#the bears were making me feel like i was making a difference and just.......... i feel powerless. and small. and utterly defeated.

[nenemura]

RAINY DAYS — (nrk x reader)

summary : you spend a rainy day with your boyfriend.

cw : bf!riki x fem!reader, fluff, kissing

wc : 0.7k

nene’s note : ik it sucks but this is a little tiny work while i try to finish the longer ones……. pls bear w me

you loved rainy days.

the cozy atmosphere that it created while staying inside, maybe under a warm blanket, truly gave you solace. your boyfriend’s presence right next to you, providing extra warmth, was the cherry on top.

you and riki were supposed to have a fun outdoor date, but the plan eventually fell apart when dark clouds invaded the sky, bringing with them loud thunders and heavy rain. since the weather decided for the two of you to stay in, you decided to catch up with a TV show you two wanted to watch together but always put off because of other priorities.

riki’s arm was lazily resting over your shoulder, his warmth embracing you completely. your head leaned against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing, a quiet rhythm that brought you an unspoken sense of comfort. occasionally, you would feel his soft, full lips on your temple, making you smile and snuggle closer to him.

you glanced up to look at him for a moment, seeing his concentrated expression. you observed him carefully, how his long lashes adorned his pretty shaped eyes, how his small yet sharp nose complimented his face, how plump his lower lip was trapped in between his teeth because of an intense scene in the show. you had long forgotten about it, completely focusing on the boy by your side, who didn’t take long to notice he was the center of your attention.

“hm?” he hummed, tilting his head to look down at you, a small and subconscious pout forming on his lips. you couldn’t help but smile and bring one of your hands on his cheek, caressing his cheekbone softly with your thumb. riki didn’t think too much of it, used to you being touchy, and immediately leaned in, pressing his lips against yours in a quick — yet soft — peck. “do you not like the show?” he asked, pressing a button on the remote to pause it. you shook your head, still admiring your boyfriend’s handsome face as if it was one of the most precious works of art in the world.

“you’re just pretty” you mumbled, thumb now delicately grazing his lower lip. a lovesick smile spread across your face as you took in his features, the soft glow of affection in your eyes. riki’s eyes widened at the sudden compliment, scoffing softly, as if trying to brush it off, but the warmth spreading through his face betrayed him. he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his breath hot against your skin as he tugged you closer by the waist. his large, cold hands slipped beneath your t-shirt, fingertips brushing over your warm skin. you could feel him drawing lazy, abstract patterns on your back, the gentle motion sending a mix of chills and comfort through you.

“you can’t say shit like that so suddenly” he whispered against your neck, his lips barely touching the skin. you let out a giggle, shaking your head at his antics as you brought a hand to his nape to play with his hair. “i just said you’re pretty, you big baby,” you replied, leaning back a little to get him to look at you. “are you blushing right now?” your eyes widened slightly as soon as you noticed how his cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, the sight making you giggle once more.

he groaned and hid his face against your neck once again, leaving kisses here and there to distract you from his flustered state. “not. fair.” he muttered, his lips tracing from your neck to your jaw, finally looking into your eyes once again. “you’re killing me here, i hate you.” he kissed your lips one more time, his words saying one thing, while his eyes revealed something completely different. you shook your head and wrapped your hands around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. “i love you too, idiot” you playfully whispered, your voice muffled as you buried your face in his chest.

his arms tightened around you, holding you as though you were the only thing that mattered. despite his words, the way he clung to you said anything you needed to hear.

[notacatdown]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain that line in detail and its origins! It was very enlightening. And so much food for thought.

"so, again, yao are not human—and that is why their stories have always been so compelling to us. We place limits on our conduct and behavior for a variety of socially-imposed and learned reasons, but yao as an imperfect reflection of our human selves allow us to live out our "fantasies" of extremity.  "

Oh wow, that last line, I've never thought of it that way. You're right. The illusion demoness in the drama was my favorite demon for that reason. She feels eerie and has no moral framework. She imprinted onto Liu Fuyi and doesn't see anything wrong with making him into a puppet.

I also thought Liu-niang/the memory demoness was so interestingly unhinged. That she can love Mu Rong with no limits, but still want to kill Mu Sheng, the person that Mu Rong sacrificed everything for her. And that, these two feelings are not contradictory for Liu-niang.

The other demons felt pretty normal to me beyond their willingness to kill people to save their loved one, and while that mentality is extreme, their combined kill count pales in comparison to the dowager consort's. (Totally open to hear differing thoughts about this.)

Anyways, I think the drama delivered on that line in ep 10 (人心有七窍，妖心只有一窍。所以大多数妖物的品行都简单执拗) with the illusion demoness and the the memory demoness.

---

In the novel, it's the demons' obsessiveness along with devotion that differentiates their love from how humans love.

This is what Shi-niang/the fox demoness (who is very different in the novel) says to MiaoMiao, "Ah Zhun likes me because… In this world, no one loves him as much as I do. I cook him three meals a day and take the effort to learn the cuisine of all sorts of places. I’ve sewn his summer and winter clothes, made his belts, and embroidered his pouch. When he’s healthy, I serve at his side when he is treating guests. When he is sick, I wait on him by the side of the bed…" (normal enough)

"... I’m willing to accept all of his weak points, and love all of his shortcomings. I understand everything he likes. I love all that he loves, and hate all that he hates. I protect all that he protects and withstands all that he wants to withstand. I’m willing, for him, to use all my time, energy, abilities and even my life. In this world, he cannot find someone who loves him more than me." (and then we get to here)

This wouldn't be that extreme if the fox demoness felt this way about her husband, but these were her feelings before they even had a conversation. In the novel, he doesn't free her from a cage. She was fascinated by him at first sight and grew enamored as she learned more about him.

