#the importance and meaning behind stargazing with someone

[azrakaban]

Mattheo Riddle Headcanons

Just a few little headcanons I have about my husband, loml, Mattheo Thomas Riddle <3 Sidenote: if you're confused, Tom Riddle is fancasted as the son of Voldemort rather than as voldemort himself, because he is too fit to be a noseless vampire xx

...

- his favourite colour is gray. The reason behind this is he used to know this really sweet smoke coloured cat when he was little and he used to play with her, so isnce then he finds the colour relaxing

- him and Theodore Nott have been friends since they were really young. Like 3 or something.

- when he was younger, he found a copy of peter pan in a bin somewhere, picked it up and read it. He knew his father would kill him if he found out he was keeping a muggle book, so he hid it and it became his favourite book after reading

- when he was really young, Bellatrix (his mother) taught him and Tom occlumency, to be able to hide secrets from their father. She thought it was important for them to have some kind of privacy.

- he would be an arctic monkeys fan (yes I am aware they were not formed at the time he was at Hogwarts, but if he was gen z he'd love them.)

- he's a cat person, due to being bitten by a dog when he was little (no he does not have rabies and no he is not a furry) but he has a soft spot for bernese mountain dogs because Theo Nott has one)

- when I say he has only got eyes for you, I mean it. This man would rather gauge his eyes out than look at any other girl, he is so incredibly loyal.

- He believed Rodolphus Lestrange was his father up until he saw Rodolphus yell at Bellatrix when he was 11 about him not being his son. It broke him, as up until then he had been Mattheo Lestrange. From then on, he went by Mattheo Riddle.

- love language is physical touch, always with an arm around your waist, fiddling with your hair, kissing your cheek, forehead, temple, nose, lips, anywhere he can reach.

- possessive, but not in a controlling way. He has a fear of abandonment, so he likes to know that you're still his. Seeing other guys/girls look at you worries him a little, but he can't blame them because you are literally gorgeous. (and tbh, I don't think he's ever gonna have a problem with you looking at someone else, because he's perfection.)

- would give up anything for you, and gave up smoking immediately after starting to like you.

- absolutely in love with you. I cannot stress this enough, but this man is head over heels, for you, and only you.

- has a soft spot for you. When you first met/saw him, you thought he seemed emotionally unavailable (which he was, besides joking with friends tbh) but that changed for you, he was kind, and even vunerable when he asked you out, although still prefers to keep his emotions to himself.

- just a lil thing, but th Riddle family is RICH RICH so he is always buying you gifts even if you insist he shouldn't spend so much on you.

- when I say this guy would get a dog for you, I must make you understand how HUGE this is. He HATES dogs, so this is a huge thing for him. PLEASE APPRECIATE IT!!!

- would get into fights all the time (check out previous one shot No More Fights pleeeease x) over you, for you, and with you. If you got into a fight he'd be at the sidelines cheering you on like the supportive love he is >>>>

- nicknames. Oh my god, he has so many for you, muggle references are a speciality of his for some reason. Boojiboo, Darling, Angel, Princess, baby, and his person favourite: LOVE. Love this, love that, he uses it more than your actual name.

- he has reading glasses. he absolutely hates them, but you think they make him look cute and kinda smart (which he does, picture it, trust me)

- he reads a lot. Back at his house his room is next to their library so he can have easier access to it.

- he loves astrology. He knows all the constellations, the planets, and takes you on stargazing dates

- he smells like pinewood and fire. Just a really relaxing, wintery scent

- He HATES Summer. absolutely loves winter and autumn, but summer is just horrible to him. he hates the heat and bugs mostly, but he also hates the holidays because he's away from you and his friends

- went to a lot of pureblood balls/dances when he was young and is a very good dancer.

- doesn't have the closest relationship with Tom, who is two years older than him (same year as the Weasley twins), but he can go to Tom if he needs help with anything, whether it be homework to planned Arson :)

- he has a gorgeous morning voice. all gravely but still sounds beautiful

- he loves pretending to be asleep infront of you, and deliberately pretends to say your name in his sleep to see you smile when he "wakes up" and you tell him

- he's an early bird other than when he's really tired. If you wake up before him, you're not getting out of bed for hours, he's keeping you right there with him, hugging you tightly to him to prevent your escape. (not that you'd want to)

- if he sees you're nervous, he gives you his hand to fiddle with and you play with his fingers. if it doesn't help, he takes your hands in his and squeezes them gently.

- makes really good pancakes and waffles. He had them first at Theodore's house, and Theo's mum taught him how to make them.

- he's very good with kids, surprisingly. You once managed to snap a photo of him wearing a plastic tiara and now use it as leverage in arguments ;)

- he has big brother energy, and a lot of it. After the battle of Hogwarts, when Delphini was very little, he helped raise her to the best he could with help from Tom, the other Slytherins and Narcissa Malfoy. If you were comfortable with it, Delphini would be really close with you and see you as a big sister/brother/sibling <3 you guys would look after her and raise her to not carry out the events written in the cursed child.

- continuing with big brother stuff, he helps out the first years with homework and stuff when they need it.

- if people aren't listening when he's talking, he doesn't yell, just stops talking

- he's not agressive while drunk, like ever. Infact, total opposite. It. Is. Hilarious. He loosens up entirely. Trying to get you to ballroom dance with him, tripping over his feet. He'll go full on Shakira until you have to drag him out of the room. One time you gave him a hug while drunk but he didn't recognise you so he said "sorry, I have a girlfriend/boyfriend/partner" 😭 then realised it was you and pulled you back into the hug.

- he loves scary movies, naturally, but he's actually a sucker for a good rom com if it's actually good. I'm not talking boring predictable ones, genuinely good ones.

- if he was gen Z, he would be a huge marvel fan. don't try to convince me otherwise. not collecting merch and stuff, but seeing every movie within the week it comes out.

- before you two started dating he kept listening to Conan Gray (yes I'm a huge Conan fan so may be a little biased and I know conan was not singing then but anywayyyyy) his favourite song was Heather, because he didn't know if you reciprocated his feelings, but when you got together, he gave you his sweater on the third of December. I'm so proud of him.

- he's more of a cooker than a baker to be honest, he'd bake with you, but other than that he'd steer clear of sweet treats.

- he's fluent in French, Spanish and Italian as well as English. He wanted to learn Latin as well when he was younger, but didn't have time so is learning it now.

- he wears converse a lot. don't even argue with me please, I am right. (you can quote me on that to your family if needed guys)

- he loves photography and taking long walks in nature to get photos. If you were comfortable with it, he'd use you as his muse, styling you into his photos and capturing your beauty perfectly.

- DIMPLES

- He can play guitar. Simping.

- loves spicy food, literally obsessed with it.

- his biggest fear is getting the dark mark. he doesn't want anything to do with his father, and only took the name Riddle so as not to be an insult to rodolphus.

- anytime you say "I'm proud of you" he silently pulls you into a hug. he hasn't heard those words enough, so the fact that you have said it just completes him.

- drops anything for you if you need him.

- man child. he needs your attention at least five times a day.

- big spoon. You will never ever be big spoon, it is his role, he has assigned it to himself and is very protective of it.

[bunnysnuff]

Elphaba with a S/O who looks really cutesy and is normally very sweet and soft spoken, but is very protective of Elphaba and angrily stands up for her when they see someone treating her bad:

Elphaba Thropp x gn!reader.

Trigger warnings: mentions of vulnerabilities and marginalising.

Request.

Note: can we appreciate Cynthia voice 🥰 I can hear her singing through this gif!

A Deep Connection: Elphaba is intelligent and introspective, so she'd appreciate deep, meaningful conversations with her girlfriend. Whether it's discussing political philosophy or just venting about the trials of her day, she'd open up to you in a way she doesn’t with others.

