#the Abyss agenda on him

[reginrokkr]

Do you ever wonder about how incapacitating the pain Dain felt in the Nameless City must've been (even though he's been dealing with pain for centuries, so he might've gained some pain tolerance) to the point of feeling despair 1) for thinking he's late again to save these Hilichurls and the Black Serpent Knights and 2) because all of them are in agony and he's horribly upset at the notion of them losing their lives with the unjust thought that "this is not how they chose to meet their end". About how his scream to stop that amplification device wasn't to put his own pain to rest, but the others' (he went with the Traveler like a boss through those portals to fight even though he was still in pain, arguing that the pain the others are suffering is greater than his own) and that it was Halfdan who carried it out the order of his captain?

[slydiddledeedee]

some old art - catching up after training

[sleepyorchidmonster]

So, wouldn't it be fun if, when the Cataclysm happens, we temporarily enter a trial stage where we can see what the rest of Teyvat is doing while we're (presumably) in Khaenri'ah?

Like, Paimon makes an off-handed remark about how she hopes our friends are alright before we enter a domain, and next thing you know, we're playing as Jean back in Mondstadt, following her as she orders the knights to defend the city, before finding out to the Cathedral has been targeted and running up the flights of stairs alongside Lisa, Noelle, Mika and Eula. Once they reach the Cathedral, they rush to the basement alongside Barbara, only to find Albert rifling through priceless artifacts.

Then Albert reveals himself to be an Abyss Herald, saying how he spent the past years pretending to be an unsettling Barbara fan so he could be near the Cathedral and figure out the building's layout, as well as learn more about Barbatos.

We then beat him up for it. (I just want an excuse to beat up Albert). And, after the battle is over, Barbara wonders about Rosaria's whereabouts.

Rosaria is currently rushing through Springvale, trying to reach Wolvendom to see if Razor is alright. Diona, Bennet and Fischl are following her, alongside Draff and a few hunters.

They fight alongside Andrius and a pack of wolves, fending off the Abyss, especially the rifthounds (the people of Springvale evacuated to Mondstadt City).

And, just as the next wave of monsters appears, we cut to Dawn Winery, where Diluc, Kaeya and Amber are protecting the estate. (Assuming Kaeya is in Mond and not fighting his demons back in Khaenri'ah).

Meanwhile, in Dragonspine, Albedo, Mona, Klee and Sucrose are fending off a bunch of Abyssal monsters with the help of Albedo's siblings (there's an entire pack of rifthounds circling the group in a protective manner).

Then we hear an earth-shattering roar and a revived Durin suddenly takes to the sky, starting the final segment of the Mond Cataclysm fight, where we accompany Dvalin, Durin and Venti in a battle in the skies, the old foes now allies.

Then we jump from region to region, finding out how our friends are doing while the world burns to the ground.

Notable mentions that I'll probably include in another post at a later date include:

- Qiqi healing Millelith soldiers while Keqing fends off the Abyss;

- Hu tao, Shenhe and Baizhu dealing with restless spirits in Wuwang Hill;

- Rhodeia single-handledly protecting Qingce Village with a thousand Hydro mimics;

- The Akitsu Kimodameshi Youkai children attempting to protect other kids in Hanamizaka, and when that almost fails, Itto and Yoimiya swoop in to protect the kids;

- Sara, Heizou, Kokomi and Gorou working together to fend off monsters coming from the Dark Sea to Watatsumi, with Raiden on the frontlines;

- Yae sending out fox spirits to protect Narukami Island from atop the Shrine;

- Xiao, Yelan and Yanfei fighting at the Chasm;

- Wanderer fighting alongside the Pari before returning to Sumeru city to help Nahida;

- Nahida and the Aranara coordinating efforts to protect and guide all the people of Sumeru, be if by offering protection or providing oasis and safe havens;

- The Akasha being temporarily back so the entire regionof Sumeru is connected, with eremites and people from the rainforest sharing knowledge, be it the location of enemies, evacuation routes or first-aid tips. The children and elderly are also swapping stories, to calm each other down and avoid panicking;

- Nilou is guarding the Sanctuary of Surasthana, not that anyone is getting near Sumeru city, what with the green shield of Dendro and Apep looming in the background;

- Lyney and Lynette looking for Freminet, only to see a gigantic hydro construct of Pers fighting a Wolflord alongside the Salon Solitaire (Freminet and Furina besties agenda);

- Enemies such as Treasure Hoarders and Fatui fighting alongside the playable characters against the Abyss.

[scribblestatic]

Eyo, back on my amputee!SY agenda bullshit

Lesgo.

Prev: Part 2

---

When Luo Binghe married Shen Yuan, he was named the First Husband. But now, with his new crowning, he'll become the Empress, a position given to none of Luo Binghe's wives, not even in PIDW. Though, he's already come to terms with the fact the world isn't the same as the book.

Mostly. It's still perhaps a bit too easy for him to suggest torture for someone despite his modern world sensibilities because it's easier to think of anyone facing against his husband (AAAAAAAAAA) as some no-name NPC rather than someone with a whole life full of experiences.

But anyway, he's becoming an empress. Which is wild to him.

And it dusts up a lot of his insecurities. And not, like, the kind where someone asks their significant other if they would still love them if they were a worm. No, it's more along the lines of, "Hey, would you still love me if it turned out my soul wasn't transmigrated at all, but was simply, like, disconnected from itself and I really am Shen Jiu, but I also lived as and firmly feel like I'm Shen Yuan, but some piece of me really had done all those terrible things to make your innocent life more miserable?"

He pops the question while Binghe's combing oil through his hair, his left eye gazing anxiously at the bronze mirror to look at the demon emperor's expression.

Luo Binghe thinks, humming a little as he doesn't falter while combing his hair.

"...Would Shizun love me if I killed some of my wives?"

"Huh?"

"Would A'Yuan love me if I killed some of my wives?"

"I mean...sure? I'm sure you'd have a reason for it."

"Then, would A'Yuan hate me if I killed and ate demons in the Endless Abyss?"

"What? No. Survival was extremely difficult. You only did what you had to do."

"And if I still had a taste for demon flesh?"

Shen Yuan's face scrunches, but his response is still immediate.

"Then, I suppose we could find which ones you liked? I mean, I don't think I could do it with you, and we'd need to respect their personhood. So, maybe we could find a group where cannibalism is a norm for them? I think that'd be difficult...ah! We could also see if the Red-Dipped Manfruit could be bred to taste like the demon's flesh. Demons that eat humans use it for minor sustenance when natural human flesh isn't available, so surely--"

Ah, his expression had scrunched more with thought than disgust. Luo Binghe doesn't interrupt as he goes on his continued tangent, smiling as he listens. He only speaks again after he seems to be trailing to another subject.

"Then," he pauses, leaning forward and looking down at Shen Yuan, "if A'Yuan can love this one as I am, even at my ugliest, how could this emperor not love my A'Yuan at his most beautiful?"

Shen Yuan stares up at him, his lips slightly open as he listens, as he sees the depths of the light and love in Binghe's dark eyes.

"Even if you are Shen Jiu, back then, this disciple wanted the affection you now freely give. I have always cared for and about you, for better or worse. And your attention was always on me, for better or worse. This Binghe likes to think that, now, we care for each other, not just for the better, but for the best."

"Ah..."

Shen Yuan stares up a bit longer before he quickly turns away. Binghe puts the comb down as he hears a sniffle, and when he kneels beside his seat, he pushes the long, inky black hair away from Shen Yuan's eye, catching sight of his ruddy cheeks and the mistiness in his eye.

"...Shameless."

"Indeed, I am. A'Yuan should punish me."

He just shakes his head, and he doesn't lean away when Binghe leans forward and kisses his lips. They linger softly, pulling apart slowly as they share each other's breathes. Their faces remain too close for them to see each other properly, lips still just barely touching.

"...Then, I'll only kiss you two more times," Shen Yuan mumbles.

Luo Binghe chuckles.

"How cruel."

They only remember to get back to combing Shen Yuan's hair several minutes later.

--

The remains of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect had not been invited to Shen Yuan's crowning ceremony, but they still heard of it happening regardless.

Demons, previously unaccustomed to some of the more casual aspects of living with their means more easily available, and humans, always seeking new methods of entertainment, became very entranced with the gossip surrounding Demon Emperor Luo's harem. The fact pieces of it were steadily dissolving had originally been a gripe against him, as though he was losing his touch. However, when some of the wives were members of their own race or species and they returned without harm and with a hefty sum of money, well, the bridges hadn't been burned, and suddenly, "losing his touch" simply became "being less loose" or "finding lasting love."

So now, with the crowning ceremony ramping up, of course the gossip mills were churning at rapid speeds. Eventually, word of who would become empress despite the emperor's known track record of wives was absolutely scandalous.

"His shizun, of all people?"

"The one he had imprisoned, even."

"Must've driven the man mad."

"I don't know... I saw them recently. Shen Qingqiu looked quite sane."

"He has no limbs and is missing an eye, he can't be that sane anymore."

"He certainly wasn't groveling. If anything, he seemed quite untouched. Save for...well..."

"His eye is quite sharp, and he is quick-witted. I don't think he would be bad for an empress."

"The cultivation sects are going to implode."