"Ling Miaomiao was absolutely dumbstruck as she stared blankly at Shi-niang... Using love to gain love…. Was a truly stupid method. If it was the right person, it would equate to twice the effect given just half the effort. On the other hand, what if they weren’t the right person, but the wrong one? That would unfortunately just be a tragedy in the making. Not just hurting your heart, but you might not even gain a shred of care for all the love you poured out."

I totally agree with MiaoMiao. It's normal to be worried about being hurt and want to avoid that pain. But, Mu Sheng is from the same school of thought as the fox demoness. When the other three were still hesitating - because of insecurity and other perfectly understandable concerns - about love, Mu Sheng has already yeeted himself off the metaphorical cliff.

There's a novel scene where Mu Sheng thinks he's like a dog in a cage, and MiaoMiao is a person showing him affection and then moving out of reach. He can only hurl himself at the bars of the cage to get closer to her because he can't bear to retreat. MiaoMiao comes back after several minutes and dispels his angsty thoughts.

Whereas in the drama, Mu Sheng is well-adjusted by the end of the 8th episode. When he is hurt that MiaoMiao is scared of him and doesn't love him in ep 19, he leaves. He can let go if that's what she wants. It's only when he is given evidence that she does love him that he returns. That scene of him and Liu Fuyi drinking their sorrows away wouldn't be out-of-place in a modern-day romcom.

Fu Zhou is human. He doesn't have a demon's obsessive love. He won't keep hurting himself to get her affection. (Hmm, could we consider this as foreshadowing of the reveal in ep 32? Or would that be too much of a reach?)

This got away from me. What I originally wanted to write about is how the relationships between demons and humans in the novel feel like retellings of those old folktales, and we get believable happy endings this time around for them because of the author's changes (those changes were removed in the drama and the drama went in a new direction). And how Mu Sheng, who is both human and demon, has it worse in a way. The constant tug-of-war between his calculating, wary, overthinking human mind and his demon instincts that is heedless about 分寸 / "propriety" or consequences and only cares about getting the affection he craves. I'll leave that part for another day.

on 妖 yao (and 慕声 Mu Sheng) in 永夜星河 Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024)

crossposted from a twitter thread!

there are SO many things i love about YYXH, but something i really appreciate is their portrayal of 妖 yao.

in ep. 10, Mu Sheng says, “人心有七窍，妖心只有一窍。所以大多数妖物的品行都简单执拗。” / "Human hearts have seven apertures [are complex and calculating]; but yao hearts have only one [are simple]. That's why the conduct of most yao creatures is uncomplicated and obstinate."

窍 / apertures (openings; orifices) are where the human body is connected to the outside world. as such, 七窍 seven orifices usually refers to the eyes (2), nose (2 nostrils), ears (2), and mouth (1). BUT...

in the context of the heart, it more often alludes to the virtuous character of 比干 Prince Bigan from the Ming dynasty novel 《封神演义》 Investiture of the Gods.

there, it was said that 圣人之心有七窍 / the hearts of saints [good men] have seven apertures...

...so, of course, the righteous and smart Bigan was rumored to possess a 七窍玲珑心 / lit. delicate seven aperture heart.

Bigan's story didn't end well (his heart was cut out by order of the infamous King Zhou of Shang), but 七窍玲珑 still means "clever and quick-witted."

now... 窍 can mean "opening"—but another way to say so could be 眼 / eye (or, "hole"). that is, we can draw a near-equivalency between 七窍玲珑心 / lit. seven-chambered heart and 多心眼 / lit. many heart's eyes; an overabundance of concern...

in particular, 多心眼 (or to say that someone 心眼多) not only implies wit and sharpness (i.e., "having a lot of thoughts"), but also some level of cunning and shrewdness. that is, to be "mindful of many things" means one is "considering of many things" and "calculating."

hence, returning to Mu Sheng's explanation: humans are crafty, always thinking of a hundred other variables and planning another hundred steps ahead. (that's why humans betray and deceive and hurt one another...)

but yao are simple.

yao don't have so many of these excess considerations. if they are hungry, they will seek to feed. if they are hurt, they will fight back. if they are scared, they will hide. if they are cared for, they will respond with equal gentleness.

in other words: yao are not human.

and this distinction is what made so many classic xianxias and yao-centric stories so compelling (think 白素贞 Bai Suzhen from the romance folktale 白蛇传 White Snake Legend).

to discuss our beloved 慕声 Mu Sheng as an example: it can be easy to say he has a jiejie-complex or is almost yandere-like about 慕瑶 Mu Yao, but we have to remember that as half-yao, he doesn't operate on the same frame of reference as humans. Mu Yao is the one person who has been consistently kind to him since he was young, and so he will reciprocate that kindness to (human standards of) extremity. likewise, when our cutie-pie 凌妙妙 Ling Miaomiao regards him with kindness, Mu Sheng will feel inclined to answer that with affections a hundred or a thousand times stronger.

though he grew up among humans, Mu Sheng's yao half should not be forgotten. humans may be fickle in their feelings; but yao (in general) will not be. once they have found someone worth their affections, they will love fiercely and to a terrifying degree. you can also understand it as yao not necessarily posessing the same understanding of 分寸 / "propriety" that humans do.

so, again, yao are not human—and that is why their stories have always been so compelling to us. we place limits on our conduct and behavior for a variety of socially-imposed and learned reasons, but yao as an imperfect reflection of our human selves allow us to live out our "fantasies" of extremity.

i think the new era of xianxias have largely traded that yao-human distinction for other things, like eye-catching CGI, flowy costumes, and the three lives, three worlds formula—which are, of course, not inherently bad.