Protective Nature: Elphaba has spent much of her life feeling like an outsider, so when she finally finds someone who truly cares for her, she's incredibly protective. She’d always make sure you're safe, even if it means standing up to anyone who might threaten you or your relationship.

Shared Quiet Moments: While Elphaba can be fiery and passionate, she also enjoys moments of calm and solitude. You’d find her curled up with a book or lost in her own thoughts, and you’d often spend time in silence just being with each other. She might even show a rare, soft side when she's in your presence.

Acts of Service Over Words: While Elphaba isn't always expressive with her words, she shows love through actions. She might fix something for you, help you when you're in trouble, or take care of you when you're feeling down. She expresses herself best when she’s doing something for you.

A Complex Sense of Humor: Elphaba might not be the most openly cheerful person, but she has a wry, sharp sense of humor. She might not laugh a lot, but when she does, it’s genuine and likely over some dry, sarcastic comment. You’d quickly learn to appreciate her brand of wit.

Defying Expectations Together: As a couple, you’d likely find yourselves pushing against societal norms together. Whether it’s fighting for justice, advocating for the marginalized, or just rejecting the expectations others have placed on you, Elphaba would love someone who stands beside her in the fight for what’s right.

The Vulnerability You Shared: Despite her tough exterior, Elphaba has a lot of internal struggle with her identity and sense of belonging. Being with you would offer her a sense of acceptance, and she'd slowly learn to open up about her past, her fears, and her insecurities. She might be hesitant at first, but your love would help her heal.

Unlikely Romantic Gestures: Elphaba isn’t one for grand romantic gestures, but she would show her love in unique ways. Maybe she makes you a homemade potion to heal a wound or takes you to a quiet spot where you can both stargaze in peace, away from prying eyes. She values intimacy and personal connections over outward displays.

A Fierce Advocate for Your Dreams: Elphaba believes in standing up for what’s right, and she would absolutely stand behind your goals and dreams, no matter how big or small. If you want to fight for something important, she’d be right by your side, helping you to make your dreams a reality.

[sunandflame]

Analysis: Paulie as a Lover

Warnings: none

Word Count: 1021

Pairing: Paulie x GN!Reader

crossposted on AO3

1. Loyal to a Fault

Paulie is fiercely loyal—to Iceburg, to the Galley-La Company, and to the people he respects. That loyalty would extend just as fiercely to a romantic partner. He’s the kind of man who, once committed, would be all in. He wouldn’t be half-hearted or flaky; if he’s yours, he’s yours through thick and thin. You wouldn’t have to question his feelings—he’d prove them in both grand gestures and subtle consistency.

2. Old-Fashioned but Respectful

Paulie’s modesty and his disdain for “immodest” clothing reflect a traditional mindset. But it’s not controlling—it’s more that he gets flustered or protective. As a lover, he might struggle initially with affection that’s too forward or revealing, but he wouldn’t shame his partner. He’s the type to avert his eyes and stammer “You shouldn’t dress like that—it’s too… distracting,” while clearly dying inside from how gorgeous you look.

He'd want to be the provider or protector in a relationship, and might take pride in being someone his partner could rely on. He’d likely thrive in a dynamic where mutual respect and stability are central.

3. Emotionally Honest (Eventually)

Paulie is passionate and outspoken, and while he doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve romantically, he doesn’t bottle things up when it matters. If something was wrong in the relationship, he’d speak up—but probably awkwardly at first. His frustration or affection might come out in gruff, almost comedic ways: “Tch… I can’t get anything done with you lookin’ at me like that.” But beneath that, there's genuine tenderness. Once he feels safe emotionally, he’d become surprisingly sweet, even mushy—but only in private.

4. Touch-Starved Softie (in Denial)

He’s absolutely the type to act like he doesn’t need affection, but once he gets a taste of it, he melts. A hand through his hair while he’s dozing off? He won’t admit it, but he’ll nuzzle into it. A surprise hug? He’ll freeze, go red, and mutter something like “Jeez, warn a guy next time…”—but won’t pull away.

Behind his rope-swinging bravado is a guy who desperately needs quiet intimacy. He’d be the type to fall asleep with his head in your lap while denying he was even tired.

5. Jealous but Never Possessive

Paulie has strong protective instincts. He might get jealous if someone flirts with you, but he wouldn’t control or question your choices. Instead, he’d sulk for five minutes, then make a dramatic (but low-key cute) effort to reassert his importance: fixing something for you, building something with way too much flourish, or throwing an arm around you while trying to act cool. “Heh. Bet that guy can’t build a boat in two days.”

6. Love Language: Acts of Service + Words (Eventually)

He shows love by doing—fixing things, building things, helping you when you didn’t even ask. He won’t always say “I love you” first, but you’ll know it by how he always makes sure you’re warm, safe, and never left behind. Over time, the words will come too—but always when they mean something. No fluff. “You’re the one thing I’d drop my tools for.”

7. Lowkey Romantic—But Embarrassed by It

Paulie wants to be romantic, but he gets embarrassed easily. He’d plan something sweet—like fixing up a quiet seaside deck to stargaze with you—but play it off like it was no big deal: “Just finished repairs out here. Thought you might like the view, that’s all.” If you called him out for being sweet, he'd grumble, but deep down he loves when you notice his effort. He’s the kind of man who gives handmade gifts, even if they’re a little rough around the edges.

8. Deep Respect for Independence

While Paulie is protective, he also respects people who pull their weight and stand on their own. He’d fall hardest for someone with a backbone—someone who challenges him, holds their own in a debate, or surprises him with their cleverness or grit. He doesn’t want a pushover; he wants a partner. He’d admire someone who works hard, and he’d brag about them behind their back.

9. Conflict Style: Loud but Honest

Arguments with Paulie would be loud but short-lived. He doesn’t brood or play games—if something’s wrong, he’ll let it out in the moment. There might be shouting, arm-flailing, dramatic declarations—but no manipulation, no cruelty. Once it’s aired out, he calms quickly and is open to apologizing. He’s emotionally sincere even when upset, and wouldn’t walk away just because things get heated.

10. Acts Protective—but is Vulnerable Inside

He wants to be your shield—your rope-swinging knight in sawdust-covered armor—but there’s a lot of pressure behind that. Underneath the bravado is a man who sometimes feels not good enough, especially around people with greater power (like Franky or the Straw Hats). Your love would mean the world to him because it reassures him that he is enough, just as he is.

11. Ride-or-Die Energy

If you're hurt, threatened, or wronged? Paulie’s going to lose it. He’s the guy who runs headfirst into danger for you, no second thoughts. He might not be the strongest fighter in the world, but his loyalty makes him relentless. He’d pick fights he can’t win for your sake—and do it proudly. “I don’t care if he’s a Warlord—I’ll break his damn face.”

12. Not the Best with Words—but Always Tries

He may fumble his confessions, say dumb things when nervous, or get tongue-tied when trying to express big emotions. But he’ll try. If he sees you upset, he won’t ghost you—he’ll blurt something out, even if it’s awkward. “I—Look, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say, but I don’t want you going to bed thinking I don’t care. ‘Cause I do. Way more than I should, maybe.”

13. Long-Term: A Rock-Solid Partner

Over time, Paulie would be the kind of husband or lifelong partner who stays consistent. He might not be flashy or poetic, but he’d be a constant presence. He’d build a life with you plank by plank—secure, loving, grounded. The guy who always comes home, always remembers your tea just how you like it, always fixes the creaky door without being asked. Quiet, loyal permanence.

[sankttealeaf]

gaze upon the stars

pairing ; gale x (cleric) gender neutral!reader

summary ; you make a comment that you've never really seen a meteor shower before, and Gale decides to correct that | AO3

other info ; you know who you are who wanted this3<3 enjoy just pure softness with everyones favourite wizard man<3 gale u are always a winner in my eyes. they star gaze, they kiss, that's it, it's so self indulgent!!

word count ; 4.8k

Your nightly routine usually involves one last check in with your companions before you retreat to your tent. It’s something you actually look forward to doing, gathering up everyone’s opinions on the day and where they think you should go next. As you finish up your conversation with Lae’zel, your attention shifts to where Gale’s tent is after hearing a small commotion coming from that direction. You approach hesitantly, seeing the wizard leave his tent with an arm full of books and a slightly befuddled look. When he sees you, his face lights up. 