And, just like the news of the crowning ceremony spread around, so too did the news that Cang Qiong Mountain Sect sent a letter to Demon Emperor Luo, demanding an audience in light of his proposal to a lord from their sect.

It was, to many demons and a few humans, a wasted, and perhaps misguided, effort. Yet, they wouldn't protest against the meeting.

It would be incredibly entertaining, after all.

---

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3: here Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Part 11+: links on Part 10

AO3

[exololyunho]

vacation

masterlist

summary: a trip to the beach with your boyfriend and his best friend definitely doesn't go how you thought it would, but boy are you happy the way things turned out

pairing: jeong yunho/reader/song mingi

genre: smut with the barest amount of plot

wc: 4.2k

warnings: m/m/f, oral sex (m and f receiving), unprotected sex, morning sex, lots of kissing, tipsy sex, definitely not enough kink negotiation, choking, spanking, soft dom!mingi, hardish dom! yunho, bossy yunho, threesome, creampie, double penetration, big dick yungi, finger sucking, voyeurism, bf!mingi

rating: mature

an: I will never stop with my 'yungi have fucked girls together before' agenda. also this is a request I got from @minkysmilk like a year ago I am so sorry it took so long but I hope I did a good job

taglist: @staytinyinmybpack@jeonride@becky4733107-blog@ignoretheskies

join the taglist here

“Babe,” Mingi’s finger poked into your cheek. “We’re here.”

With a yawn, you opened your eyes. The backseat of Yunho’s car was incredibly comfortable and you’d slept all 3 hours it took to get from you and Mingi’s shared apartment to Yunho’s parent’s beach house. 

Mingi was smiling at you through the rolled down passenger side window. He reached down to poke you again, but you swatted his hand away, grumbling about how you were up. It took a lot of effort to push yourself up and crawl out the door Mingi opened for you. 

Stepping out into the driveway, you couldn’t help but smile at the pastel blue cottage before you. When Yunho had said his parents owned a house at the beach, your brain had conjured pictures of a concrete and steel modern monstrosity. The quaint building before you was nothing like your image. It was small, no more than a 2 bedroom house decorated with seashells and flower bushes and large windows to let in the natural light.

As you stood marveling at the adorable house before you, Mingi was unloading the bags and groceries from the trunk and Yunho was walking out of the little alcove that hid the red front door.

“Welcome to home for the week, sleepy head,” Yunho grinned at you, moving to help Mingi grab bags.

“Yun, this is so cute!” You followed the two men, grabbing the last case of beer out of the trunk and shutting it. Walking inside after them, you gasped, loving the cute interior just as much as the outside. The walls were cream and the seashells of the outside were replaced by paintings of the very same ocean you could see outside the sliding glass doors that led to the back deck.

The cottage was everything you could ever want. The only problem, which Yunho had warned you and Mingi about beforehand, was the issue of the bedrooms. Specifically, the single bedroom. Yunho had volunteered to take the couch while you and Mingi would get the bed.

The rest of the evening was unremarkable, with Yunho ordering a few pizzas, and all of you hitting the sack early, so as to get the most out of the beach the next day.

When the sun was just peaking through the blinds, you felt Mingi nudge you. Rolling to face him, you were greeted with a kiss. It was lazy, slow, and everything you loved about Mingi in the mornings. 

His tongue nudged its way into your mouth, tangling with yours in a way that had your thighs pressing together. It wasn’t long before he was gently pushing you onto your back. Mingi moved to lay between your legs, your bodies pressed together while his lips still claimed yours. He was incredibly hard, grinding softly against you and letting out small sighs against your lips.

Growing impatient and increasingly turned on, your hands hurriedly pushed up the oversized shirt he was wearing, and the two of you parted for him to remove it before his lips were crashing back onto yours. 

The slow, sensual mood was gone, replaced by eagerness that had you both shrugging off your bottoms as fast as possible. Once they had been kicked away into the abyss of the comforter, you were reaching for Mingi’s dick to line him up.

“Wait, babe,” he panted, pulling back for a moment with a pout on his lips. “I wanted to eat you out.”

“Later,” you pulled his mouth back down to yours. “I want you inside me.”

He groaned, complying. Mingi hitched your thigh up on his hip and pushed inside you. Your back arched as he filled you. Before you started dating Mingi, you had no idea dicks actually came in his size. He was huge, longer and thicker than you thought possible. You’d never fancied yourself a size queen, but the way he practically split you in half every time you had sex was mind blowing.

This time was no different. Even with his hips rolling into you slowly, you could feel every vein and ridge on him. It was all you could do to keep from screaming from pleasure.

Mingi’s lips dropped down to your neck, nibbling and sucking along your pulse point in a way that had you shivering. Your nails were digging into his back, scrambling to get a grip that would help you anchor yourself to reality. 

As he picked up the pace and the force behind his thrusts, small noises began to be forced through your open lips. Mingi’s right hand, which had previously been clenched  in the sheets by your head, moved to cover your mouth.

“Shhhh, baby,” his lips were pressed to your ear. “We don’t want Yunho to hear.”

You didn’t want that. At least, you thought you didn’t until you felt yourself involuntarily tightening around Mingi at the mention of his best friend’s name.

“Oh?” Clearly, he had caught on. “Do you want him to listen to me fuck you? Want him to hear how well you take me? Or would you rather him see you like this, all needy and clenching on my cock when you hear his name?” 

Mingi had your earlobe between his teeth as he whispered filthy things in your ear. His hand over your mouth was quickly becoming not enough to hold back your noises, so he settled for slipping his middle and index fingers between your lips to press down on your tongue. 

“Maybe you want him to fuck you,” one thing you knew about Mingi was once he got an idea in his head, there was no getting it out. “Taking us both would probably break you, baby. Maybe I’d let him fuck your pussy while I fuck your mouth. How does that sound, huh?”

He’d moved back to ravishing your neck, no doubt leaving bites and hickeys that you wouldn’t be able to cover up. You wished you could care in the moment, but you were overwhelmed. Every part of you was floating on cloud 9. His lips on your neck, his fingers in your mouth, his filthy words, his hard thrusts inside you, and the weight of him over you was just too much.

With a loud whine, you came. The feeling rocked over you, causing you to spasm tightly around him. He bit down harshly on your shoulder at the feeling, giving a few more harsh thrusts that had you moaning around his fingers before he came as well, filling you up. 

Mingi removed his fingers and the two of you laid in silence for a moment, panting and holding onto each other. You couldn't speak for Mingi, but your mind was racing with so many new thoughts. You’d always thought Yunho was attractive, but it had never crossed your mind that sex with him was even an option before Mingi planted the seed in your head. You also knew that this had to be something Mingi was thinking about before and you definitely needed to talk about it.

Before you could, though, there was a knock at the door. Both you and Mingi jolted up. Yunho was on the other side. He cleared his throat before announcing “breakfast’s ready!” and hurriedly walking away.

You and Mingi just stared at each other before scurrying out of bed to clean up.

Throughout the rest of the day, you and Mingi just couldn’t seem to find the right time to talk about the Yunho thing. Something as simple as a morning quickie had completely changed the way you saw your boyfriend’s best friend. You didn’t just see Yunho anymore, now you saw his towering height, the curve of his neck, his long and slim fingers, his lean and powerful thighs, that bulge between his legs that made you wonder-

No. no. no.

Fucking Song Mingi had made it impossible for you to act normal, all because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

You kept finding your eyes drifting to Yunho. Sure you were also ogling your boyfriend, but when it came time to head down to the beach and both men removed their shirts to pass a football around, your eyes lingered on Yunho.

These new feelings were incredibly confusing. It took you almost three hours of blankly staring at the pages of your book while lounging in the sand to come to a conclusion. 

No, you did not want to leave Mingi for Yunho.

Yes, you wanted to have sex with Yunho.

No, this did not mean you were a terrible girlfriend.

And yes,  you really did need to talk to Mingi about this.

Unfortunately, you never got a chance before shit hit the fan.

Between everyone taking their turns to shower, and the three of you deciding on a restaurant for dinner that evening, you never found yourself alone with Mingi for more than a few minutes.

You did, however, find yourself alone with Yunho while Mingi showered. Standing in the kitchen, you sipping a pre-dinner beer while scrolling through your phone. When you heard footsteps approaching, you assumed it was your boyfriend, only to choke on the mouthful of fizzy liquid when Yunho strode in instead.

He gave you a quizzical look. “You ok, Y/n?”

“Yeah,” you coughed out, setting down the bottle and patting your chest.

Yunho grabbed his own beer, settling against the kitchen island and across from you. As his lips met the opening, taking a swig before his eyes scanned you. You’d chosen a simple pair of denim shorts and an oversized, cropped t-shirt. The night was warm and the restaurant you were going to was casual. Yunho had chosen a similar outfit. His jeans were wonderfully fitted and emphasized his wonderfully toned legs and his wonderfully outlined bulge that you were fleetingly glancing over, making sure to keep your eyes from lingering. His black shirt outlined his broad shoulders and created perfect contrast with his brown mullet.

As your eyes met his again, there was something in them that you couldn’t quite place. His gaze was striking, almost hungry. It stoked a fire in you that made something in you burn. You couldn’t figure out if the fire was in your cheeks, your chest, or between your thighs.

