

It’s a glaze lily, the first in many millennia who once belonged to that rare breed that opened only for her.

-

notes:

y'all ever see that image of a hamster eating a very large banana? yeah

1) Baijiu is a type of liquor that originates in China! Furthemore, "zu fu" is the formal term for paternal grandfather in Standard Mandarin, xiangqi is a type of Chinese chess, and feng shui is the principle of decorating one's living space to allow better harmony of all energies within.

2) Up until the past century give or take, it was traditional in ancient China for the emperor to have multiple wives or concubines in order to ensure a male heir. Since Liyue is essentially China and Zhongli was its emperor for 3700 years, I imagine the concept of monogamy to be very foreign to him whenever he desired a lover. As much as i love headcanoning Zhongli as a himbo, i'm pretty sure he's so old-school he doesn't realize his blatant courtships and desires aren't being recognized lol. old himbo?

3) The exchange of betrothal gifts between the families being married is customary before the ritualistic courtships continued, and any partnership without equal exchange (Liyue) was considered extremely dishonorable

4) I wanted to sneak a reference to the fact that zhongli’s story quest is the first one we got that’s not named after his constellation, so his constellation’s name is not important to him, but recording ancient history is

also i appreciate any tips on my writing because fun fact! this is the first time i ever wrote smut _(:3」∠)_ luv y'all

[lihikainanea]

Just (scrumptious) thoughts.

Alright so look, Bill kind of always gets cast to play similar types, right? Tall, creepy thin types. Dudes that look a little out of the ordinary.

But maybe to his delight, after an audition that he left kind of thinking he bombed it, maybe Good Dude Bill gets cast as something very different--a strong, alpha male, buff kind of dude.

And Bill is no stranger to the insane things he sometimes has to do for roles, so maybe when the studio connects him with a dietician, with a trainer who looks like Mad Max, maybe Bill is a little apprehensive but he just dives in full force because that’s what Bill does. And tiger, bless her heart, maybe tiger even books some separate meetings with his dietician just so she can understand what he needs to be eating and when, how she can prepare it for him, etc.

At first, the building stage seems fun. Bill gets to consume like, 8,000 calories a day and he’s even allowed some sweets and treats. It’s just about building mass onto his skinny frame at this point, and consuming massive amounts of calories seems like a lot of fun. But then he gets his meal plan, and he realizes that he just constantly needs to be eating, even if he’s not hungry. Part of his million calories a day means he needs to consume like, 6 chicken breasts. He’s eating every 90 minutes, and halfway through the regime he swears he hasn’t been actually hungry in like, 8 weeks. It’s just not a feeling he feels anymore, when he’s cramming that much food down.

Tiger does her best to make the meals appetizing within the limitations of his diet. And Bill is all heart-eyes, because he’s exhausted from the training and sleeping all the time to help his body heal, and tiger just spends hours in the kitchen food prepping all of his meals and packaging them up. She gets it all ready for him, puts it in little containers, and even goes as far as to put little sticky notes on them with the time that he should be eating which container. It takes her forever, but truth be told for as enthusiastic as Bill was at the beginning--she’s never quite seem him so down and out, so tired, so unenthusiastic about everything.

His last meal he actually needs to be woken up for, because it’s around 11PM when he’s already been asleep for like two hours. Tiger nearly gags for him in sympathy, watching as he attempts to chew a chicken breast and swallow it without hurling. It’s just so much food. 

And it has other effects too--Bill always ran hot, but now his body is like a furnace to the point where tiger can’t even sleep with blankets anymore because he heats the whole bed. He’s beefing out like crazy--it’s not defined muscle at this point, more just sheer bulk, but he’s bigger than she’s ever seen him. He’s always tired and sore, training twice a day, and he just doesn’t have the energy for much anymore. He’s constantly stuffed and uncomfortable and none of his clothes fit anymore.

But you know, after the bulk stage, is the cutting stage. The stage where all of that mass needs to be sculpted and defined into carved muscles. And Bill doesn’t know which one was worse--being force fed everyday, or having his calories cut so drastically that he’s suddenly starving all the time.