“Just the person I wanted to see!” Gale grins, arms outstretched which causes the books to scatter on the floor. "I've been meaning to ask you a very important question." He holds up a book you vaguely recognise to be about the stars. “Are you busy? If you are, I highly suggest clearing those plans.”

“Hello to you too, Gale,” you laugh, taking the book from him and giving it a quick flick through. Lots of dense information about space and the cosmos and what to look for when searching the stars. It’s a little intense for a nightly read before bed so you hand it back to him. “What are you doing, exactly?”

"How are you with heights?" he asks, packing something away into a carriable box before giving you a grin. You have seen that look before - he has a plan in mind and is about to rope you into it. 

"How tall are we talking?" You glance at his packed bag and the other box at his feet, eyebrows raised in curiosity. He quickly places the book you just had into his bag as he stands.

He points eastward. "There's a hill not too far from here that overlooks the valley. It may make someone with a distaste for heights a bit queasy." He picks up his things, nodding in the direction with his head. "There's a meteor shower forecast for tonight and we’re going up there to get a good spot to watch it."

The strange box makes sense now, it houses his telescope. You give him a nod, stepping aside to give him space to walk past you. He begins to walk but stops himself, giving you a look. 

"You never answered my question."

You blink and give a shrug. "I'm alright with heights."

"Excellent!" He pushes the box with the telescope into your arms. "I've packed some food for us as well in case all that stargazing makes us hungry." 

You're a little confused but before you can question him he's walking off in the direction of the hill, leaving you holding his telescope with no other choice but to follow him. 

"Are you coming?" he asks, turning to give you a look of impatience. "The stars aren't going to wait."

"Normally people ask if they want to go stargazing before you hand them a telescope," you say as you rush to fall into step with him, not wanting to get left too far behind.

"You said you wanted to see this earlier."

You recall a conversation you had with Gale this morning where he told you about various meteor showers and you mentioned that you would love to see one. It's funny, you didn't think it would be so soon.

"This particular set of meteors that are due to fly over only occur once in every three hundred years! You're in for a treat tonight," he says through a grin, obviously excited for this little excursion out. As much as you would have liked an early night, watching the stars with Gale isn't a bad way to spend your evening either. It could be worse, after all. 

He summons four iridescent purple balls of light to follow you both, two around him and two around you as to help light the way. You can’t help but reach out to gently touch the glowing orb, feeling a small shock touch your fingertips. The magic feels different to your own, a spark of arcane energy crackles from the orb as you pull your hand back. You've never really thought about the difference between arcane and divine magic before - it's not something you ever needed to think about, but watching as the orbs float alongside you gets you wondering. There's been several times where you've seen Gale cast spells and for the most part they're exactly the same as how you use your magic. You've always wanted to sit down and ask him how he channels his arcane energy, to make notes on ways your magic was alike and ways they differ. There's never been a good time for it. 

The journey doesn't take too long, ten minutes at most. You fill the silence by talking to Gale about what's happened so far on this journey and where he thinks you all should go next. His plans align up with what you wanted to do which is always reassuring to hear. Sometimes you overthink what should come next and get too in your own head with each move you make, so it was comforting to know that you are on the same wavelength as someone else. 

The hill overlooks the entire valley and there’s definitely some height to it - you can see why Gale asked about having a fear of heights earlier. The dancing lights move ahead of you, illuminating a spot that seems to be the perfect place to stargaze at. Gale dismisses them with a wave of his hand and they move like lightning, dissipating into thin air. 

“Your magic is so pretty,” you say as you reach the spot the lights were just at. “It’s so… you.”

He looks taken aback by that comment, unsure of how to respond to it. “No one’s ever said that before. Usually it’s all about the power it holds but never about the aesthetic…”

“Well, they should say it more.” You give him a warm smile, a gentle tap on his arm as you pass him to place the box holding the telescope down. Despite how beautiful it looks it is certainly heavy and you are glad to be rid of the weight. 

A soft blanket is spread across the grass, the moonlight providing you both with enough light to be able to set up the space with ease. Gale begins to take out the telescope, reassembling it with a well practised ease that has you staring a little too long.

“Have you done much stargazing?” he asks, readjusting the positioning of the telescope. 

“I mean, I look at the stars often. Not in depth or anything,” you say with a glance up to the night sky.

He nods in thought, looking up at the twinkling lights and pointing. "Up there. Look." 

You take a step closer to him, eyeing the area of sky Gale is pointing towards. "What am I looking at?"

He moves to stand behind you and tilts your head more to the left, his touch ever so gentle. His hand lingers on your cheek as you spot what he has been pointing at - a small cluster of stars just below the moon, twinkling in sync with each other. It is beautiful.

"Woah," you say softly, watching the stars fade in and out. You count around seven of them, all huddled together in one close area, shining and sparkling in a way that you seem to understand. 

“Scholars reckon that cluster is due to burn out soon,” he says as he steps back. “In the next twenty years or so they might not even be in the sky anymore. A shame, really.”

“That’s… pretty sad, actually. They’ll just cease to exist?” You turn your gaze away from the stars, seeing him set up the telescope to point over at where you were looking. “We’ll never see them again?”

“Such is the life of a star. To exist, to die. Only ever looked upon long after you’re gone.” He peers through the scope, leaving you to sit with the words he just said.

In a strange way you can’t help but project onto that. All the things your God throws at you, hoping one day to be seen as a champion for them, only to be looked at in awe by other acolytes long after you’re here. Stars and martyrs seem to share similarities. You hope you wouldn't burn out before all that though. Everything you do has to mean something. It has to.

A gentle tap on your arm brings you out of your thoughts as Gale waves you over, retreating from the telescope to allow you to take a look through it. 

“Look here, this is something extraordinary,” he says as you approach, leaning down to peer through the scope. 

“Holy shit… A planet?” You pull away to look at him with wide eyes as he nods with matched enthusiasm. “You’re kidding. That’s an actual planet?”

“One of them!” He smiles as you spend a few moments looking at the planet normally and then through the telescope. “If I can remember where the others are located, I am more than happy to point them out to you. It may be the wrong time of year to see some of them clearly, though.”

“It’s so pretty. You can see so many colours through this,” you say in awe, a hand holding the telescope to steady yourself. It gets nudged out of place and suddenly you’re looking at a small set of stars - stars that you are certain you didn't see normally. “There’s so much out there… How do you remember where everything is?”

“Practice. Lots of it. Name me a star and I can most likely point it out to you,” he says, a hand on your shoulder as you stand up from the telescope. 

“I don’t really know many star names,” you admit sheepishly, but that doesn’t seem to bother him at all. 

“Even better!” He begins searching the sky for a moment, before pointing towards something. “See that?” The star he’s pointing towards is bright, probably the brightest in the sky. He’s standing behind you, arm outstretched in front so you can follow where he was pointing at.

“It’s bright. Wait - I know this. It shows the direction of true north, right?” You look at him, noticing how close your faces were in this position. You mentally send a prayer to your God that the moonlight wasn’t bright enough to show the blush spreading on your cheeks.

“Right on the mark.” He drops his hand, letting it rest on your other shoulder. You aren’t sure if you imagine it but you swear you feel a familiar spark as his hand rests on you, similar to what you felt when you touched the dancing light orb. 

“I think I can consider myself an expert at the night sky now. Best watch out, people are going to start asking me for knowledge on the stars instead of you,” you tease, leaning back to nudge into him with a playful smile.