Yunho opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Mingi sauntered in, shaking his wet hair dressed in a button down and loose fitting jeans. He came to a stop next to Yunho. The two of them made a gorgeous pair. The contrast of their similar but very different outfits, and of Yunho’s brown mullet and Mingi’s shaggy black hair.

One thing about them was scarily similar, and that was how they looked at you. Yunho’s gaze was the same as it had been before Mingi walked in but now Mingi’s matched. You’d seen that look in his eyes many times when you were supposed to go out to dinner. Usually, though, that look meant you wouldn’t make it out of the front door.

Your throat was dry and you downed what was left of your beer.

“Well,” you cleared your throat, setting the empty bottle on the counter behind you. “Let’s get going.”

The restaurant was open air with beautiful views of the fading sun and the ocean. The three of you were sitting at a high top table on the edge of the patio. Within the hour, the three of you were laughing, the guys telling stories about each other growing up, glasses and plates littering the table. The air was jovial, other occupied tables also laughing and conversing among each other and the waiters carrying cups and bottles.

“And then,” Mingi was gasping with laughter. “And then Yunho ate absolute shit falling off the bench. He fell face first into the sand. I swear to god he was picking sand out of his nose for weeks!”

The table exploded in laughter, Yunho was chuckling through his hands that were covering his burning face. 

“God, that was awful,” Yunho reached over the table to shove Mingi, who was busy wiping his tears away with the hand that wasn’t wrapped around your waist.

More stories followed, accompanied by more drinks. Before long, it was late and the three of you were paying and then making your way back to the beach house.

You made it back to the beach house just after 10pm, but none of you were ready for bed. So, with all three of you desiring to continue the fun, Mingi grabbed three beers and the three of you settled in the living room. 

Before long, with just enough alcohol to loosen tongues to the point of no return, the topic of sex was brought up. Specifically, a part of Yunho and Mingi’s sexual history you weren’t aware of previously.

“So, that’s how we ended up tag teaming a girl for the first time,” Yunho shrugged as if the story of how the best friends picked up a girl at a drunken house party and then took her home to rock her world wasn’t information that had you practically soaking your shorts. 

Your eyes met Mingi’s and you weren’t sure if it was the alcohol, or if you could actually read each other's thoughts. All that was coursing through your mind was the sex you had with Mingi this morning. The way he had asked if you wanted Yunho to watch you, to touch you, to fuck you.

“Speaking of our… old activities,” Mingi turned to face Yunho. “One more time?”

You couldn’t see Mingi’s face with how intently you were staring at Yunho’s, but you could tell from his voice that his eyebrow was raised and he had that dangerous smirk pulling at his lips.

“I’m not opposed,” Yunho’s eyes were raking over you with an intensity that made you shudder. “I’d love a taste.”

“I’m sure she would, too,” Mingi turned back to face you, his hand slipping to your inner thigh.

Both men looked to you expectantly. You were quivering under the intense gazes of your boyfriend and the new object of your affection. It took you a moment to realize they were waiting for an answer to their proposition.

“Yeah,” your voice was weak on the first try. “Yes. Yes I want you to…”

“Want us to do what?” Yunho’s voice was deeper than before, his eyes dark, and his tongue wetting his lips in anticipation.

Your mouth was dry, unlike between your thighs. “I want both of you to… to fuck me.”

Matching evil grins spread across both of their faces. Mingi dragged you from his side to sit between him and Yunho. Your back was to Mingi’s chest as you sat between his legs, his left hand on your stomach and his right hand holding your thighs open to Yunho. You were still dressed, but with the way Yunho was staring at you intently, you were sure that would change very quickly.

One of his hands gently slid up your calf, coming to a stop at your knee to gauge your reaction. You could only watch his hand with bated breath, both of yours clutching at Mingi’s pants.

Seeing no resistance, Yunho’s hands moved higher up your thighs until they landed on the waistband of your shorts. To match Yunho’s movements, Mingi’s hands moved to the hem of your shirt, slowly lifting it over your head as Yunho popped the button and slowly slid down the zipper. Mingi gently guided you to lift your hips, allowing Yunho to slide the shorts down over your legs.

You were left in your bra and underwear, chest already heaving as Yunho scanned you from top to bottom all over again. His hands rested on your thighs, his very large hands that were nearly spanning across them entirely. Even as you watched Yunho, you found yourself still surprised when his grip on your legs tightened and he was jerking you down. Your head now rested between Mingi’s legs, with your own thrown over Yunho’s legs.

Without hesitation, Yunho was over you, his face inches from yours. Your mouth was agape with shock, the pressure of his body, more specifically his erection was leaving you speechless. 

He was grinning, letting you just lay underneath him for a moment longer. Until Yunho’s lips came crashing down onto yours. Unlike the slow way Mingi would build up to intense kisses, Yunho offered you no such mercy. His kisses were intense from the get-go, his lips harshly claiming yours, his tongue stroking out to caress yours, his hands digging to whatever skin he could reach. Before you knew it you were arching up into Yunho, grasping at his shoulders as soft whines escaped you.

Just when you were ready for more, Yunho pulled away. You were panting, staring up at him when Mingi’s hand slipped beneath you, quickly unclasping your bra, before pulling it off, revealing even more of you to Yunho’s wandering eyes. Those eyes didn’t move from your breasts as he reached down to remove your underwear. 

It was exhilarating to find yourself completely naked between two of the sexiest men you’ve ever seen, who are also fully clothed.

“Let’s move to the bedroom, baby,” Mingi’s hands moved beneath your shoulder blades to lift you up into a sitting position. From there, he took your hand, helping you up as Yunho watched, hungrily.

As Mingi led you into the hallway you glanced over your shoulder at Yunho, only to find his hand swinging toward your ass. You heard the slap before you felt it, the sharp sting shooting though you right to between your legs.

A squeak left your lips followed by a gasp followed by a moan when Yunho dragged you back against him, one hand coming up to grasp your breast, tweaking your nipple. Your eyes slipped shut as Yunho’s hand on your breast moved down to circle your clit as his other hand grasped your throat. 

“Fuck,” Mingi muttered under his breath. His voice drew your eyes open. You found him palming himself through his pants, his lip between his teeth as he watched his best friend holding your bare body tight against his.

Yunho continued his ministrations while you made eye contact with Mingi. Soon, you were shaking and whining, so close to cumming. But then his hands left you.

“Wha-”

You were interrupted by Yunho stepping back and slapping your ass once again. You jolted forward, reaching out to grab on to Mingi to stop yourself from falling. He caught you, turning you to face Yunho.

“Go get on the bed,” Yunho’s voice was incredibly deep. You would have been pissed at the way he was ordering around if you weren’t so turned on and close to cumming you’d trade your first born for an orgasm. “Hands and knees.”

When you hesitated for a moment, he quirked an eyebrow at you. “Or we can just go to bed if that’s what you’d prefer?”

Shaking your head you turned, moving past Mingi into the open bedroom door. Once inside, you took a shaky breath, readying yourself for the absolute experience you were about to have.

As you moved into the position Yunho ordered, you heard the muffled voices of Mingi and Yunho whispering in the hallway. It abruptly ended and both men entered the room. You were facing the head of the bed, facing away from the door, but that just meant that your exposed pussy was directly in front of the door.

You didn’t dare look behind you as both men walked in, keeping your eyes focused ahead, strictly on the headboard. The door shut and you waited with bated breath to see what they would do. A few moments passed before the bed shifted behind you and lips landed on your ass cheek. They left a few kisses before biting into the reddened flesh. You gasped at the pain but before you could process it, the teeth were gone, replaced by a tongue that was poking into your folds. The feeling was incredible and you released a moan of relief.

The tongue alternated between circling your clit and thrusting inside of you. It was bringing you nonstop pleasure, but just being inconsistent enough to keep you on the edge. Within a few moments of the mystery man starting, you were whimpering, begging for more. 

“Please, please,” your eyes were shut tight, your head hanging.

A hand fisted in your hair, pulling your head back up.

“Please what, baby?” Mingi was on the bed before you, and he was naked. That meant Yunho was the one eating you out.

“Please let me cum.”

Mingi smiled, guiding his hard dick to your mouth as Yunho moved his tongue to solely focus on your clit, two of his fingers sliding deep inside you and curling down into your g-spot. You managed to cum nearly immediately when Yunho applied consistent pressure to your clit. 

Your eyes rolled shut as your orgasm washed over you. The feeling was intense, everything you had been hoping for. It felt like you were drowning. The combination of Mingi’s length in your mouth certainly helped extend it. It was so hot, to be kneeling on the bed, your boyfriend’s dick in your mouth while another man ate you out. 

Mingi’s hooded eyes were on you, his hand still in your hair as you came down. With your senses returning, you were able to really focus on blowing him. Your tongue circled around the tip before you took as much of him down as you could, only managing about three quarters before your throat spasmed in protest.

With your attention on Mingi, you nearly forgot Yunho was there. Until you felt the head of his cock pressing against your folds. Your eyes went wide as he pushed in. Of course he was just as big as Mingi. It felt like you were being split open by his dick. If someone asked you to guess how long his dick was based on feel alone, you’d guess two feet long. 

It took your breath away as Yunho bottomed out. Your watering eyes were still on Mingi as you did your best to blow him the way you knew he liked.