Tiger does her best to support him. She doesn’t keep junk in the house, or if she does, she hides it. She tries desperately to add flavour to what little food he’s allowed to eat, but even she struggles to do that when things like butter and salt and oil are off limits. Bill’s diet basically consists of steamed salmon and broccoli, a half a cup of brown rice every other day, salad with cucumbers and no dressing. Tomatoes have carbs and his diet is so ridiculous that he’s allowed one tomato a week, as a treat. Sweets are off limits. Alcohol is off limits. Bill basically has only 5 things that he can eat.

Their weekly dates at restaurants are a dream of long times past--there’s nothing Bill can eat at a restaurant so even though he offers, even though he tells tiger he wants to take her out--she refuses. It would be torture for the poor bastard. Tiger doesn’t order in anymore, and when she wants pizza or junk she head’s over to another friend’s house and orders it there. Maybe they’ve even taken to eating at different times--tiger will sit with Bill while he eats the pitiful portion of bland food on his plate, keep him company, but she’ll eat after. Tiger is all for eating healthy but this is an extreme, and she can’t eat that way--so when Bill is done, hell maybe when he’s sleeping, she’ll sneak out and have her regular meal just so that she doesn’t tempt the poor bastard. The one time she ate a piece of heavily buttered toast in front of him, Bill’s jowls got all droopy and there was basically a puddle of drool on his place mat.

And like, here’s the thing right? Tiger tries her best to be supportive, but maybe one of her colleagues has a birthday coming up and tiger actually likes this colleague. So maybe one night, she bakes a cake--a decadent, fudgy chocolate cake. And she tells Bill to just go to the gym or something, or to lock himself in the bedroom or the office for as long as possible so the scent doesn’t get to him. And Bill has just basically lost his will to live at this point, he’s a walking, calorie-deprived zombie, so he’s completely resigned and he just tells tiger that he doesn’t care anymore. It’s okay kid, I don’t feel things anymore. Emotions require calories and he has none of those to spare. He goes to lie down.

Tiger makes the cake, ices it, covers it all up on the counter and then goes to bed.

But like...Bill is not made of stone. And he has been so good on this regime, but he has a breaking point. He is exhausted, he is sore all the time, he’s starving all the time, and he just...snaps. So maybe one night in the wee hours of the morning, tiger goes to snuggle into him and he’s just....not there. She rubs at her eyes sleepily, leans over the bed and she notices the light is on in the kitchen. Pushing the covers back, she stands and groggily stumbles down the hallway.

And there’s Bill, wrapped in a blanket, chocolate smudged all over his face, chewing calmly as he just digs his fork into the cake. He’s already about one quarter of the way through.

“Billy...” she says, shocked.

“Yeah?” he says casually. Another forkful crammed in his mouth, chocolate crumbs all over his chin.

“Should you be....” and she ain’t even mad. She ain’t mad that Bill is devouring the cake she made for her colleague. Tiger knows a man on the brink of insanity when she sees one.

“Nope,” he answers. Another forkful, another leisurely chew.

“S’good kid, well done,” he says with his mouth full.

Tiger could say a lot of things. She could tell him that he shouldn’t be eating this. She could tell him that it’ll be torture to try and work this out of his body tomorrow. She could tell him that his trainer and dietician will be furious. She could tell him he has worked so hard, that he shouldn’t ruin it like this, she could take the cake away from him and not let him sabotage his hard work.

But tiger knows her Big Dude--knows all the resolve and dedication he has, and she knows when he is at his breaking point. So instead of all the things she could say, she just reaches out and brushes the curl back from his forehead as he shoves in another bite.

“Want a glass of milk?” she asks.

“Mmph,” he grunts.

So she pours two big glasses of whole milk, cold from the fridge, grabs a fork, and she pushes at his blanket. Crawling into his lap, she loops an arm around him and then digs her fork into the cake.

“Oh that is good,” she says, “Damn.”

“Mmph,” he grunts in reply.