“Alright then, my star expert. Where’s Jassa’s Dagger?” He takes a step back, a look on his face that you can’t work out. Your eyes turn to the stars and you search for something that looks anything like a dagger. The stars blend into one the longer you search and you give Gale a sigh, admitting defeat.

“Nothing up there looks like a dagger. If you point to some stars in a similar area and say it’s supposed to be a dagger, I will walk back to camp,” you say, though the threat is empty. 

He holds back a smile. “I was cheating a little. Jassa’s Dagger is only seen in winter in the north.”

“I can’t believe you would do that to me.” You roll your eyes at him playfully, retreating to sit down on the blanket. “C’mon, self-appointed star expert, show me the stars.” You pat the space next to you, eager to listen to him tell you everything he knows about the night sky. The two of you lie back on the blanket, the evening only beginning.

The moonlight is soft and gentle across Gale's face as he looks up at the sky, an arm behind his head as he points out different constellations to you with an eagerness that warms your heart. Seeing him in this light, in this moment where it's just the two of you, makes you want to be selfish and keep it like this. Would everyone miss you back at camp? Would they even notice? 

"It's so beautiful, isn't it?" he says softly, a smile on his face as his eyes scan across the stars. You haven't been looking at what he was showing you, too enamoured by him to look away. The star's beauty is nothing compared to him, you thought. 

"Yeah, really beautiful," you reply, though you weren’t talking about the stars. 

He catches your gaze on him, and in this light you can see his cheeks flush red. "I thought we were stargazing… not Gale-gazing." 

You let out a laugh. "Can't it be both?"

There’s a moment where he considers something and he keeps his eyes on you for a little longer. “Only if it goes both ways.”

Now it’s your turn for your cheeks to warm up and you turn your gaze back to the stars, feeling his eyes on you as you pretend like everything is fine. It wasn’t, you can feel your heart racing and you hope that it wasn’t too noticeable.

A quiet settles over you both as you look at the night sky. Nothing but a slight breeze breaks the peace you have around you and you wish you could pause time to stay like this forever. It’s such a nice change of pace from running around all day, surviving by the skin of your teeth. You find yourself looking back at Gale once you are certain he’s no longer looking at you, and a smile crosses your face. He looks so at peace here. Another reason why you want to stay like this, you suppose. For so long you’ve both been dealt problems after problems and to finally carve out a moment’s peace? You want to be selfish. You feel like you deserve to be selfish right now.

He catches you staring again and moves his arm, an invitation for you to move closer to him if you want. It’s something you accept almost immediately, resting your head on his chest with a soft sigh of content. There’s only been a handful of times where you had an excuse to be this close to Gale and you were going to savour every moment of this. He’s warm, and in this proximity you can smell the faintest hint of old books, like you’ve just stepped foot in a library. It’s comforting and you ease yourself into his arms, gazing back up at the sky.

Now that you are both in the same space, he begins to point out specific stars and constellations to you, talking softly in detail about each and every one of them. His voice is calming; you could quite easily fall asleep to the sound of him. Maybe once all of this was over you could curl up in his arms with a good book with no worries except what to read afterwards. A quaint and quiet life away from tadpoles and illithids and sleeping in the middle of nature. You couldn’t help but feel a little silly for imagining a life with Gale once the tadpole is removed, having no idea if he even felt the same way towards you. You’re reminded that he’s quite literally holding you in his arms right now and took you stargazing because you brought it up earlier today. Perhaps it isn’t as one sided as you thought.

As you gaze up at the sky, looking at each star Gale points at that makes up a constellation, your eyes are suddenly drawn to some movement further west. Darting across the sky in a beam of light is what you only assume is a meteor. 

“I just saw something go across the sky,” you say quickly, tapping him in excitement and pointing in the direction of where the meteor flew by. Another moves across the sky and you grin widely, sitting up to get a better look. Gale follows, arm behind you and shoulder touching yours. He lets out a small gasp when another meteor is seen.

“Incredible! I wasn’t expecting them to be seen until later on,” he admits and you thank the stars for their early arrival.

Seeing each meteor race across the sky, sometimes multiple at a time, is wondrous. It amazes you how these things are possible and how this is the first time you were properly paying attention to it. So much of your nights were staring blankly at the sky and waiting for sleep to come but this was so different. You are actually enjoying it.

After a rather particularly dazzling set of stars shoot across the sky you turn to Gale to see his reaction but you’re met with his soft gaze on you instead.

“Hey… I thought we were stargazing,” you say quietly with a grin, ignoring how you are certain you are blushing. It’s fine when you were the one looking at him but to be on the receiving end makes you feel very flustered.

He doesn’t reply for a beat, instead moving a hand to brush a lock of your hair behind your ear ever so delicately. “I’ve seen a million stars, but nothing as beautiful as how you look right now.”

It is unexpected to the point where you have to remind yourself to breathe. Gale's hand rests on your cheek and you find yourself leaning into the touch. 

"Three hundred years is a long time to wait for the next meteor shower," you whisper, hand coming up to rest atop of his. 

"The stars can wait," he replies. 

You can't help but laugh softly. "That's not what you said earlier." 

He smiles in response and goes to reply, but his eyes are drawn upwards and drops his hand from your cheek. You’re met with the cool night air again and cannot help but miss his touch already. 

Above you the sky lights up with many trails of stars shooting across the space. When one disappears another takes its place and if your mind wasn’t so full of thoughts you would think of some poetic line about people and burning out and divinity. But right now all you could think about was Gale. As you look back across at him, you get the sense that he’s equally as distracted.

You reach for him, hand resting on his chest as the thought of how willing he was to sacrifice himself for everything crosses your mind. A frown forms on your face at that, the idea that things could be so very different if you had let him. 

“I’m glad you’re still here,” you whisper. Part of you hopes it was quiet enough that he didn't hear it but when his eyes widen ever so slightly at your comment you wish you had said it louder, to tell the Gods that they were not going to take the people you care about from you that easily.

“I’m glad, too,” he replies, his hand brushing against yours for a second. “As much as my sacrifice would help, I would miss these little moments… with you.” He takes your hand, pressing a soft kiss against your knuckles. The gesture is unexpected yet he does it so gently you swear your heart misses a beat. 

It’s like time freezes, as Gale looks up at you with a small smile. You brush your hand against his cheek, finding yourself leaning closer to him. There’s a mix of emotions you are feeling as the space between you both grows smaller - nerves and excitement course through your veins. 

“Is this alright?” he whispers as you give him a nod in response, a smile spreading across your face.

The kiss is gentle, short but sweet yet his touch lingers on you in a similar way to how your magic lingers after casting. It’s addictive and you cannot help but want more.

After living your life for so long following the demands and pressure of your deity, to allow yourself to indulge in such mortal desires is something you have never considered before. 

There’s still a hint of nervousness in the air, a hesitancy that echoes around the both of you. For so long the divine have played roles in both of your lives and now, in this space, it was just the two of you. No Gods, no outside opinions, just you and Gale and the millions of stars shining down upon you.

You didn't need the divine to tell you what to do or how to feel - you were allowing yourself this moment of peace in the middle of chaos. 

It's like a thousand stars are inside of you, twinkling and burning brightly as he reaches for you, meeting you for another kiss. His arms wrap around you and you feel the nerves melt away. Your hands tangle in his hair as he pulls you closer, leaning back onto the blanket. A soft laugh escapes your lips as you adjust to the new position, his lips meeting yours before they could be apart for too long. The kiss turns from gentle and shy to something deeper, only growing with each touch and movement. It’s like nothing you could imagine and all you could think of was wanting more.

From  the forest behind you a deep and sudden hoot spooks you both, an unexpected noise in the serene quiet you have carved out. A wave of divine energy leaves your hand on instinct, a guiding bolt scorching one of the nearby trees. The smell of burnt wood fills your nose as the flap of wings signals to you that the owl flies off, not wanting to be hit.