However, once Yunho started thrusting, it was game over. As he slowly drew out of you for the first time, you really felt every ridge and vein. If you thought Yunho was going to go easy on you at first, you were wrong. 

He harshly thrust back into you, forcing a decidedly unsexy noise from your throat as the head of his dick just barely hit your cervix. He started moving faster but still just as powerful, playing with the angle until he directly hit your g-spot. You nearly collapsed, your eyes rolling back.

“That’s the spot,” you could practically hear the wicked smirk on Yunho’s face as he adjusted to hit that spot on every thrust.

With you being lost in the pleasure, unable to continue effectively sucking Mingi’s dick, he took over, thrusting into your mouth. That left both men on either end of you, simply using your body for their own pleasure, and subsequently pushing your own pleasure higher and higher. 

The sound of Yunho’s grunts and Mingi’s soft moans and muttered curses were music to your ears. It was incredible to hear the effect you were having on them.

You were jerked back to reality when Yunho’s sweaty chest pressed against your back, his lips pressing to your ear and one hand wrapping around your throat again.

“I heard you two this morning,” he nipped at your earlobe. “Mingi asking you if you wanted me to fuck you, and all you can do is moan and cum.”

You were clenching up at his words.

“You wanted me that badly, huh? Well now you’ve got me. How does my dick feel, darling?” His hips jerked brutally into you, and you spasmed around him, moaning lewdly onto Mingi.

“That’s what I thought,” Yunho leaned back, his hand leaving your throat and moving down to your clit. “Now, be good and cum while we fill you up.”

Both him and Mingi picked up the pace, panting and pushing hard into you to chase their own pleasure. You were chasing your own, moving back against Yunho’s thrusting while he mapped out tight circles on your clit.

The pressure in your stomach was mounting as each rotation brought you closer and closer until, finally, you came once more. The feeling washed over you, even more intense than your previous orgasm. Fireworks were shooting behind your closed lids as your high kept cresting. With Yunho not slowing his thrusting or rubbing your clit and Mingi still using your mouth, it seemed like you never stopped cumming. Your arms were shaking as the feeling overwhelmed you.

Your spasming and moaning around both of the men had pushed them to the brink as well. Mingi came first, his final stuttering moan accompanying one last thrust into your mouth before he came. You swallowed his release, your body moving before your mind could catch up.

Yunho followed close behind, encouraged by how you rhythmically clenched around him and the noises Mingi made as you swallowed around him. His thrusts were sporadic as he came inside of you, gripping your hips tightly, holding you against him.

As all three of you came down, both of the men slowly pulled out of you, their hands careful to keep you from just collapsing. They let you lay down, Mingi brushing your hair out of your face as he laid on your right, Yunho on your left.

“Fuck,” was all you could say.

“Yeah, fuck.”

[petervintonjr]

"As black America approaches the 21st century, our capacity or our failure to build a solid bridge . . . of works will determine whether millions of young blacks already with us or yet unborn will cross over into the new century, or fall into the abyss."

Another name you almost certainly didn't know: M. (Moses) Carl Holman, civil rights activist, writer, and poet. Born in 1919 St. Louis, Holman showed an early gift for writing, and at the age of 19 won a scriptwriting award from a popular syndicated radio program. He graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University and went on to acquire Master's degrees from the University of Chicago and from Yale. While at Yale he published his first collection of poems, and began regularly writing articles for various newspapers and magazines on income inequity, urban poverty, literacy, and other issues important to Black Americans. In 1962 he taught English at Clark College in Atlanta, giving him a front-row seat to key events in the earliest days of the civil rights movement. As some of his students participated in sit-ins and the Freedom Rides, he found himself appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, of which he eventually became deputy director in 1966.

In 1968 Ebony magazine named Holman as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. That same year Holman published what is probably his best-known work: The Baptizin', a play which won first prize in the National Community Theater Festival. In addition to multiple collections of poems, Holman also published a definitive overview of the civil rights movement in the U.S., from 1965 to 1975.

Perhaps most significantly, in 1971 Holman was named Vice President of the National Urban Coalition. This organization had re-formed in 1967 in the wake of the so-called "long, hot summer" of racial strife and injustices. During this time Holman's singular talent for delivering quiet and polite, but still powerful, speeches came to the fore and he jumpstarted a great many local housing, education, job training, and economic development programs aimed at disadvantaged Black and Hispanic communities.

In his later years Holman forcefully addressed the issue of "dual literacy" for Black children --emphasizing that such students not only needed to be well-versed not only in the fundamentals such as reading, writing, and public speaking; but also in math, science, and technology. His 1988 obituary notes that Holman "had an uncanny ability to form a coalition out of the most diverse elements, and it was often said that the key to his ability to do this was the fact that he never appeared to have an agenda for himself."

(Teachers: Need some resources to engage your students this Black History Month? I'll send you a pile of these trading cards, no cost, no obligation. Just give me a mailing address and let me know how many students in your class. No strings attached, no censorship, no secret-relaying-of-names to Abbott or DeSantis or HuckaSanders.)

[sol-consort]

Javik following you around the ship during the first weeks of recruiting him. Less of a lost puppy case and more of an unofficial guard dog—well more akin to a bear...prothean, god, who imprinted on you?

Always two steps behind, observing you with eerie focus as you make yourself a sandwich in the ship kitchen, lick the spoon, wash the dishes. He always sits the closest to you in the shuttle—he joined the mission out of his own initiative, no one told him to—the usual adrenaline filled atmosphere between your crew turning deadly quiet as everyone in the shuttle stays on their best behavior around the prothean.

You kept wondering if it's like a hatching chick case, is the first face a prothean fresh out of the pod gazes upon the one they imprint on?

But no... that's not right. It wasn't you who opened the cryopod after all. It was James. Well, technically, Liara unlocked it, but James lifted the cover himself. you were the third person to meet him.

It wasn't an isolated incident; the Normandy crew as a whole seemed to be walking on eggshells. Everyone was too aware of the four eyed elephant in the room.

The last time anyone tried small talk with Javik, it would quickly go into a direction no one was expecting. Harmless subjects like favourite food were turned into discussion of hanar and salarian meat inspired dishes, attempting to bond over sports lead to him describing the creative fun games of his time period where you abandoned entire teams on a barren planet and left them to fend for themselves, cannibalism ensured, winners were scarce, mostly scarred.

Before it could reach the point where you feared you'd wake up to his face next to you in bed first thing in the morning, you decided to confront him...delicately, of course, with the grace only a cunning human is capable of.

"Javik, why do you keep following me around like we're attached at the hip?"

It's like you could taste the vacuum of space outside the airlock already.

He stared at you, each set of eyes blinking in unison.

"Your company is not as ville inducing as the other primitves. You're not as repulsive to the eyes, either.

Oh.

Oh.

That is the kindnest thing you've heard him say since defrosting him from the fridge.

So what if he sees no point in leaving the room while you're changing because "you primitve humans used to walk around in flimsy fur tatters nearly nude all the time."

At least, he likes you enough to want to stay by your side. You're one of the few lifelines he has left to anchor him into reality—besides his vengeance. To help him adjust and find out where he fits into this strange universe.

For his last memory was a war-plagued galaxy, the destruction of an entire civilisation which thought itself invincible, his civilisation.

Forced to come to terms with the cruel reality of being the only survivor, the last flame left standing in the aftermath of the storm. One pillar to carry the burden of a tremendous legacy, the weight of a long-gone world on his shoulders.

Friends, family, lovers, leaders, heroes, villains, all dead. Ereased, his people's history rewritten and misremembered by the same asari they uplifted, kept hidden by a power-hungry government to further push their agenda, slaves to their own pride.

With time, he'll eventually warm up to the others. Maybe you just happened to remind him of someone he knew long ago, another commander he looked up to, once upon a time. But for now, if serving as his personal emotional support human, a safety blanket in this terrifying abyss of unkown, is what it takes to grant a resemblance of a peace of mind to this soul, the last of his kind, then so be it.

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

Natlan Archon Quest 5.1 Thoughts and Theories

Compared to the last archon quest, this was a major step up for me in all aspects. There was a sense of grandness to it all, especially with the music and animation. Also, I'm so weak for Capitano you guys. His voice 😍🥵 alright I'll stop. But my Capitano agenda is far from over.

Spoilers below

Boy oh boy did I enjoy seeing everyone rally together to fight the Abyss. And the Abyss I felt was a pretty legitimate threat. (side note: i'm glad they didn't make us wait for the next patch to see the actual battle). The map was consumed by Abyssal power, reminding me of that one Enkanomiya event. And people died. You'd get to sites with people and everyone would be gone. It was lowkey chilling and Genshin really has stepped up in terms of how dark it wants the story to be. Chasca's sister, Chuychu, didn't make it. Their final words to each other were really heartfelt and it was sad to watch them say goodbye.

On a much lighter note, the cutscenes of Mavuika and the six heroes using their powers was soooo freaking cool, especially with the music. Side note, I'm glad they didn't shove the Traveler in as the final hero since this wasn't their fight technically. I loved seeing Mavuika use all her abilities and create that giant starburst thing in the sky to fight the Abyss. It gave me major Endgame vibes ngl. I was having a blast. This quest also made me really love Mavuika. She cares so deeply about her people and home that she'd sacrifice herself to save it all. It's a heavy price, but she's willing to pay it. Aside from Mavuika's selfless nature, she also looked epic when she fought the Abyss in the sky.