YYXH itself is part of this new chapter of storytelling/the genre of xianxias after all (esp. given its existence as a 古偶), but that is ultimately precisely why it stands out so much to me.

is it the first or only xianxia in recent years to show that yao are nuanced? that yao are neither all good nor all bad? — of course not!

but i think it is undoubtedly among the very, very few in recent years that has successfully portrayed just what it is that makes yao so uniquely compelling. and that is due in large part to both strong writers (who also did 《苍兰诀》 Love Between Fairy and Devil) and strong actors.

in short, YYXH feels like a labor of love. love for the original 《��莲花攻略手册》 novel; love for the xianxia genre; love for storytelling, in an era driven by capitalistic cash-grabs and the ruthlessness of c-ent.

the reality of that is up for debate, but as one individual viewer, i want to say that this drama has made me very happy. it is both respectful of and pays homage to the yao of classic xianxias.

and to be able to share and enjoy that cultural artefact—something that is so uniquely and immutably Chinese—with others, is something that brings me a lot of joy. ✨

[sickeddyville]

In Your Arms

Pair: zayne x reader

Prompt: you moved into a new city, but everything is a reminder of him

Genre: Angst, Hurt, Comfort

Word Count: 2.1k

Warning: strong emotional scene, physical intimacy (slight making out), zayne's evol slightly getting out of hand.

Note: sorry yall (not srry) its still angst (hehe), but trust they will meet again🙂‍↕️. This is my first time posting stories, ty guys for reading it!! I hope u guys enjoyed this series 🩵🩵

Part 1 | Part 2

You stepped off the train, your heart still pounding in your chest as you adjusted to the steady atmosphere of the terminal. You had done what you thought was necessary. What you believed was the best for the both of you.

The bright lights of the terminal and the busy sounds of people moving around you felt like they were in a different world, one that didn't quite match what you were feeling. You had told yourself that you'd be free here, But every corner, every step forward only made you feel more distant from yourself.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket. You had hoped for peace, to breathe without thinking about what had happened—what you'd left behind. But there was no escape from reality. Zayne's name flashed on the screen, and with a shaky breath, you ignored it.

But it didn't stop. The messages kept coming, and the little pinging sound seemed to echo in your mind, gnawing at your thoughts like a constant reminder of him. He wasn't letting go.

♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡

It had been a week since I left, I had changed everything–my phone number, my socials– everything that could possibly lead Zayne back to me. I even talked to Tara, just in case he asks her about my whereabouts. I couldn't bear the thought of him finding me. It was better this way.

Winter had finally come and the streets are blanketed in snow and ice.

I stepped into the warm cafe, hoping the warmth of a hot chocolate might just be the one to distract me, even for a little while. As I browsed the menu, a young couple caught my attention. They stood a few feet away, their laughter soft and carefree.

"What do you think we should get?" the girl asked, her eyes scanning the display.

The guy leaned in, his gaze settling on the colorful tray of macarons. "The macarons look tasty," he said with a grin.

My chest tightened, the words striking a nerve I didn't expect. Zayne loves macarons, always eyeing them whenever we passed by a bakery. He'd get a box and insist we share, though he'd always end up eating most of them. I shook my head, forcing myself to move on.

As I stepped out of the cafe, I took a sip of my drink, but it did little to nothing in comforting me against the biting chill of the air.

Ahead of me, a little boy tugged on his mother's coat, his tiny voice cutting through the cold air.

"Mom, can I have a popsicle? Please?" His mother stopped in her tracks, turning to him with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "A popsicle? Are you serious? It's freezing out here!" she scolded.

The boy pouted, crossing his arms. "But I really want one," he muttered under his breath, "Not a chance," his mother replied firmly, taking his hand and pulling him along. "We'll get something warm when we're home."

I couldn't help the faint smile tugging at my lips, as I continued walking, the cold biting harder with every step. My thoughts swirled with the past I was desperately trying to leave behind, the memories I couldn't seem to shake. I tugged my scarf tighter around my neck, quickening my pace towards my apartment.

Macarons, Popsicle, Snow, Ice, Zayne— I froze mid-step, my breath catching in my throat. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But when I looked again, there he was. Standing by the gate of my small apartment, hands shoved in his coat pockets

My heart stopped, and panic surged through me like fire in my veins. He noticed me and I marched toward him, with each step heavy and cold.

"What are you doing here?" My voice shaking with frustration and something else-something I couldn't quite place.

"Shall we go inside?" he asked gently, like he hadn't just ruined everything I'd worked so hard to build over the past week.

I didn't want him here. Not now. I needed him to leave. So I repeated, "You're not supposed to be here."

He ignored my words completely, as if they didn't matter to him. He let himself in and held the gate for me. Knowing this is a battle I can't win, I lead the way in defeat.

I opened the door and let him in, the air between us growing thick. As he sank into the couch, I stood my ground, keeping my distance. My face remained unreadable, hiding any trace of emotion.

"Come back home with me" he said his voice gentle but firm.

Frustration bubbled up inside me. This wasn't supposed to be happening. "Leave," I said, trying to sound firm, but it cracked as I spoke, betraying the fear and pain I had been holding inside. "Please..."

He didn't even acknowledge what I said. His eyes were full of that familiar, unwavering determination, and he stood up and took another step closer. "Should I help you pack or...?"

"Zayne" I interrupted, my voice barely above a whisper, as I backed away, but he just closed the distance instantly, reaching out to touch my arm.

I shoved him with all my frustration going forward, "Why are you doing this to me?" He caught my wrists easily, pulling me against his chest.

"Why don't you listen to me?" I cried, trashing against him, yet his hands held firm and steady, as if my struggle meant nothing to him.

"Just. Leave. Me. Be!" Each word came with a punch, my fists colliding with his chest in desperate defiance. But his hold only tightened, encircling me with a grip that left me no room to escape.

I'm exhausted, my knees giving up, and the tears start streaming, hot and fast, burning down my cheeks. I stopped fighting. I was unable to hold it together anymore. It all came crashing down.

He held me tightly, not letting go, as if he was trying to keep me from breaking any further.