“You certainly showed that tree,” Gale says with a small laugh, hands resting on your waist as you turn back to him, embarrassed. 

“I guess I’m slightly on edge still,” you reply, the warmth of your magic still coating your hands. Perhaps you overreacted to that. “Though, if anyone is sneaking up on us I think I scared them away.”

Gale sits up and draws a sigil in the air, bringing back the dancing lights. He sends them away, casting light around the forest to make sure no one is sneaking up on you. When the lights show nothing but trees you relax.

“Perhaps it’s time we call it a night?” he suggests. “The last thing we need is for one of our fellow companions to come searching for us and you scorch them into a crisp.”

“You’re right.” You move back to give him some space, turning your gaze back up to the sky. “Who knew the stars could be so much fun?”

He laughs, giving you a look that suggests that he knows it wasn’t just the stargazing you enjoyed. “I’m more than happy to lend you books on the stars if you’re enjoying yourself that much.”

“Only if you read it to me. I quite like the sound of your voice.” You note the blush on his cheeks when you say that, and he’s quick to turn his back to you to start packing everything away.

The dancing lights return to your little area, the purple orbs of light flickering around you as Gale begins to pack away the telescope. You sit, fingers grazing across one of the orbs with a curious intent. A tiny shock of energy responds to your touch and Gale turns to look at you with a frown.

“Everything alright?” he asks as you give a nod, moving your hand away from the light that floats by you. He looks from the orb to you and smiles. “You know I can feel when you interact with them.”

“You can?” You gently poke the light and he laughs, taking a seat opposite you.

“It’s more like I can sense when things are interacting with it. Good for things like a mage hand or bigger spells, useless for others,” he explains and you nod, moving the light away from your face so you don't blind yourself with it. “I assume you have a similar thing with your magic?”

You give him a shrug, never having thought of that. “I’m not really sure. Your magic feels a lot different to mine, which makes sense, I suppose… being that mine’s divine in nature.”

He looks at you curiously, head tilted to the side. “What does it feel like?”

“It feels like lightning, but smaller. Every time I touch the lights there’s a crackle of energy,” you explain, hand brushing over one of the orbs that is near you. “It’s like I’m standing outside just before a storm… everything’s on edge and there’s a sense of static in the air.”

Gale nods as you speak, purple light casting over the both of you as the dancing lights rotate around. He looks pretty in the light and you want to capture the sight of him in your mind forever.

“And what does my magic feel like? You’ve certainly experienced enough of it to know.” You grin. There’s been many times where you would be at Gale’s side to heal him after a rough round of combat. No matter how many times you told him to keep back he seemed to enjoy rushing in and obliterating anything that came towards him.

“Warm. It reminds me of home if I’m being completely honest. I feel safe,” he says softly and you weren’t expecting that. “Not to play favourites but I prefer the feel of your magic than Shadowheart’s. Hers is cold, slightly suffocating in a unusual way. Yours is like… a warm embrace from someone you love.”

You immediately feel that comment going to your head and even though you wouldn't dare tell Shadowheart that, it makes you feel… something. It is hard to pinpoint the exact feeling but you know that you were going to think about that for a long while now.

Safe. The word repeats around your head and you feel your chest well with warmth at the fact that Gale felt safe around you and your magic. The divine works in mysterious ways and they seem to have blessed you with this moment. It made all the times you’ve healed him worth it.

Once everything is packed away, you begin the walk back towards camp hand in hand. It’s nice, though the closer you get back to the others you can’t help but grow nervous. The quiet away from everyone has been nice and it’s a shame it was over. As much as you enjoy the company of everyone else, sometimes they could get a bit much. You give Gale a sad look as you let go of his hand, but he just nods in understanding. This was new. You didn't want to rush anything yet.

Scratch runs up to you both as you enter camp and you’re quick to give him as many scratches as possible to keep him from barking and waking everyone up. Not that it mattered much, but you preferred your late night excursion out with Gale to not become the camp’s latest gossip. You walk back to Gale’s tent, Scratch following at your heel.

“This was fun,” you say, setting down the telescope case. “We should do it again.”

Gale gives you a sly smile. “The stargazing? Or the…” he pauses, taking a quick glance around the other tents to make sure no one else was awake. 

You’re quick to finish off his sentence. “Why not both?”

“I suppose you’re right. It was quite fun, even if it does feel a little juvenile to sneak away for a secret rendezvous of sorts.” 

“Would you prefer it if everyone knew? We can always announce it loudly next time,” you say with a laugh as he’s quick to shake his head.

“Gods no. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps in the future? If this is a thing we are to keep doing… I do rather enjoy your company, you know.”

“So do I.” You look behind you, and when you are certain the coast is clear, press a soft kiss to his cheek. 

As you start to take a step back, he catches your lips in a kiss. It’s over quicker than you would have wanted but you were both playing a dangerous game doing this so out in the open. But everyone was asleep, surely stealing kisses from him would be fine?

Against what your mind is telling you to do, you put space between you both. “Goodnight, Gale.”

“Goodnight,” he replies with a warm smile, watching you leave for a beat before heading into his own tent to hide how red his face was.

You retreat back to your own tent for the night, Scratch following behind you. Before you head inside to rest, you look back through the treeline up at the stars and smile. Maybe stargazing was more fun than you originally thought.

[lil-binuu]

˖⁺‧₊𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝

PART II ₊‧⁺˖

Resolving things with Elias

1290 words

part 1

buckle up for the ride!

“Hey.”

You turned around, a key in your hand as you closed up the cafe.

“Elias, hey.”

You hadn’t spoken to each other in a couple days. You understood that Elias needed to take a break after the argument. You both needed to.

You hadn’t reached out to him at all, you thought it would be better to let him take as much time as he needed without bothering him. Still, you hoped he knew how sorry you were.

“How was work?”

“Uh, Good… How were your lectures?”

You spoke slowly. Almost trying to process the conversation that was so different from your last. Almost trying to savour the conversation as it might be your last.

“Yeah, good. I- I wanted to talk to you. Wanna ride?” He gestured to the motorcycle behind him.

“Sure.”

There was something in you so relieved to see Elias. He seemed okay; that meant he hopefully was. If he’s willing to speak to you, does that mean he’s willing to move on?

The bike ride with Elias was the most comfort you had since the argument. But there was still a pit in your stomach as you wrapped your arms around his waist and rested your head against his back.

You wanted to hold him so tight but you knew that if you did, you might not be able to let go.

He stopped at a park. You had come here before to stargaze together. A moment so sweet that it made your tongue bitter at the thought of it never happening again.

Taking a seat at a bench, admiring the orange streaks across the sky.

“How have you been?” He asked earnestly.

“It’s.. “ You stopped yourself. You couldn’t lie to him. “It’s been.. tough.”

Elias nodded.

“Same here.”

He reached out a hand.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be anymore.”

His palm grazed the top of your hand. Threading his fingers to intertwine with yours.

You met his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I have serious feelings for you and I made a mistake by holding them back. But I don’t want to let one mistake screw everything else up.”

His eyes didn’t break away from yours for a second.

Elias continued, “You hurt me. Seeing you flirt with someone else, that hurt. I mean, you told me that I was being possessive-”

“I didn’t mean it.” You cut in.

“I know. And I also know that you didn’t do it to hurt me. You did it to get my attention. The only thing I want to know is, why didn’t you just talk to me?”

Why?

Why didn’t you talk to him? Why did you go out of your way to get close to someone just to make the person you like jealous? Knowing that it could hurt him?

To be honest, you didn’t even know.

“You know you can talk to me right? It’s important to have conversations about us, about committing to each other and about a future together.”

Wait… are you kidding me?

Was Elias really going to sit there and tell you it was your fault for not initiating a conversation when he didn’t either? He was the one who let you believe he wasn’t even serious about you and yet it’s your fault for not addressing it properly?