The new characters in general I really enjoyed, especially Ororon. I do like his design and I love how his voice tone changes from serious to almost childish when talking to Citlali. And his lore is really fascinating since he has an incomplete soul. Citlali gives me major Faruzan energy, but she has a beautiful design and she's pretty relatable imo with her awkwardness. I liked her a lot. Xilonen had a lot of charisma imo. Although I haven't figured out how to use her on the field during her playable segments.

And Capitano. My gosh did this man become very interesting. Not only is he Khaenri'ahn, but apparently his face is rotting from living for so long AND he knows Dain. He's a lot more tragic than I initially expected, having lost everything and everyone to the cataclysm. And out of all the Harbingers, alongside Childe (maybe Arlecchino with the HoH), he's definitely one of the more altruistic ones. His methods were extreme, but at the end of the day, he wanted to save Natlan, having lost so much already. Capitano was willing to put aside his own pride with his plan and listen to Mavuika's, helping her and the others defend their home. He even gave her all his soldiers to have for reinforcements. He's not driven by evil the way Dottore is or is vengeful to a destructive degree like Scaramouche. He's honorable and driven by the pain of his past. Vengeance too probably, but he didn't wipe Natlan clean to save it.

The lore was also fascinating. To talk to the Lord of the Night was really cool and I loved getting to know more about Teyvat as a whole. Btw, the "sky is fake" claim is finally proven true.

Overall, I was very satisfied with this Archon quest and could honestly watch a whole show on Natlan trying to fend off the Abyss. It reminds me of the Long Night but significantly better executed on almost all fronts (music still slapped).

Going forward, I definitely think we will see Mavuika die but either it won't be in the typical way or she will return in another form like Furina. Given how she's playable, Hoyo will find the loophole. But yeah, Mavuika will have to pay a heavy price. And it appears Capitano will as well. He still has his "final foe" to face and Ronova apparently sent him on his journey. Of course, the price for messing with death your own life, which Mavuika will have to pay. It seems like whatever Capitano is asking of the Lord of Night also will either lead to his own demise or some sort of demise. Either way, both characters are going to be facing a heavy price. I'm really excited to see the final face off with the Abyss and what will become of both Capitano and Mavuika.

The sky being fake caught my eye specifically because the edges of the hole and the void are reminiscent of the power used by the unknown god in the beginning of the game. Could the unknown god reside out in that void? Did she have a hand in creating Teyvat? Is Teyvat even a "real" world or is it something else entirely? So many questions. I look forward to getting answers and I love the small detail of the hole being covered by smoke. it would cause mass hysteria if one moment, you were fighting for your very home and then another bombshell about the sky being fake is thrown at you.

My only major nitpick is that the Natlan archon quest is almost beat for beat Fontaine's with some exceptions of course.

You got:

big existential, life threatening event that has been steadily building up for years and years

a Fatui harbinger who offers aid because they got their own stakes in this (said Harbinger is also Khaenri'ahn)

the archon has to die because they used powers that are kinda taboo

there are minor incidents prior to the actual existential event

said event has been known about by the archon for hundreds of years and preparations have been made

the day is saved by the archon (or dragon) flying up into the sky and using their awesome power to save everyone

supporting characters die protecting others (Silver and Melus you were the real ones)

The archon quest is still fantastic, but the overall formula was very similar. (it was also weird to not hear Kinich or Kachina but I get the reason).

Anyways, what did you guys think and are you excited for the next chapter???

[darkdemeter]

Fem Child reader fluff platonic! War and Strife (reluctantly) have to leave S/O behind in Vulgrim (and fortunately Dis) hands when they have to depart in dangerous areas like poisonous places, always threatening him to care for her. They didn’t expect SAMAEL of all people to order Vulgrim to allow him to speak with the child. Intrigued that a human child had managed to make it through as well as the purity of her soul, Samael listened to her talk about her adventures with the Horsemen.

GUIDE HER WAY HOME V

◤✘DARKSIDERS REQUESTS | CATALOGUE (Platonic!) Strife and War x Female Child!Reader

NOTES ↳ If you cannot tell, I'm enjoying myself way too much writing for Guide Her Way Home, I'm just delving further into this marvellous storyline + its little side stories and game!hcs. Thank you so much anon for all the requested snippets thus far. WARNINGS❕ ↳ War and Strife being big, protective brothers over reader — funny and fluffy shenanigans ensue, reader is up to curious mischief — Vulgrim and Dis being that bickering uncle and aunt duo — Samael being omniscient and an info sponge to suit his agendas — I think that's it?

✎ 2.3k ────────────────────────

“Vulgrim, we’re trusting you with her. We are placing our trust in your… ahem, capable hands.” 

“Horseman, not so much as a hair will be plucked from her head,” assures the demonic soul merchant, voice rasping easily that it sounds like hollow bones being rattled in a leather sack. 

Strife’s chest rumbles with a deep, muffled growl emitting from him as he refrains from unholstering Mercy from his hip. Only stopped by the sound of your giggle, it is one that smooths the bristled nature of his protectiveness. You clammer over Strife’s shoulder until you find purchase on the bronze platform of War’s pauldron, hands clutching and smoothing the red fabric of his cowl in your grip before you slip down. War’s hands easily catch you before you can fall the considerable distance and he hands you off to Vulgrim.

“Vulgrim, we will hold you to those words. One hair, and your neck will meet my blade,” warns the stoic, hooded Horseman. Vulgrim tuts the dark, slimy tendril of his tongue. Quick to pass you off, he hands you into Dis’ care who sways about on the void’s ethereal buoyancy with a plump purse of her dark lips, lashes fluttering. 

“Don’t you worry, Horsemen. She’ll be right and in one piece when you boys get back.” 

“Riiight,” Strife huffs, unconvinced. He leans in closer to War to mutter, “I still think this is a bad idea.”

“We have no other choice, Strife. It’s far too dangerous to take her along.” 

Sulking with dreaded defeat, Strife lowers himself to his knee, hand gracing your head with a tender pat. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Okay,” you say, voice tiny and pitched. Your palm lays flat on Strife’s mask with a small pat of your own and his shoulders jostle a little with a low chuckle. 

Turning your head to War you then move to hug him, only for him to flinch. Immediately like the first drops of rain, a pout forms on the lines of your mouth and War internally reprimands himself. And so, to coax you to remain calm and happy, his own hand reaches out and you gladly accept it, hugging the massive chunk of metal fingers. 

War may be silent with his sentiments and words, but when your eyes meet his with that enlarged fixation and kind smile, his brows fall lax and he nods silently, assuring. 

“Be safe!” you call after them when they turn to leave you, waving your arm and bouncing on the small and worn padding of your boots. With that, you are left in the care of Vulgrim the Soul Eater and his “business associate”, Dis. 

Your feet wander, Your destination unknown yet anything and everything, you are a curious force set loose. Running along the roughened stone of the void made manifest, Vulgrim and Dis are led around in a chase to keep you from venturing into that cauldron of bubbling acids and howling souls, or from toddling off the edge and into the murky abyss… or to prevent another serpent hole incident. 

The threat of Chaoseater cleaving his head from his shoulders now becomes a daunting thought the more Vulgrim thinks on it. 

“No, no! Bad child!” Vulgrim seethes when he sees you duck and weave between the many nooks and crannies. Damn the void… 

“Dis, do something!” Like a snake poised with its fangs, Vulgrim’s patience runs thin and little, his clawed fingers always catching air instead of you as you continue to roam at will. 

“You’re the one who took your eyes off of her.”

“Because I trusted that you would keep an eye on her. Look at her, she’s unleashing chaos!”

Dis frowns, browline anchored low with a shake of her head. All you were doing was trying to grasp at a mysterious talisman dangling off an ornamental hanger, bones tied and threaded to clatter gently together in the realm’s faint inky mists. Only to then become amused with the loosened knot of one of your boots.

“She’s a child, Vulgrim. For a demon spying on humans, you don’t know a lot about them—”

“Studying!” Vulgrim hisses in his resolve. Dis scoffs sharply. “Mm. That’s one way to put it…”

When Vulgrim finally scoops you up, he raises you to his eye level, eyes thin with a spiteful growl that seeps through his deformed and mangled maw. “Listen here, childling, you will obey and cease these antics this instant.”

Blinking, your mouth stretches into a wide smile that pushes deep into your cheeks. “Okay!”

It cannot be that easy, Vulgrim snorts through his nose like a beast relinquishing its tense breath. He all but shrugs you off, passing you to Dis who cradles you with all four arms. 

A small noise catches in her throat, a humming chuckle. 

“Don’t you listen to that bag of bones, lil’ baby. He’s just old and raggedy. Now come along with Mama Dis and let’s see what we have around here for you.”

Attempting to float away and forget all the transpiring problems, Vulgrim is stopped short and his skinless lips waver with a guttural, feral warble, glaring a thousand threats into Dis’ back. 

Hours seem to pass by. You sit in the distant corner surrounded by stacks of old tomes, shelves stuffed with wilting, parchment scrolls. Propped up before you is a large grimoire that Dis had presented to you to keep you occupied. Of course, you didn’t comprehend the extremity of the words, mutely glossing over most of them and instead focusing on the illustrated inks of drawings when the words became too much. 