"I dont care about what has happened or what's about to come." "But I need you, Y/N. My life does not serve a single purpose without you in it." he whispered, his voice full of raw emotion. In that moment, all I could do was cry.

I didn't know how to say what was in my heart. I didn't know how to tell him that this was never about not wanting him, but about wanting him too much.

He held me gently but insistent, like he was grounding me, holding me together. And for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, everything could be okay.

"I'm not going anywhere," Zayne murmured softly, his breath warm against my hair. "No matter what you think, I'm not leaving, not without you."

I'm crying uncontrollably against him. I couldn't help it anymore. I realized that nothing had changed. We were still stuck in this tangled mess of fate, the curse looming over us, and the future uncertain.

Yet in that moment, in his arms, I felt as though I could hold onto him forever—as if it made the world pause, and I might never have to let him go.

♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡

Zayne moved around the apartment like it was his home, adjusting things here and there as though trying to make it feel like it wasn't just a place I had escaped into. He was patient with me, never pushing for answers I wasn't ready to give.

He seemed to understand the space I needed, but I knew, deep down, he was waiting for me to speak, to finally say what was in my heart.

Later that night, as we sat together on the couch, the silence was finally broken. Zayne turned to me, his gaze soft yet serious, his voice low.

"We'll figure this out," Zayne added, his voice thick with emotion. "Together."

"If you're scared I'm going to run away again... I won't." I chuckled softly, the tension in my chest easing just a little. "Probably not anymore," I said, my attempt at humor faltering slightly as I added, "I mean, there's no point. You'll find me anyway."

Zayne didn't laugh. Instead, his expression softened, and he placed his hands gently over mine. "I'm serious, Y/N. No more games. Stay with me. Please." His voice was so sincere, so filled with emotion, that it broke something inside me.

I inched closer, my breath catching in my throat. His eyes searched mine, a quiet plea in them. Slowly, I cupped his face, my thumb brushing across his cheeks.

He leaned into my touch, his breath hitching. And then, as if the world around us had melted away, he closed the distance between us, his lips crashing against mine. As he suddenly shifted forward, making me lie back on the couch beneath him, his hands moved to the back of my head, cushioning it. His weight settled on top of me, his body pressing into mine.

I kissed him back, tugging at his shirt, pulling him closer, trying to merge our bodies into one.

The kiss wasn't gentle–no, it was urgent, as though he couldn't wait any longer to feel me, to know I was still here, still with him. His lips were insistent, demanding, but there was softness too, a silent confession of the love he holds for me.

I weave my hands into his hair as I pulled him closer. The kiss deepened, and it felt like every part of me was drawn to him, as if this kiss was the only thing that could fill the empty space between us.

We pulled away for a second, our foreheads barely apart. Quickly, our lips found each other again– It was more than just a need, it was instinct; clinging to the connection that felt as vital as air we breath.

Suddenly, Zayne pulled away. We're both panting for air, and that's when I saw it–the snowflakes drifting softly around us. His evol...

"Zayne, are you okay?" I asked, my voice soft but urgent.

His eyes met mine, still flickering with an icy storm, but he shook his head slightly. "I'm fine," he said, his voice low and strained. "Did I hurt you?"

I frowned, I sat up, my hands gripping his shoulders tighter. "No, But your evol-"

"Don't worry," he said quickly, brushing off my concern as if it were nothing. "It'll be fine in a few moments"

I shifted closer, our knees brushing, I cupped his face and kissed his forehead. He closed his eyes, his breath uneven as he tried to steady himself. I gave his hands a gentle squeeze before standing and reaching for him. "Come on," I said softly, tugging him toward me. "Let's go to bed, Zayne. You need to rest."

As we lay down, his arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close.

"Goodnight, Zayne," I murmured, my head resting against his chest, "Goodnight, my love" he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

The snowflakes drifts slower and slower until they vanished entirely, dissolving into thin air like a fleeting memory. His body slowly warming up and his breath becoming steady.

As the night settled into quiet stillness, Zayne, always so aware, still held me close, his arms around me tight, as if fearing I would slip away if he let go. His grip was firm, yet tender, and it was the kind of hold that spoke of both reassurance and fear.

I lay there, my head resting against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His breathing slowed, the tension in his body easing as he drifted off, but his arms remained securely wrapped around me, unwilling to let me go. It was almost as if, in his sleep, he was making sure that I was truly there and safe.

I tried to move, to adjust the pillow beneath me, but his hold only tightened. A quiet, soft murmur escaped his lips, something like a plea in whisper, but the words were too faint to make out. His body was warm against mine, and I felt the weight of the night settle around us, a heavy comfort I never wanted to leave.

I didn't protest, didn't try to pull away, knowing that his need for closeness–his silent need for security–was just as real as mine.

Slowly, sleep began to claim me as well, but before I fully surrendered, I pressed my hand gently over his, letting him know I was still there, still holding on.

In the quiet darkness, we found peace, bound together by something far stronger than any past, any curse, or any fear.

[anyacad0]

I am a huge high cloud quintet enjoyer so it may surprise you to learn that I absolutely hate the quest “Clouds Leave No Trace”.

let me explain. I will admit that a lot of it stems from my issues with Jingliu as a character. I appreciate that she’s meant to be cold and detached, but what bothers me is that although she says considers herself to be a sinner alongside Yingxing and Dan Feng, she constantly acts like she’s better than them, criticising them, acting as if their choice was an easy one while hers wasn’t. Her humility feels incredibly insincere, and she becomes very difficult to empathise with as a result.

then there’s the quest itself. I split it into three parts.

one: redundant infodumping

For the first part of the quest, Jingliu, Dan Heng and Yanqing travel to different parts of the Luofu so Jingliu can bid farewell to her past home. It’s basically a plot device for her to drop some lore about Yingxing and Baiheng, which is fine on its own, but the problem is, none of the information she gives is new. All of it was stuff we could already figure out from character stories and other in-game text.

the second issue with this part of the quest is Dan Heng’s presence, or rather, lack of it. Considering he’s the main character tying the quintet subplot into the main story, you’d think he’d be important to the quest focussed on them. But he’s just… there. He says and does pretty much nothing. You could cut him from the whole quest and it wouldn’t be any different.