“You were doing the same. You were also avoiding those conversations with me. You made me think that you were just messing around and wasting my time.”

“Wasting your time? You think that being with me is a waste of time?”

“Elias, I’m not ‘with’ you. I’m just here. It’s been.. how many months of sleeping together? And yet we haven’t even moved past the ‘talking stage’.”

Elias was silent for a moment, breathing heavily. This was clearly not how he wanted the conversation to go. But you had to talk about things. You were sick of just burying them and pretending they didn’t matter.

“I.. I wanted to ask you to be my partner. Make things official…. But this isn’t how I wanted our relationship to start…”

“I’m sorry, Elias, I really am, but I can’t just forget these feelings and pretend I didn’t feel them just because you decided to man up and ask me to date you.”

“Man up? Y/n, I’ve always wanted to date you, I just wanted to make sure that what I was doing was right and that you wanted it as well.”

“And by doing that..” Your voice grew softer as the emotion began to fill your throat and well up in your eyes. “You made me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you. Like- Like you were just waiting around to get rid of me because I wasn’t what you wanted in a partner or..or something..”

You looked away from Elias. Leaning back and looking out at the darkening sky.

Neither of you said anything, your confession hanging in the air and dampening the space between you.

His hand that once had retreated, came back to rest on yours.

“I’m sorry you felt that way.”

You looked back at him, tears burning your eyes.

“You mean ‘I’m sorry I made you feel that way’?”

Elias pulled his hand away from yours, becoming defensive.

“No, I didn’t make you feel that way, you felt that way by yourself-”

“Well I wouldn’t have felt that way if you made me feel like I was actually worth something in your life.”

“Oh like how you made me feel like I was controlling and toxic? That I was possessive, and jealous all while you were flirting with a stranger in my face!”

You both fell silent again.

“I don’t know what I was thinking..” You said softly.

“Yeah, and I don’t know what I was thinking by bringing you here.”

Elias got up, and walked around the bench towards his motorcycle.

“So you’re just gonna walk off like last time? Leaving things unresolved so that in a couple days you can show up and we can argue again?”

“Get on the bike. I’m taking you home.” Elias had lowered his voice. He was done arguing.

You got up, frustrated.

“And leave again? Where will you run off to? To sleep with your side-piece?”

Elias stopped, putting his helmet down, and stepping closer to you.

“I’m not the one who flirted with someone else.”

You didn’t say anything.

“Doesn’t mean I wasn’t worried about you.”

You said in a mutter, not even sure if you wanted Elias to hear you.

It didn’t matter anyway, you didn’t get a response.

The bike ride was different than before. Earlier, you had wrapped your arms around his waist and hoped you two could work things out for the better. Now, you wrapped your arms around his waist and felt nothing but empty.

When Elias pulled up outside your apartment building, you went straight in, not saying a word to Elias.

“What are you doing?”

You asked as you noticed him on the stairs behind you.

“I’m making sure you get in alright.” He replied.

“I didn’t know you still cared.”

“I never said I didn’t care.”

“But you made me feel that way.”

Elias sighed heavily, a pang of emotion hitting him. It was the little arguments that hurt the most.

And the truth is, he knew you were right. He had been so absorbed in everything else that he put his relationship with you on fucking standby.

“Fine then.”

He turned around, walking back out the building. You made it clear you didn’t want him there. That was all he needed to leave.

He pulled his helmet back on and revved the engine.

He almost didn’t hear your scream.

note: i promise i really tried to make it fluffy and romantic and make them work it out but it’s just not in me guys >.<

[thelanternsglow]

✨7-Planet Parade on February 25th-A Cosmic Shift You can’t ignore✨

✨ 7-Planet Parade on Feb 25th – A Cosmic Shift You Can’t Ignore! 🌌

Alright, astrology lovers and sky-watchers, buckle up—because on February 25th, the cosmos is putting on a rare and powerful show! 🌠 Seven planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will align in what’s called a Planetary Parade, and the astrological energy? Absolutely massive.

These planetary alignments don’t happen often, and when they do, they create major energetic shifts. Think of it like the universe hitting “refresh” on certain areas of life. And with most of this action happening in Pisces ♓️ (one of the most intuitive, emotional, and spiritual signs), we’re in for some deep, dreamy, and possibly life-changing vibes.

What Does This Mean for You? 🔮

This isn’t just a pretty sight in the sky—it’s an astrological moment packed with meaning! Here’s how this lineup will influence us:

🌊 Emotional depth & release – If old emotions, past wounds, or unresolved feelings start bubbling up, don’t fight it. This is a chance to process, heal, and finally let go of emotional baggage.

💭 Big revelations & inner wisdom – The energy is ideal for reflection, spiritual downloads, and understanding things you might have ignored before. Expect Aha! moments and deep insights.

🛑 Slowing down & surrendering – With Pisces’ dreamy energy dominating, the usual “go go go” pace won’t work. Instead of forcing things, go with the flow—the universe is shifting things behind the scenes for you.

💡 Creativity & imagination boost – Feeling artistic? Inspired? Ideas flowing non-stop? Run with it! This alignment fuels creative breakthroughs, making it an amazing time for artists, writers, musicians, and visionaries.

💔 Soul connections & karmic lessons – You might reconnect with someone from your past (or past life 👀) or find yourself dealing with karmic cycles that need closure. Pay attention to the people entering (or exiting) your life now.

Key Astro Aspects to Watch 🌠

🔹 Mercury Conjunct Saturn in Pisces (Feb 25th) – Serious conversations, deep thinking, and no more sugarcoating. This transit pushes us to be honest, focused, and disciplined in our communication. If something needs to be said, now’s the time.

🔹 Neptune Conjunct North Node (Feb 7th, but still influencing this alignment) – Fate is calling 📞. This aspect nudges you toward your soul’s purpose, especially in spiritual or creative ways. Watch for signs, synchronicities, and intuitive nudges—they’re pointing you in the right direction.

How to Work With This Energy ✨

With so many planets aligned in Pisces, this isn’t the time for rigid plans or forcing outcomes. Instead, try:

🧘 Meditation & dream journaling – Your subconscious is wide open right now. Pay attention to your dreams—they could hold important messages.

🕯️ Releasing rituals – This energy is perfect for letting go of what no longer serves you. Write down what you want to release, burn it safely, and set the intention to move forward.

🎨 Creative expression – Whether it’s painting, music, poetry, or even dancing, let your creativity flow without judgment.

🌙 Stargazing & moon magic – Simply stepping outside and taking in the beauty of the sky can help you tune into this cosmic shift.

Who Will Feel It the Most? 🌟

While everyone will experience this alignment, these signs will feel the shift on a deeper level:

♓️ Pisces – Your sign is at the centre of this, so expect major emotional and spiritual awakenings.

♍️ Virgo – Opposite Pisces, you might feel a bit out of your depth, but trust that this is helping you break free of old limitations.

♊️ Gemini – With Mercury involved, your thoughts and conversations could take on a more serious, soul-searching tone.

♐️ Sagittarius – This energy could stir up big dreams, travel plans, or deep philosophical questions. Let yourself explore them.

Final Thoughts: Ride the Cosmic Wave 🌊

This Planetary Parade is about trusting the process, embracing the unknown, and allowing the universe to guide you. Whether it’s through unexpected endings, emotional breakthroughs, or moments of deep inspiration, something is shifting in your life for a reason.

So, lean into it, embrace the magic, and let the stars do their thing. ✨

🔭 Will you be watching the sky on Feb 25th? What are you hoping to manifest or release?

✨Follow✨

✨The✨

✨Lantern’s✨

✨Glow✨

[ninjassawthroughmyassasination]

Genshin Headcannons

Ft Xiao, diluc, kaeya, and kazuha

(These might be inaccurate)

Xiao

♡ Reserved but Caring: Xiao may be stoic and aloof in public, but with his partner, he opens up more. He might not be the most expressive with words, but his actions speak volumes. He'll show his love and affection through thoughtful gestures, like bringing you your favorite tea or quietly staying by your side when you need support.