Dis had assured the book was a fairytale after she checked with Vulgrim who, with a simple and dismissive wave over his turned shoulder, said the grimoire was harmless. However, it was something more than that. It told of prophecies and ancient times that stretched across the cosmos. The stars, you gasped aloud with astonished wonder. 

And because your attention was taken with the large book that sat propped up, far too heavy to merely sit in your lap, Dis had left you to your own devices. Meanwhile, Vulgrim grouched about his realm, tending to whatever matters a demon of his trade did. 

The warming tint of glowing candlelight dances faintly behind you, your shadow hovering against the old parchment pages. Your hands curl along the page edge and with a small, heaved grunt, you turn it over to the next. 

Daggerish font blends with the grey tones and washed out allure of the illustration that covers the entirety of the pages, your eyes and fingers move along to pronounce each word. 

“Then… came the time of… the Nepp— Nepffilim…” 

Your gaze wanders away from the words only to widen, glistening with the dancing glee of starlight, a gurgling coo sings from your enlightened and pure heart, soul innocence shining within you like a bright ball of light; and all because you recognise two familiar guardians within the drawing. You don’t notice the way the void shivers and rumbles around you, seemingly disrupted. 

Nor do you realise, for how could you, the flaming orbs of eyes sparked with kindled intrigue. 

With a squeal you leap forward onto your knees, palms flush against the pages as you muse, laughing and babbling. “Strwife! Wawr!” 

You thought they returned in a way, that in seeing them here somehow meant they were back from whatever voyage they could not take you on this time. But then your brows curl down, furrowing in the bevelled middle when you realise that much like the stone walls and rocks of your home, they were just drawings.

Your head tilts with a confused, quiet hum and you begin to turn the next page only to not find them there. So you let the sheet of parchment fall back down with a softened flap.

That’s when you notice the lack of company around you. Right then, you decide to change that. You stand on your feet and with all your might, you grab hold of the grimoire and tug, the ominous and loud thud of it falling off its holder bounds off with a bold, resounding echo. 

Grunting and sighing with exerted efforts, your hands clutch hard as you begin to pull the grimoire with you from that corner, around the bends of books stacked on high and make your way through the fragmented platforms. To do so is no easy feat, often you have to stop to look around yourself before finally, you reach where Vulgrim and Dis bicker with one another by the bubbling cauldron. 

They hold their tongues at the sight of you shuffling towards them, face set hard in your concentration to drag the book with you as you then settle at their side, huffing as you let the side you clung to drop. 

“Dis…” Vulgrim rumbles low, tone teetering on the verge of his last sanity. When she makes a noise in return, he all but jabs a finger that sounds with chinking metal of rings in motion to the grimoire you’re reading. Dis’ eyes blow wide open.

“Oh! Ahh, sweetie, let me take that uh, book for a moment.”

Though you mean to protest by the way your hands shoot out for the taken book, you simply nod in understanding. Obviously, they did not want you to read or observe its contents, and like the good child that you were brought up to be, you obeyed diligently. 

Vulgrim presses to his brow a shaken cluster of fingers that rap and tap at his clothed temple, scratching down the dirtied brown of his horn. “The Horsemen will kill me— why did you give her that grimoire?”

Head tracking back and forth between them, you watch silently. 

“Me?! Ugh, the nerve of you, you grotesque bag of Belial’s sh…” With a moment to calm her erratic and feral hissing that blew the pinkish flame of her head brighter, she sighs and calmly states her defense. “You told me that the grimoire was a safe fairytale.”

“Look at where we are! Nothing here is safe for a human child—”

“Enough!”

The misted blacks that writhe and interweave in flowing paths stutter, shocked under the consuming bellow of a roar that comes from someplace above. Your head moves about in order to locate where the booming voice came from. 

“Vulgrim, bring the child to me. I wish to speak with her.” 

Sputtering, choking on such a command, Vulgrim whines with a forced inflection. “But, Samael—”

“Now…” 

The merchant is all but forced to comply, unable to deny such an esteemed power his wish. Picking you up, Vulgrim brings you to the platform above. Once there and in the presence of Hell’s prince, Vulgrim turns with a slight tilt of his chin as if to bow his head. Samael twitches a finger in indication and the demon trader complies, setting you down on your feet again. 

This platform is one you have not seen before, your eyes are momentarily drawn to the edge and your lips form into a cautious ‘o’ before you turn back to Samael who sits upon a rubble mound of a make-shift throne. 

He leans forward with an elbow pressed to his knee, tail draped lazily by his side and with a tilt of his head, his mouth parts into a fanged grin.

“Come closer, my child.”

Curious, the small nub of your nose scrunches and you approach him, almost eager to meet another potential friend. Vulgrim sees that you harbour no direct fear, not until you get closer to the demon prince. 

You stop, a quiet breath leaving you as a gasp while your wide eyes blink up at Samael. “I have been made aware of your presence. I’ve never had the chance to meet such a kind soul. Tell me, what is your name?”

Announcing your name to him, he hums with a small nod, repeating it. “I am pleased to meet your acquaintance, little one. I am Samael.”

“Hello Sama-el!” You greet with a wave that moves from your elbow.

His eyes burn like wavering flames with a million questions. Just how exactly did you pass through a serpent hole? With Earth shrouded in secrecy, it’s a case that baffles the greatest of minds. The blinding light that surrounds and envelopes you from within shines brightly and Vulgrim’s eyes are forced to shrink from it. He slowly lowers a hand to you and you take it. He is careful to place you at his side, settled on a stone block and his body shifts so that he can see you better. 

“So you are the one the Horsemen found,” he says, voice a low drawl and thick with heat that bellows from the furnace of his gullet. “It must have been scary wandering out there on your own. You’re very fortunate to have met the Horsemen.” 

You nod with a small hum, eyes twinkling slightly at the mention of them. “Uh huh.”

With a wave of his hand, crafty unto a magician’s hand that slights trick from thin air, he procures a glassy object. Your attention is taken immediately, eyes trailing after the crystal ball as it merely glides and rolls over his hand and into his palm, balancing with intricate ease. 

“Do you like it? It’s yours.” He hands it to you and your small hands grasp hold of it. He watches, intrigued while you study the orb closely. You raise it to your eye and you sigh audibly, mesmerised by the white flecks that slowly drift within it. Your memories are faint, a slight blur but you remember watching the specks of snow fall from the sky, marvelling at the chilling beauty. Your time of playing in the cold blankets in your village is distantly fond. 

“Do you enjoy travelling with the Horsemen?”

“Uh huh! I do!” You beam a wide, innocent smile and that aura shimmers around you. Samael rubs his chin with leisure, thinking… scheming. 

“I’d love to hear about your tales with them.”

Giddiness bubbles in your belly, happy to regale him with the many stories you have to share about your adventures with Strife and War. He is quiet, attentively listening and piece by piece, the pure nature of your soul — your honesty — plays right into his hand, hinting at insightful weaknesses of the Horsemen.

[nuttytani]

childe demisexual agenda.

Just a personal hc and unorganised thoughts. Basically a rambling. Obviously some zhongchili on the side because.... I mean...I am a shipper ;-; (lol you thought this would be just about childe? oops xD).

So, hear me out. Childe was 14 when he fell into the abyss and was sent to the fatui. He was still in his teen years, a crucial time to develop close bonds with people and feel attraction for peers.

He never had the chance to experience what any other teenager would feel. Childe was too busy surviving in the abyss, learning about weapons and back in the surface, he was yet again, sent to the fatui. Where he had to rise from the bottom and show people what he was capable of.

He was in survival mode. Everytime, 24/7. He couldn't trust anyone, he couldn't befriend anyone, let alone romance. Instead, he kept improving his skills, engaging in countless battles. I know we love to say that he is battlesexual (me too ngl, my unhinged ginger man).

And that the boy has nothing in his mind except for battle and his love for his family. Maybe, that's just a coping mechanism? To keep his mind occupied and not think about anything else and maybe it's because that's all he knows? (ok we're getting off topic lol)

Anyways, the relationship he has with zhongli is different from any other he has ever had. Zhongli was his true first friend and first love. He never experienced anything like this in his life before he met zhongli. He didn't really have the time either.

It's not like childe didn't listen in on his fellow fatui comrades gossiping and discussing about each other's love life, he did. But he could never relate, and he was never interested. And now, his inexperience in love and anything sexual is all catching up.

Why does he feel so strange whenever he's around zhongli? Why does he feel so hot and bothered whenever he sees zhongli smile at him or touch his hand.

Now that he's feeling.... Many feelings, he doesn't even have anyone to get advice. Who will he speak to? His family that outcasts him? His colleagues who are scared of him? The Liyue natives who probably hate his presence? He doesn't have anyone. And that's actually really sad.

It's really tragic that zhongli was and IS his only trusted friend. And it makes his betrayal in the Northland bank even more heartbreaking. Because now, he has no one. Back to square 1. The relationship he thought he had with zhongli was fake, everything was fake.

But anyways. Yeah. Uhh… Demisexual childe. This really went off topic. Oops. But what I'm trying to say is, due to his lack of experience with true relationships (whether romantic, platonic or sexual), he gives demi vibes. Like, look at him????

I know that the genshin community loves to pin him as a fuckboy, but really— look at him. Does he look like this boy has any sexual thoughts? Does he ???? He is head empty only family and battle.