In fact, Dan Heng also suffers greatly from the timing of the quest. If we look at the voice lines for IL, it’s obvious that he’s a snapshot of Dan Heng shortly after this quest, since he knows Blade is the one who made Cloudpiercer. Ichor Of Two Dragons also seems to take place at the end of this quest. This is an issue because both release in version 1.3, making the quest which takes place in version 1.4 feel like a regression in his character development when actually the story was for some reason out of order.

part 2: Dan Feng gets mischaracterised to hell and back

This is the worst part of the quest by far. Jingliu does her self-righteous monologue and nails the coffin shut by giving the most biased description possible of the Sedition.

she first says that Dan Feng was trying to revive Baiheng. Dan Heng’s and Jingliu’s character stories reveal that this is probably not the case, and that his actual goal was to create another high elder,

she also says that the reason Dan Feng did what he did was selfishness and an inability to accept Baiheng’s death. She fails to mention the fact that the Xianzhou treated him like a convenient weapon instead of an actual person, that he hated how many innocent people died in the war between Aeons, that his people were going extinct because of said war, that he hated how he gave the Xianzhou the power to cause so much death, that he had probably attempted less dramatic rebellions in his past lives to no avail, that the high elder succession was incredibly screwed up and he didn’t want to have to pass that burden on to his next incarnation (granted that lasts part’s only implicit). Not to mention that she didn’t actually bear witness to any of the events she described, only the aftermath.

part 3: Blade monologue

This is the only redeeming quality of the entire quest

he acknowledges that Dan Feng and Yingxing weren’t simply upset with Baiheng’s death, but with the unfairness of everything in general

he expresses genuine regret

and the way he looks up to Jingliu after she tortured him is the only time where that story genuinely presents her as someone who’s done terrible things, showing how she managed to break Blade so badly that he feels thankful for it

in conclusion, do not play this quest if you want to actually understand Dan Feng as a character

[cwritesforfun]

Emperor Geta x Fem!Reader: Escape pt 2

Link to Part One ~> READ FIRST!!!

Y/N = Your First Name & L/N = Your Last Name

They will not follow the Roman style of speech - it will be written in modern language.

*I do not own the Gladiator 2 characters or plot* I do change some of the plot!!!

Masterlist

GIF from @freckledjoes - thx! @helsa3942 had some good ideas, too!

Y/N’s POV

You lead Emperor Geta to the bedroom and help him undress as you fill the bathtub with warm water. You have him wait in the bathroom as you request night clothes for him, food for both of you, and his things to be delivered to your room. You also ask for privacy. You have no idea if Geta will divulge any other information or what you two will be up to.

You receive a scroll with the latest news at night if something bad occurs. You open and read the words, "Emperor Calla has died. Macrinus seized power shortly after. Hanno, who is actually Lucius Verus Aurelius, has taken control and now leads Rome." You need to tell Geta, but when? He seems so fragile, and what if he wishes to return to Rome?

You walk back into the bathroom and see Geta in the bathtub. You walk over, bend down next to him, and say, “You look peaceful, Geta.” He looks at you, softly smiles, and says, “You should get in with me.” You reply, "Fine, since you asked nicely." You feel his eyes tracking your movements as you change and step into the tub with him. You lean your back against his chest, and he wraps his arms around you. You both talk softly before you wash each other. You notice small cuts and bruises across his skin, but you don't ask him about them yet.

You dress in new clothes, and Geta takes your hand as you walk to the bedroom. You see the food and lead him to the couch so you can eat a little. He sits next to you, and you both eat some food.

You lay down on your bed and pat the space next to you for Geta. He climbs in bed and collapses with his head on your chest. He picks it up to kiss you on your hand and says, "Let's never be parted again, love. I don't think I can bear it. You complete me." You reply, "You can stay as long as you wish. You're always welcome here." He softly asks, "And what if I never want to leave?"

You ask, "What really happened in Rome, Geta? You told me that you faked your death and how your brother thought he killed you. But, I also see the cuts and bruises on you that tell another story." He answers, "It started a few months ago when General Acacius came home after taking over Numidia for Calla & I. I could tell it was different this time because I could see we were losing the support of the General. However, I didn't voice these opinions to Calla because he had enough on his plate, or I thought he did... I needed a release, and I was tired of everything, so I invited a girl back to my bedroom. She was a nobody, and I accidentally confided in her. I don't know what I was thinking. The next morning, I woke up to Calla and Dundus standing there. They attacked me, and the guards did nothing. I should have left and come here then ... but I hoped there was still some good in my brother. I was wrong. The fights at the Coliseum were getting louder, and the Romans were rooting for this guy named Hanno." He takes a deep breath and continues, "I heard rumors that General Acacius and others were plotting against my brother and me. We locked him up for treason, and Calla started acting out more. I tried to keep the peace, but it just wasn't working. This man, Macrinus, started showing up and whispering in Calla's ear about me. That's when I set my escape plan in motion. One of the good things about being Emperor is the endless resources that you have at your disposal. At first, I wanted to make my head out of cake, and he's crazy enough that he'd think it was real. But I knew Macrinus would know something was up. So, I did something that I'm not proud of. I found a guy who looked like me who was up to compete in the Coliseum, and I told him to just sleep in my bed to pretend to be me. I told him all he had to do was sleep there, and I'd pay him handsomely. I gave him some of my clothes, and that night, I snuck out. I threw on a brown cloak that some soldiers wear, and I went near the water to the safe house you told me about. The man, Titus, kept me hidden for the rest of that night and the next day in his small home. We set sail the next night, and by then, we'd heard that everyone was claiming I was dead and that my head was brought to the Senate meeting. I feel horrible for the guy in my place, but he was going to die anyway in the arena... You know the rest. The journey was long and cold, but I'm here."