♡ Protective Nature: Being an adeptus, Xiao is naturally protective, and that extends to his relationship. He'll go to great lengths to keep you safe from any harm, both physically and emotionally. You can always count on him to be your shield and sanctuary.

♡ Demon-Slaying Dates: Xiao might not be one for crowded social events, but he would love to take you on demon-slaying dates where you can both bond over intense battles against evil creatures. Sharing a purpose and fighting side by side would strengthen your bond. (this is a stretch but pop off ig)

♡ Cherished Moments: While Xiao may have an extended lifespan due to being an adeptus, he understands that human life is fleeting. As a result, he cherishes every moment with you, making sure to create lasting memories. Whether it's watching the sunrise together or stargazing at night, he'll make those moments special.

♡ Understanding Listener: Xiao may not be talkative, but he excels at listening. He'll lend you an ear whenever you need to vent or share your thoughts, providing a safe space for you to express yourself without judgment.

♡ Respects Your Independence: Xiao understands the importance of individuality and independence. He won't try to control or change you but will support your dreams and aspirations. He appreciates you for who you are.

♡ Gifts from Liyue: When it comes to gifts, Xiao might struggle to find the perfect words, but he'll express his love through thoughtful presents from Liyue. It could be a rare flower, a beautifully crafted artifact, or a trinket with a deep meaning behind it.

♡ Stoic Sense of Humor: Though he may not show it often, Xiao does have a sense of humor. His jokes might be dry and deadpan, catching you off guard, but they'll still manage to make you smile.

♡ Balancing Solitude and Togetherness: As someone who appreciates solitude, Xiao might sometimes withdraw to collect his thoughts or meditate. However, he will also make sure to strike a balance, making time for you and the relationship. He recognizes the importance of being there for each other.

♡ Confidante and Advisor: Xiao's wisdom and life experience as an adeptus make him an excellent confidante and advisor. You can seek his counsel on various matters, and he'll offer valuable insights with a profound understanding of the world.

(You can't tell me xiao's humor isn't dryer than a Popeyes biscuit)

Diluc

¤ Protective Guardian: Diluc's protective instincts extend to his relationship. He will always prioritize your safety (especially from kaeya)

¤ Thoughtful Gestures: Despite his serious exterior, Diluc has a caring and considerate nature. He'll surprise you with thoughtful gestures like leaving your favorite flowers at your doorstep or planning a quiet dinner under the stars, showing his affection in subtle yet meaningful ways.

¤ Balancing Duty and Love: Diluc has a strong sense of duty and responsibility as the owner of the Dawn Winery, but he also understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He'll strive to give you the time and attention you deserve while managing his responsibilities.

¤ Intimate Trust: Diluc might be reserved around others, but with you, he opens up more, revealing his vulnerable side. He trusts you with his innermost thoughts and emotions, knowing you will cherish and respect his feelings.

¤ Appreciation for Effort: Diluc values hard work and dedication, both in himself and in others. He admires your efforts and achievements and will be your biggest supporter in pursuing your goals and aspirations.

¤ Respect for Boundaries: Diluc understands the importance of personal space and boundaries. He won't push you to share more than you're comfortable with, and he'll always respect your need for alone time or space when you need it.

¤ Strength in Silence: Sometimes, Diluc finds solace in quiet moments with you, where words are unnecessary. Just being together is enough to make him feel at ease and content.

¤ Unwavering Loyalty: Once Diluc commits to a relationship, he does so with unwavering loyalty. You can trust that he will be there for you through thick and thin, supporting you no matter what challenges may arise.

Kaeya

☆ Charming and Playful: Kaeya's charm isn't reserved only for social situations; he knows how to turn on the charm for you too. He'll often tease you playfully, making you laugh and smile even during the most mundane moments.

☆ Adventurous Dates: Kaeya loves excitement and adventure, and he'll take you on thrilling dates, whether it's exploring uncharted territories or going on an exhilarating gliding trip. He'll ensure that your time together is filled with unforgettable experiences.

☆ Confident and Supportive: Kaeya's self-assured demeanor extends to being a supportive partner. He believes in you and your abilities, offering encouragement and motivation to help you achieve your goals.

☆ Mystery and Intrigue: Kaeya has a mysterious past, and while he might not reveal everything immediately, he enjoys sharing tidbits of his adventures and life with you, leaving you intrigued and eager to learn more about him.

☆ Late-Night Stargazing: Kaeya has a soft spot for the night sky, and he'll take you stargazing on clear nights, pointing out constellations and sharing stories behind them. It's a serene and intimate moment you both cherish.

☆ Master of Surprises: Kaeya loves keeping you on your toes, surprising you with unexpected gifts or spontaneous trips. He knows how to make you feel special and appreciated.

☆ Playful Banter: Kaeya is a master of wordplay and loves engaging in playful banter with you. Your conversations are often filled with witty remarks and clever exchanges that keep things lively and entertaining.

☆ Trust and Dependability: Beneath his carefree demeanor, Kaeya is reliable and dependable. You can count on him to have your back and support you through thick and thin.

☆ Emotional Support: When you need a shoulder to lean on or someone to talk to, Kaeya will be there to lend an understanding ear. He may not always show his emotions openly, but he genuinely cares and wants to be a source of comfort for you.

☆ Warm Hugs: Kaeya may seem cool on the outside, but he's not opposed to showing affection. He'll surprise you with warm, comforting hugs, letting you know he's there for you, no matter what.

Kazuha

◇ Poetic and Thoughtful: Kazuha's poetic nature extends to his romantic side. He'll express his feelings for you in beautifully crafted words, leaving you feeling cherished and adored.

◇ Nature Enthusiast: Kazuha loves nature and the beauty of the world around him. He'll take you on serene walks through the most picturesque spots, where you both can immerse yourselves in the tranquility of nature.

◇Sensitive Listener: Kazuha has a deep understanding of emotions and is an attentive listener. He'll listen to your thoughts and concerns with empathy, offering gentle and thoughtful advice when you need it.

◇ Appreciation for Art and Music: Kazuha has an appreciation for art and music, and he'll share this passion with you. You might find yourselves attending concerts, visiting art exhibits, or even playing instruments together.

◇ Harmony and Balance: Kazuha values harmony and balance in life. He'll strive to find a balance between his responsibilities and spending quality time with you, making sure your relationship is nourished and flourishing.

◇ Peaceful Dates: While Kazuha can handle intense battles when needed, he prefers serene and peaceful dates. Expect picnics in flower-filled meadows, meditating by a tranquil lake, or simply spending quiet evenings watching the sunset.

◇Encouraging Growth: Kazuha is an advocate for personal growth and self-discovery. He'll encourage you to pursue your passions, face your fears, and embrace new experiences, supporting you every step of the way.

◇Traditional Flair: Kazuha hails from Inazuma, a region with its own traditions and customs. He might surprise you with some traditional gestures or gifts that hold sentimental value in his culture.

◇Comfort in Silence: Kazuha doesn't always feel the need to fill every moment with words. He finds comfort in silence, and you'll appreciate the peaceful companionship you share during these quiet times.

◇Playful Teasing: While generally composed, Kazuha does have a playful side. He'll tease you affectionately, enjoying the moments of lighthearted banter and laughter that you share together.

♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°♤°

Bonus

My personal rating of characters

[changingplumbob]

Knightstone Household: Chapter 9, Part 13

Suzanna was out gathering minerals when she heard someone approach. Finishing off she stood up and dusted herself down. The voice behind her surprised her though.

Faye: Hey boss... can I talk to you

Suzanna: Umm, you want to talk to me?