I'm sorry this was just a self indulgent, fujoshi tinted, zhongchili influenced, childe simp influenced post with no head nor tail. Peace out.

[sevi007]

Tales of the abyss, part 17

Gwah, I thought we will travel easy for a whole but anime cutscene means trouble yea? Epicness at least!

I will hurriedly put this under a read more because I think starting now there is CERTAINLY going to be spoilers!

Aha! Same face syndrom! Meaning there either IS a twin or, what I‘m more inclined to, clones!

If it is a clone, you messed up the haircolor *whisper*

So, I'm sticking with the clone theory for now, since I am certain hiding the fact that TWINS were kidnapped and only one came back is too complicated. Replacing someone is easier, yes.

But then, which one is the clone? Luke or Asch? So personally, I will go with Luke. He is the one with the memory loss (which in this case would mean he is a clone created "empty", read, no memories there - so rather than losing his memories, he never had any to begin with.) This would also add to the drama of Luke already having bad self-worth (his attitude is mostly posturing imo) and the truth will then hit it hard. While on the other hand, Asch's hatred against Luke would be explained, seeing as he was replaced by Luke.

Okay Jade suspected or knew this already

Ouch Luke’s face here. Poor kid.

Hey, hello? Are we like, not stopping for a bit so Luke can throw up and discuss what we just saw? I mean yea, saving Ion, but surely we have a few minutes? Is anybody giong to make sure he is alright, or going to discuss what just happened?

Ah, there it is. BUT. Note how Luke is not here to hear this. The party is leaving him in the dark AGAIN. Not to mention that Jade at least has a theory and is not saying anything about it.

Haaaah. This will not help in the long run. I feel like rather than acknowledge Luke's troubles (which, why he does not talk about, he still strongly projects outwards) the party is just always too focused on the next goal, and more like drags him after them. This will further stir up his ire, and make him mullish, and drive him towards Van.

Oh okay the link-thingy is getting more frequent.

So Asch is helping us now? Hm. Considering that Van and the God-Generals pointed out that Asch was acting against Van's orders, I assume Asch is not agreeable with whatever Van's goal is, and is working to stop Luke from blindly following everything Van says. He could then claim that not HE was acting against Van's orders, but rather Luke kept interferring.

I'm cutting the whole trip through the desert and the ruins, there's not much to say to that - oh, except I like that Mieu actually gets new abilities! It's kind of funny to imagine him breaking rocks tbh XD

Reaching the bottom of the ruins:

That looks like a door? *squint* I can't remember if anything in all this exposion said something about doors tbh.

The boss fight was pretty hard - took me three tries and figuring out which party works - so I was a bit depressed to hear this from Asch:

Rude man!

This was cool though. Does that mean they both had the same teacher? - My clone theory is going STRONG man.

??? Wait what's that reaction? Because she is the princess, or...?

(I tell you guys, everyone here has hidden agendas!)

Stop teasing me, game, I want to know if that means "twin" or "clone"! XD

You know... I like the characters, I really do.

But GOD do I wish they would TALK with each other. So Jade knows more than we do, Ion knows more than we do, Tear does - and now Guy too, and NOBODY is sharing stuff with ANYBODY.

If this goes all flying off the handle, I'm not blaming one person, no matter what everyone else says, I'm blaming everyone. You fucked this up in a group effort by being secretive as hell.

@magicmetslogic

@ahsokaisawesome

[moonflvver]

Soft Kaeya headcanons agenda, inspired by your Kaeya abandonment anxiety ramblings. May I have some headcanons on a reader who often defends and praises Kaeya even behind his back? Like, reader keeps trying to show Kaeya how loved he is, and they put their money where their mouth is, and step up in their actions?

character: Kaeya Alberich x reader

warnings: none! (fluffy stuff)

a/n: I am always down to further the soft kaeya agenda! I ended up turning this into a little drabble... enjoy <3

w/c: 851 this wasn't supposed to be so long

Kaeya is familiar with the slew of insults that often come his way. He’s been called a lazy drunkard by Diluc more times than he cares to count, and he knows that most people look down on the fact that he spends many of his nights nursing a Death After Noon at the Angel’s Share. He’s seen quite a few people glaring at him mumbling about how he should be out patrolling at this time of night. But Kaeya does his work in the shadows, he keeps Monstadt safe without caring about the praise and fame that comes with a flashy win against the Abyss mages that threaten the outskirts of the city. He’s the one that helps to silently take care of threats that work against the peaceful harmony that the Anemo Archon has worked so hard to spread throughout the country. And most people don’t tend to see that, but you do. 

Whenever he comes back from yet another thankless job you’re the one who comes to knock on his office door and commend him on his hard work. You’re the one who gives him a pat on the shoulder and a word of congratulations after the two of you take care of some treasure hoarders that set up camp a little too close to the city. He’s never really had anyone praise him so consistently, so he’s not quite sure what to say. After a while he quits trying to come up with a flirty one-liner and you see a light blush spreading across his face as he mumbles a thank you. At one point Kaeya convinces himself that this is just how you are. You’re kind, you’re encouraging, you’re loved by practically every citizen of Monstadt. So he chalks up your compliments as nothing more than a result of your generous personality. 

That is until one day when he’s about to round the corner to visit your office he hears you berating a few of the newer members of the Knights of Favonius. He’s a bit taken aback at first. He’s never heard you raise your voice like this, and his curiosity gets the best of him so he inches closer to where you’re yelling at the two men standing in front of you. “The two of you have no idea what you’re talking about. Captain Alberich is far from lazy, he’s the one who keeps everyone safe. Including you two. He’s the one who regularly puts his life on the line to collect intelligence on the Abyss so that we can stay one step ahead of them and prevent countless lives from being lost. He’s a pillar of the Knights and he has more bravery and honor in him than the two of you have combined. So if I hear another insult about him coming out of your mouth, I’ll make sure that the both of you spend the next month patrolling the Whispering Woods.” The two men are silent as you berate them and then you finally sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose while you say, “Dismissed.” 

Kaeya is shocked to say the least. He never realized just how highly you thought of him. The mere idea of you defending him even when he isn’t watching makes him feel like for the first time someone truly sees him. He realizes that maybe you do actually care. You’ve made that much clear through your actions. His recognition that your praise for him is genuine causes him to pause for a moment. He thinks back to each time that you’ve been there to offer a gentle word of encouragement and he realizes that it’s okay. It’s okay for him to trust you and allow you to be there for him because you’re not going anywhere. 

The two men move past him, and he finally walks up to you. It’s then that you realize he’s been there the entire time so you greet him with a sheepish smile and say, “So I’m guessing you heard that.” And at this point he’s giving you the most shit eating grin but it’s not because he’s trying to be condescending. He just can’t hold in how elated he feels now that he’s finally recognized that your actions are genuine. “Yeah I did.” He laughs as your cheeks redden. He continues, “And I just want to say thank y-” but before he’s able to finish you interrupt him. 

“I really meant what I was saying. So there’s no need to thank me for just telling the truth.” And at this point he’s short circuiting as he struggles to find the right words. So instead he settles for placing a hand on your waist and pulling you in for a gentle kiss. His lips are feather light on yours and as he pulls away he says, “I know, but thank you. Not just for that but for everything else you’ve done for me.” And honestly, Kaeya doesn’t think that he’ll ever truly be able to trust that the people in his life will always be by his side but with you, it’s different.

[thebarontheabyss]

Ppl be like "who is interested in the formless blob" and then you continue to enchant me with how adorable and sweet he is? My question is who isn't? How could you not adore him.

I wanted to also give a prompt with my rant, but the best I can come up with is what would each character do if you had magnet poetry in the bar and available to mess with?

Also, have a lovely day. I'm obsessed with your writing and hope you are happy and healthy to keep making this amazing game <3

Thank you so much! Yes, I take full responsibility for He Without Name; made him way too adorable 😭

Now for some magnetic poetry shenanigans:

Death seems intrigued by the magnetic poetry but is hesitant to participate. You notice Death eyeing the magnets repeatedly, a thoughtful frown on their face. They seem to be contemplating the perfect poetic message for you but ultimately shy away, overwhelmed by the pressure of crafting the right words.

True to their devilish nature, Lilith/Damien quickly commandeers the magnets to create a string of profanities.

Morgan/Morgana finds a novel use for the magnetic poetry, deftly arranging the words into arcane symbols and spell runes. You can't help but wonder if the bar's ambiance is subtly altered by these mystical configurations.

The ever-energetic Shelly embraces the magnetic poetry with gusto. The bar's metallic surfaces become her canvas for daily messages, jokes, and whimsical weather forecasts like "The Abyss will be predictably abyssal today."

Both Yaga and Peisinoe initially dismiss the magnetic poetry as childish. However, you catch them occasionally pausing to read Shelly's witty messages, their expressions betraying a hint of amusement and perhaps a touch of admiration for her creativity.

Hastur approaches the magnetic poetry with a surprising touch of artistic sensitivity and uses it to write haikus.

The Raven snatches a few magnets for himself, adding them to his collection of shiny trinkets. You're not sure what he plans to do with them, but you're certain it's part of some greater, mysterious raven agenda.