You're shocked. Horrified. Terrified. Stressed. Sad. Angry.

Geta sits up and asks, "Hey uh Y/N, is everything okay?" You answer, "Uh I have something upsetting to tell you." He asks, "What?" You grab the scroll and hand it to him to read. His eyes widen, and he looks in shock. You say, "I um... I understand if you have to return home." He asks, "What's left for me in Rome but my enemies and a land of disease? You are my home and my future. Rome means nothing to me, especially now that you're in my life." You place your hand in his and ask, "When did you get so romantic?" He moves closer to you and answers, "When I realized I let the love of my life return to her home, and we were not together. I had to read poetry and other works to better express my love for you." You reply, "Well I love you too, Geta. I always have." He leans in and you both kiss.

You stay up late talking until you're both yawning.

At some point, in the cold, dark night, you wake up to feel fidgeting next to you, and Geta seems to be fighting a nightmare. He is whispering out loud, "Stay back. Don't hurt me. Don't hurt her." You lightly shake Geta and say, "Geta, love, you're safe." He turns quickly and you say, "Geta, love, everything is okay." He pulls you close to him and says, "I thought someone was going to execute us together for loving each other. Everyone was mad at you for liking me and they were mad at me for Rome." You softly rub the back of his hand in circles and reply, "You're okay, and I'm okay. No one will be mad at us for loving each other. Even if they are, I'm the Queen, and they cannot influence who I choose to love. My guards are loyal to me and always working, so we're safe. I take several precautions for my safety, and the safety of my guests." He replies, "I bet your people love you as the Queen." You reply, "They do, and they will learn to love you with time. We can talk about that after you get to rest, though. You had a long journey and need to sleep more." He replies, "I love you." You say, "I love you too."

Taglist: @ziggeddie & @helsa3942

Should I write a part three after he adjusts to a new land and new position ???

[chippedshake]

prompt request: cherry and bob on their first date WALK WITH ME ON THIS ONE

okay okay so I will definitely be writing this in the near future but for now here's the skeleton of my idea because I'm impatient ok (i've never written either of these characters so bear with me):

we open with a Marcia and Cherry scene

Cherry's getting ready to go on her date with Bob and she's kinda not all that excited because she's gone out with guys before and she always thought they were sweet and smart and nice and whatever but they turned out to just be assholes who were into her because she was pretty and popular

so even though she likes Bob, she can't convince herself that he's different from everyone else

I have developed a whole strategy for how she'll pick out her clothes

I love Marcia so even though she isn't in these bullet points you better believe she's gonna be in the fic

Then Bob appears

Cherry describes like an archetype of what first dates are usually like and Bob will subvert. every. single. point.

like 1st one is the guy always shows up with flowers that are always a pain because they die quickly and Cherry doesn't even like flowers all that much but lo and behold Bob shows up with a chocolate chip cookie from her favourite place

when she asks he says she mentioned once that she doesn't like flowers and finds them depressing and that they ran into each other in the bakery a couple months ago and she said it was her favourite place

Bob is down bad okay

1.5th point because I'm adding this later and don't feel like editing everything: the guy will always say "you look pretty" the moment they see her and Cherry doesn't like it because it feel artificial, like it's just their obligation to say it

Bob trained with Bev (idk if you've seen/heard of the musical but she's a Soc girl they made up to be friends with Cherry and Marcia) about what to say to a girl and compliments her earrings in particular and the colour combination

then the 2nd point is that they always bring her to a way too fancy restaurant that neither of them really like

They go out for a picnic and it's actually a really pretty setting and Bob is a terrible cook so he brought like sandwiches or something that his mom had to help him make

also 3rd point. guaranteed awkward silence when they have nothing to talk about, followed by the guy rambling about himself.

First question Bob asks: what do you wanna work as

and they talk about how Cherry wants to be a kindergarten teacher

then she asks the same question back and he says he wants to be a lawyer

when she asks why he just says his dad's a lawyer

maybe a cute moment where she says he’s his own person? idk

4th point: at some point the guy puts his hand on her thigh or something and she tries to wriggle out as subtly as possible

subverted, as usual

I'm sorry but Bob absolutely will earn the "stood out from the crowd" and "he was sweet" title, okay? In Ponyboy’s words: Cherry's smart. She wouldn't like him just 'cause he's good-looking

5th point: they're ridiculously smooth and are still flirting with her on the date, and it feels like they're trying to conquer her or something and it's incredibly uncomfortable

Bob stutters a bit and messes up and goes back on his words and will accidentally make like fifteen innuendos and apologise each time but Cherry likes it because it makes her feel like he actually likes her and is nervous (that's because it's true mijita)

finally, 6th point: they always try to kiss her goodnight even when she makes it abundantly clear they won't be seeing each other again

Bob actually fucking shakes her hand and goes to head back to his car

They end up hugging goodbye and make sure to coordinate a second date

the end

they're very cute and I love them. I hadn't ever thought about them really so thank you for the ask <3333

[friendlylocalwhumper]

He’s so small. Bigger than he used to be, his shoulders broader with muscle, but he’s still so small when he curls up on the floor. Shivering, all those old scars on display… the Hunter crouches, groaning in complaint at his sore knees taking his weight, and lays a hand on the back that trembles with every sobbing exhale.

“You’re so different, these days,” Praises the torturer. His palm runs warmly down the spine that was once so knobbly, but now is mostly shielded by muscle. “Your name almost doesn’t suit you anymore, little light.”

Those words pull a shudder from under goosebump-riddled skin. Lux draws his knees up closer to his stomach, buries his head better under folded arms.

“Remember back in the first week, when you cursed at me? Pulled against the chains, kicked at my legs…” The Hunter wraps a hand around Lux’s arm to unfold it and pull it behind him. Inspecting the shape of it, he finds more meat there than there used to be. He remembers a boy who was skin and bones. Beneath purple splotches, muscles twitch with the aborted need to pull away. “You dared me to break this arm. So I did.”

“S-sometimes… I wonder, what… wha-, what I would’ve been like. If you didn’t change me.”

The words with actual meaning behind them surprise a laugh out of the killer. He rubs that heavily scarred back fondly. The sensory input of tall, ridged whip scars under his calloused palms feels deeply sentimental. “You would’ve been dead by now, sweet boy.”

The prone man tenses up, then tries to relax, aware that pulling away is almost never the right move here. “You were someone’s sweet boy, too.”

The roar of rage above and behind him is enough of a warning before his arm is lifted at an uncomfortable angle, gripped tight, and then wrenched unnaturally beyond its breaking point. It’s happened a hundred times. Lux convulses, a scream tearing from his throat hard enough that he imagines it draws blood. His legs twist for purchase, his chest heaves for air, his back arches to try to escape the pressure that is bearing down to force the snapped arm to bend farther than it should be able to.

It’s never bearable, but Lux gasps into relative silence soon. Shivers wrack his frame as his mind catches up to familiar agony. He blinks beads of sweat from his eyes and sucks down air greedily. The whimpers that fall from his lips haven’t made him feel truly ashamed in so many years.

“It’s been a while,” Seethes the Hunter, “but I know you remember how to be good.”

Fingers at his temple. Lux whines, panicked, twisting enough to make his arm crunch further out of place, just to try to get away. In the end the Hunter’s hand easily follows, and presses to that temple, and magic is thrust into his mind.

Lux has walls up, good solid walls, but they crack under the punishing barrage of the Hunter’s furious magic. He, too, has practiced over the years, and it’s so much easier to attack with mind magic than to defend with it. You don’t have to spend energy protecting memories and fighting through pain, when you’re attacking.

“No, you know what?” Thinks the Hunter, in Lux’s mind, and then he’s back out before he even makes his way past those defenses. Lux gasps, blinking rapidly, startled sobbing gasps lurching out of him as the pressure in his skull lessens and leaves a throbbing, unbearable headache in its wake.

And then there’s pressure around his neck. Familiar, too warm - weight on his hip to turn him until he’s flat on his back, teary blue eyes blinking in shock up at the Hunter. The sight of graying hair, a slightly longer beard, teeth bared in rage blurs as fresh tears well up and spill into his hair. Those hands wrap across his throat like he was created for this. To be punished. Lux tries to twist, to look anywhere else, to drag himself free of the weight atop him… but it’s too late, it’s always too late by the point that his lungs start to burn with the need for oxygen.

The Hunter’s hungry eyes flit from his crushed throat, to his own hands flexing and bearing down, to the spilling tears, to Lux’s lips pulled taut to bare his teeth. “I can make you good, you’ll be good again when I’m done,” He promises with renewed fervor. “Why did you have to push it, my light? Why are you making me do this again?”

The threat earns a new depth of terror from the pinned warlock. His freshly broken arm even tries to move, twitching toward the Hunter’s leg.

“You could’ve gotten out with just a beating, just a reminder. But I have to break you again, don’t I? So you learn your lesson. You will never, never say something like that to me again.”

Lux tries to shake his head, heels kicking frantically across the concrete floor. His less broken arm is lifted, nails digging into the Hunter’s wrist, but that is being ignored entirely. His face is going purple, feels like it is radiating heat, and it starts to feel like the hard floor beneath him is turning into clouds. His control, his consciousness is slipping. And as he falls, falls, with lungs full of fire, his skull feels like it’s being broken open. The two hands crushing around his throat have changed to one hand, shifting to the center and shoving up under his jaw, making sure not even the weakest gasp is possible - and the Hunter’s other hand has come up to Lux’s temple, slamming magic in against defenses that have gone transparent and wobbly. The magic slices straight through.

In the split second before he gives a last, feeble jutter and falls limp, vision fading to black and his own muffled choking drowning out under the sound of blood rushing in his ears, Lux sees precious memories flashing in his mind and scrambling. Confusing - visions of his love and his daughter and old, dear friends flashing in random order. A deep sense of hopeless dread comes before the fall into an abyss of feeling absolutely nothing, his body going numb and merciful darkness claiming him.

[fuckitpossumorb]

I’ve been thinking about sdr and about how much I enjoy the magic and the abilities all of the crew portrays and I’ve noticed that the reason I fuck with them so hard it’s because all of their abilities feel as biological as they feel spiritual.

Like, bear with me, the most obvious examples of this are in Leboosh, Chuckles and Dandy.

Leboosh is simply born like this, not carbon based, non humanoid, his simply ooey gooey, oozoid self and it does so much for him as a barbarian. His body expands and bounces around rooms like a battering ram, but Leboosh isn’t stupid, he knows the abilities of his body like no other and so knows exactly how many risks he can take, how much ground he can cover, how he can use it to his advantage to cover his friends, to slow down enemies, etc.

Plus other details like how he can get sustenance from most things, or his fighting style in space which is just hit shit really, really, really hard. He is the most alien esque member of the crew and I love him for it.

Next, Chuckles, just like Leboosh his whole magic abilities simply come from his race, motliens, but what being a motlien entails is so interesting because these are humans who give themselves to the extreme revelry and hedonism and end up totally changed by an external force.

Discord (this being what changes the humans) is in this case kinda like a higher being or an infection, something that changes and mutates things to the point they are unrecognizable. Chuckles isn’t sure how he came to be a motlien, or how Discord really works, but he has the inherent ability to do all this crazy shit and is aware it could come with a cost (wild magic trigger).