He Without Name seems perplexed by the concept of magnetic poetry. He observes others interacting with the magnets but doesn't engage himself. It's unclear whether he finds the activity baffling or simply uninteresting.

[melina-mellow]

Absolute fucking tragedy that Traveler ships sleep on the concept of them being the Abyss Prince/Princess instead (except for the ones where they are shipped with Dain)

Xiaolumi : enemies to lovers, heavy angst, forbidden love, both of them knowing that this will end badly, doomed from the start, the "I won't hesitate to kill you" And "why did you hesitate" the fight to the death that turns into a sloppy makeout session *chefs kiss*

Albether : "aren't you tired of being nice? don't you want to go apeshit???" The Alchemist and the Prince, Albedo afraid of losing control and hurting the people he cares about, Aether deing in denial that he's just "using him to further the Abyss Order's agenda" and not accept that he loves this funky alchemist.

God dammit I would write these myself if my dyslexic ass had any kind of creative talent in writing anything that isn't a service email, or troubleshooting via chat.

[mariacallous]

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt and former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg are among senior Tories to have lost their seats, as the party suffers a heavy election defeat.

Ms Mordaunt, who was tipped as a future Tory leadership contender, saw her majority of more than 15,000 overturned in Portsmouth North.

Mr Rees-Mogg, a former business secretary, lost in North East Somerset and Hanham, with Labour overturning his 16,000 majority.

He told the BBC he wouldn't "blame anybody other than myself" and that it had been "a very bad night for the Conservatives".

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and Michelle Donelan are among a clutch of cabinet ministers to lose their seats.

But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who had been seen as vulnerable in his Godalming and Ash constituency, managed to hold on with slender 891 majority.

'Sobering verdict'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded the election, speaking after he was re-elected in Richmond and Northallerton.

He said the electorate had “delivered a sobering verdict” on the Tories, and apologised to those in his party who had lost their seats. He said he had called Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on winning.

Speaking after losing her seat, Ms Mordaunt said her party had "taken a battering because it failed to honour the trust that people had placed in it".

She warned against "talking to an ever smaller slice of ourselves," adding, "if we want again to be the natural party of government, then our values must be the people's".

In other high profile Tory losses:

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer lost to Labour in Plymouth Moor View

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan lost to the Liberal Democrats in Chichester, a West Sussex seat the Tories have held for a century

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer lost Ely and East Cambridgeshire, also to the Liberal Democrats

Chief Whip Simon Hart - in charge of party discipline - lost to Plaid Cymru in Caerfyrddin, as the Tories lost all their seats in Wales

Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland, who also lost his seat, told the BBC his party faced "electoral Armageddon".

He said too many Conservatives had focused on "personal agendas and jockeying for position" instead of "concentrating on doing the job that they were elected to do".

"I've watched colleagues strike poses, write inflammatory op-eds, and say stupid things they have no evidence for, instead of concentrating on doing the job that they were elected to do," the former justice secretary said.

Asked whether he was referring to former home secretary Suella Braverman, who days before polls opened published an article in the Daily Telegraph strongly criticising the government, he said: "Yes, and I'm afraid that's not an isolated example."

"I'm fed up of personal agendas and jockeying for position. The truth is now with the Conservatives facing electoral Armageddon, it's going to be like a group of bald men arguing over a comb.

Sir Robert said for the party to move further to the right would be a "disastrous mistake" that "would send us into the abyss".

Speaking earlier, before his defeat, Sir Jacob said it was “clearly a terrible night” for his party, that had come to take its “core vote for granted”.

“We need to win voters at every single election. If you take your base for granted... your voters will look to other parties.”

He thought the party had made a mistake by ousting Boris Johnson, who led it to victory in the 2019 election but was forced to step down as prime minister in 2022 following a series of scandals.

Former cabinet office minister Steve Baker, who BBC projections gave less than a 1% chance of holding onto his seat, said his party was having an “incredibly difficult night”.

He said Rishi Sunak had a "brilliant mind" but acknowledged he had made mistakes during the campaign, including the decision to leave D-Day commemorations early.

[blood-orange-juice]

Pushing my "Childe is inspired by Uther Doul" agenda.

I wrote about how everything that he does contains a contradiction and we discussed with Cricket how Canotila's quest implies that the Abyss might not be just a place with monsters and dead forgotten gods, but rather a place where things randomly flicker in and out of existence or change to random other things.

And a huge part of my fascination with Childe is how three years after the start of the story I still can't figure him out. Human psyche doesn't bend at this angles, his combination of traits is not supposed to exist in one person (nor it can be imitated).

Yet, somehow it doesn't feel like ooc or bad writing, I have a very clear sense of what would be childelike and unchildelike, it just doesn't feel like anything that can exist inside a human brain, unless I resort to a very weird theory.

*

The theory.

China Mieville's "The Scar" has a concept called "possibility mining", certain places and certain magic/technology being able to conjure all the possible versions of a person or an object at once. It can be navigated to some extent.

There's a character called Uther Doul, a warrior-scholar, the pirate city rulers' bodyguard and overall a charming fellow. He's consistently described as someone changing the direction of his actions too quickly and unpredictably or having traits that shouldn't coexist in one person.

(he also wears grey, is proficient in most kinds of weapons and is generally polite and soft spoken. do you see my vision?)

First meeting:

  “Surrender,” he said quietly to the man before him, who looked up in terror and sobbed, fumbled idiotically for his knife.    The grey-clad man spun instantly in the air, his arms and legs bent. He twirled as if he were dancing and stamped out quickly, the bottom of his foot slamming into the fallen man’s face and smashing him back. The sailor sprawled, bleeding, unconscious or dead. As the man in grey landed he was instantly still. It was as if he had not moved.

A fight at a city arena (mostly quoting this for the reaction of other people to him):

It was only when the frenzy spread to her own boat that she realized it was a word. “Doul.” It came from all around her. “Doul, Doul, Doul.” A name. “What are they saying?” she hissed to Silas. “They’re calling for someone,” he said, his eyes scanning the surrounds. “They want a display. They’re demanding a fight from Uther Doul.” He gave her a quick, cold smile. “You’ll recognize him,” he said. “You’ll know him when you see him.” [...] Uther Doul did not seem to live in the same time as anyone else. He seemed like some visitor to a world much more gross and sluggish than his own. Despite the bulk of his body, he moved with such speed that even gravity seemed to operate more quickly for him.

The heroine contemplating after (I don't think need to comment):

They left and walked the winding nightlit pathways of Thee-And-Thine toward Shaddler, and Garwater and the Chromolith. Neither spoke. At the end of Doul’s fight, Bellis had seen something that had brought her up short and made her afraid. As he had turned, his hands clawed, his chest taut and heaving, she had seen his face. It was stretched tight, every muscle straining, into a glare of feral savagery unlike anything she had ever seen on a human being. Then a second later, with his bout won, he had turned to acknowledge the crowd and had looked once more like a contemplative priest. Bellis could imagine some fatuous warrior code, some mysticism that abstracted the violence of combat and allowed one to fight like a holy man. And equally she could imagine tapping into savagery, letting atavistic viciousness take over in a berserker fugue. But Doul’s combination stunned her. She thought of it later, as she lay in her bed, listening to light rain. He had readied and recovered himself like a monk, fought like a machine, and seemed to feel it like a predatory beast. That tension frightened her, much more than the combat skills he had shown. Those could be learned.

Uther explaining lore:

   Uther quoted something like a singer. “ ‘We have scarred this mild world with prospects, wounded it massively, broken it, made our mark on its most remote land and stretching for thousands of leagues across its sea. And what we break we may reshape, and that which fails might still succeed. We have found rich deposits of chance, and we will dig them out.’    “They meant all that literally,” he said. “It wasn’t an abstract crow of triumph. They had scarred, they had broken the world. And, in doing so, they set free forces that they were able to tap. Forces that allowed them to reshape things, to fail and succeed simultaneously-because they mined for possibilities. A cataclysm like that, shattering a world, the rupture left behind: it opens up a rich seam of potentialities.    “And they knew how to pick at the might-have-beens and pull out the best of them, use them to shape the world. For every action, there’s an infinity of outcomes. Countless trillions are possible, many milliards are likely, millions might be considered probable, several occur as possibilities to us as observers-and one comes true.    “But the Ghosthead knew how to tap some of those that might have been. To give them a kind of life. To use them, to push them into the reality that in its very existence denied theirs, which is defined by what happened and by the denial of what did not. Tapped by possibility machines, outcomes that didn’t quite make it to actuality were boosted, and made real.

Fun detail: he also wields what's called a "possible sword", it takes the shape currently preferred by the owner.

If I recall that correctly, it's never actually stated explicitly or explained why does Uther have such a weird combination of traits and fans argue a lot about which side was real.

I think all of them were. He just switched constantly between all the different versions of himself. And I think so does Childe. Not just in "he compartmentalizes" way (although that probably too) but in reality-shifting way.

I also think that's the real reason why Childe wasn't in Sumeru. His thought process itself is probably a massive spoiler. Also Nahida would have probably speedrun a corruption arc with a pace inconceivable both to King Deshret and Rukkhadevata if she tried to peek into his head.

*

It gets weirder and even more fun when you see the drops from the 4.2 boss, but I'll wait for the patch to drop to draw parallels. For now I'll just say that it involves a whale and a music instrument.