He is alien in a totally different way than Leboosh who is alien-like because he is very diferent from the norm, while Chuckles is alien because he was changed so drastically from what he used to be.

Dandy! My beloved! She is so fun. She is a droid (something we generally associate with machine, the beyond human, leaving the natural world behind) but she’s a Druid! She brings back nature and is so devoted to the care of animals, plants and people. She is a droid made of stone, powered with weird crystal magic we don’t know much about and neither does she, but just like Chuckles, she has a natural instinct to pull from, to use her abilities to restore nature.

She is not necessarily alien looking, but is very much NOT like any other droid the gang could meet, she is unique in her making, and her design with all the feathers, golden accents and gems, maker her feel like an ancient relic, resurfacing after being left behind a millennia ago.

Now the two members whose powers are more obviously tied to spiritual means, Kavir and Pyke.

Featuring some spoilers for their backstories so beware!!

Kavir is obvious, he is a warlock, he made a pact with some ancient god but, in episode 9 when we learn a bit about his backstory, it seems like he was actually chosen by Father Time instead of striking up a deal with him.

It also seems like everyone in Kavir’s home planet is aware of this and familiar with this god, maybe it’s a common religion or legend in his home. Which gives it the feeling like it’s an especial thing, something that only the people of the dunes know about, an old story only spread from mouth to mouth.

So as much as it is very obviously spiritual it is also a very cultural thing that is exclusive for the people of Zahra Dune.

I also, personally, subscribe to the idea that Kavir was changed slightly by his pact with Father Time. I like to think his tattoos (whether they were done ritually or not) have changed from the normal black ink to this soft yellow bordering on gold by the magic that now flows through him, and also that they have taken a mind of themselves.

Like the lines in his arms swirl and drip like sand on the wind or falling from an hourglass, sometimes when using his powers they take the vague shapes of clocks or sun dials, ticking seconds, minutes, hours all spread across his body.

And his eyes, shining a bright golden light, maybe once they were a deeper amber color, more akin to brown, but after the pact they are piercing, bright like the burning desert sun, alluring to no end.

Now Pyke, he is very fun because his abilities seem to be very much biological but also maybe a recessive gene or uncommon trait.

In episode 12, when Pyke catches the crew up with his past in racing, he mentions that one day, at random his soul unlocked (whatever that means), that Khan noticed it and helped him nurture it, and after that he was unable to lose another race.

He also says that Rex didn’t take kindly to this, especially since Khan started being a little rougher on Rex, pushing him harder to try and do the same thing Pyke did unknowingly.

This is very odd, neither Pyke or Rett were aware that this was a thing that could happen, (earlier in the show Pyke mentions that he’s unsure whether Rex can use the same abilities he uses as they are discussing how he could’ve escaped the Rhapsody) but Khan seems very much aware of this, in fact, he knew more than he let on as Pyke also mentions finding out Khan was holding information from him.

I love all the things about Solar Elves having weird little things about them, like higher than normal body temperatures, their hair moving by themselves and shining depending on their mood, feeling connected to the stars, needing more sunlight than regular, etc.

I think all of that should apply to Pyke but like times ten.

Wherever the hell this soul is, this new weird thing that lives within Pyke thrums with enough energy to rival a dwarf star, it rests in between his rib cage and pulses like a second accelerated heartbeat, his hair moves violently nearly lashing out at the people around him like the energy bursts of the sun.

He doesn’t just need more sun that most he actively seeks it out, like moth to a flame looks for places to rest where he is near a star and can look at them, stare at them and this is the spiritualism point. He is a monk after all.

Pyke stares out at the stars thinking about them and their immensity and how many of them are in the universe, their energy, the cores that feel oh so familiar, and when he closes his eyes he can nearly hear them sing in his ears, words he cannot understand but knows deep down are familiar lullabies.

And now, finally, Rett.

He is very similar to Leboosh in that he doesn’t use magic, but disimular in how Leboosh’s abilities are all just himself while Rett uses machines.

But Rett even being able to make this machines is inherently special to just him, only aether dwarves can use this technology, they can’t express the knowledge of it or they die, it’s both a blessing and a curse bestowed upon them from birth.

It is also worth noting that Aether dwarves don’t live on planets, they live in stations they made by themselves and focus mostly on selling their tech to the highest bidder. Rett rejected this lifestyle in favor of being a bounty hunter and traveling but still has a generally high interest on machines and in upgrading things.

He constantly searches to make things better, to perfect things, even in something as simple as a snowball fight he was looking to make the perfect snowball.

Anyways,,,

I know some of this could just be chalked up to the general DnD rules biz, but I love over analyzing the funny shows I like, sooo. Gimme your thoughts?

[forcedhesitation]

why should it just be steve who has all the torturous purgatory realm fun?

[velvetvexations]

Granted I do have one thing I've told exactly two people because I'm beyond terrified of it being so cringe as to lower people's respect for me by a significant amount. Like, it's nothing illegal or even illegal adjacent, nothing sexual or anything like that, literally just cringe.

But like, I think if I told you (I'm not going to tell you) you'd be like "oh, yeah, yeah, it makes total sense to be scared of that, obviously, damn."

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Holy shit it’s gonna be alright. My parents want a diplomatic, CIVILIZED meeting almost akin to a peace treaty, to occur in a few days.

Yes yes yes yes

[moe-broey]

Homesick for arms that DID hold me but. At what cost.

[icewindandboringhorror]

The evil slow creep of it being like "haha these will just be quick little side quests, not much effort at all!" and then noticing each one is getting progressively longer than the last, thus no longer being minimal effort.. auGh....

[gaytranszoro]

sorry okay im rewatching whole cake w a friend and got obsessed with the vinsmokes this time around okay. sorry. however i am a liker of themes and motifs and doomed characters. sorrey.

[applejongho]

god...

[7-oh-ta1]

I just went on a buying spreeeee I'm so sorry bank account 😭😭😭😭😭