Faye: Not really. I mean... this job is really important to me. I’ve dreamed of being a scientist since I could walk basically

Suzanna: I know what you mean, it was the same for me

Faye: I got defensive but... I thought about what you said. I did overstep with Shelley. It was unprofessional. I apologised to her

Suzanna: You apologised? That’s great

Faye: I mean, if she had tried to give me commands I would have snapped. She had every right to be mad at me. I let my personal need for success win over the need to be part of the team, it won’t happen again

Suzanna: Does this mean we’re going to be besties now

Faye: Oh heck no. I still think you got your position because you're an alien rather than you have some great talent. But I’m going to try be more of a team player. I can’t promise to like you, ever, but I can promise to do my job and follow your instructions. I hope we can move past the simray testing now

Suzanna: *laughs* Definitely

Back home Suzanna took some time to read while Silas relaxed. Eventually they got talking though and caught up on each others day.

Silas: The substitute said we were a good class. Normally she has to work out of town and teaches disguised but she was able to be in her alien form for our class. She said it felt natural

Suzanna: That’s good

Silas: I’m glad we moved here Mummy, it’s nice

Suzanna: Yeah I like it to

Before bed Silas sat down with Suzanna to learn all he could about his new alien for show and tell.

Silas: If it’s a Red Coral why does it look pink

Suzanna: Things don’t always have fitting names, but in this case it’s genetic

Silas: What does that mean

Suzanna: So female Red Coral are red, and much smaller than this one. The pink ones are boys

Silas: They are? But how can you tell

Suzanna: MRI’s of them show their insides and let us know

Silas: And why does it have the eye stalks

Suzanna: To see. Their home planet has lower gravity and their buoyancy allows them to sort of bounce around. They spend more time in the air than on the ground so they need to see more angles, so more eyes

Silas: They’re not hurt by the gravity here are they

Suzanna: No. Remember how we can read minds? I can tell that he’s not in any pain or discomfort

Silas: I know you found him on Sixam so how’d he get there

Suzanna: With the amount of time they spend in the air it’s easy for them to knock against each other and be propelled upwards. Their planet as far as we can tell is along a well traveled route. When they get too high they’re drawn to the ships and stick to the outsides as they approach other planets such as Earth or Sixam

Silas: And they just fall to the ground

Suzanna: As far as we can tell, they’ve never been found in vessels. They are remarkably sturdy. Think that’s enough for show and tell

Silas: I suppose. I just need to think of a good name

Fitting in a quick workout before bed Suzanna admired her art collection. Today at work she’d collected the last My Sims trophy she needed for a complete collection, and she wondered if she would get a plaque in the mail. She had recieved one for the aliens collection but not the geode collection so she was unsure what the humans counted for rewards. She hadn’t had much time to stargaze with the winter weather but hopefully next rotation.

The next day Suzanna called work to have another vacation day. This time Faye was more civil and promised to share the command duties with Shelley rather than bossing her coworker around. Satisfied with that Suzanna decided to give Pollock a bath, he needed it with his food flying everywhere. Adam spent the morning at the computer working on his next sci fi novel and after cleaning up her son Suzanna headed out to the garden.

While Suzanna tended her plants Pollock played in the snow, enjoying throwing it in the air and declaring he was making it snow.

While Adam headed off to work Suzanna and Pollock had a chill afternoon inside by the thermostat. Seeing Suzanna reading Pollock decided to copy her and set about studying the pages of one of his books. Pollock was excited for Silas to get home but since the older boy had homework to work on Pollock spent his time playing with the ring stack toy.

Once Adam got home the family had dinner.

Suzanna: How was show and tell Starshine?

Silas: Really good, everyone was impressed with the Red Coral. It’s funny, my class is half alien right

Adam: Yeah, and your normal teacher

Silas: But some of them hadn’t realised that other types of aliens existed. Small ones that is, they thought it was just us

Pollock: We many Silas

Silas: Yeah we are. But they were interested in your other aliens Mummy, can I take another one next time

Adam: Depends if you look after the Red Coral

Silas: I will. If it can survive a fall from space to the ground I’m sure I can

Suzanna: Technically it didn’t survive the fall as I revived it but close enough

Suzanna got the children to bed and cleaned the dishes while Adam made a final push on his book. The editor agreed that the manuscript was excellent and promised to forward it to the publisher as soon as the physical copy arrived. Heading upstairs Adam found Suzanna reading the book he’d gotten her for Winterfest.

Adam: Are you enjoying it

Suzanna: I am. There’s a gem seed in here that sounds fascinating. Of course it’s been too cold to plant anything

Adam: Not for much longer, the rain out there is melting the snow, we’re past the middle of winter

Suzanna: *sighs* We’ve had a good holiday season though

Adam: We have. Care for one last gift under the covers?

Suzanna: *laughing* I’m not sure if I’m on the naughty or nice list

Adam pulled her close for a deep kiss.

Adam: Why not both? I love you Starlight

Suzanna: You’re my guiding star, always

After woohoo the pair snuggled close and fell asleep to the sound of gentle rain on the roof.

Previous ... Next (Foster)

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor’s 2023 Qixi Event Offline Call + In-game Call + Mail

⌚ No spoiler warning since global server doesn’t get these anyways ⌚

[Translation under the cut]

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

[Anika’s Notes]: Honestly, I’d rather you guys read my twitter thread for this since I added many translation notes I won’t be adding here haha: ♡♡

—

It’s me, Victor. I’ve found Pudding.

Not sure when, but he somehow crawled into the suitcase, and now came out on his own after waking up from his nap.

Hm, it’s the suitcase we were planning to take to the desert.

Yep, thankfully, although he flipped over the contents inside and caused a mess, the gastronomic map and camping equipment a certain someone had placed in there earlier are intact. So your plans for enjoying barbecue and stargazing won’t be compromised.

The red dress you wanted to wear for taking pictures is also in there. And all those jingling accessories that were tangled together— I’ve properly sorted them out for you.

However, there are now more of Pudding’s toys in the suitcase… and he’s still spinning around the area of the suitcase.

[Pudding meowing adorably ~pitifully~]

He seems to be stating explicitly that he wants to join us for the Qixi Festival.

Whether to bring him along with us or not, let’s decide when you come back.

—

【In-game Call】

Victor: Have you left the house yet?

MC: Of course, and I’m already in the car. How about you? Have you wrapped up the meeting?

Victor: Yep, but I also found a certain someone’s new masterpiece on my office desk, and I’m still finding it a challenge to figure out what the original inspiration is.

MC: …you really can’t tell? It’s obviously a cup!

Victor: Sure enough, your self-confidence is not to be underestimated.

Victor: It resembles a vase, it resembles a spray bottle–– but it just doesn’t look like a cup.

MC: Even if it doesn’t look like a cup, the pattern drawn on the surface should still be identifiable, no?

Victor: Your artistic style has always been abstract, and the tree branch next to the chestnut is somewhat satisfactory.

MC: …the paintings on the cup are clearly several skillfully rendered fruits nestled within the grass. It’s quite easily distinguishable.

Victor: Mhm, the blackish blob is indeed “easily distinguishable.”

Victor: Speaking of which, a certain someone mentioned wanting to try out a pottery workshop last month. It turns out she was already preparing this gift back then.

MC: Hehe, the most important value of a gift lies in the sentiments behind it. I’m sure CEO Victor shares the same feelings, doesn’t he?

MC: So, will my gift be a sumptuous feast, or some sort of handmade craft like the one I gave you?

Victor: Isn’t a certain someone usually filled with all sorts of whimsical ideas?

Victor: How come you’re being so restrained during a crucial matter like this?

MC: …! Seeing how you are boasting like this, aren’t you afraid of potentially not living up to my expectations when the time comes?

Victor: I understand the thoughts of a certain dummy better than anyone.

Victor: Even if your expectations are sky-high, I’m confident I can have you giggling all night long while hugging your gift.

MC: Humph, if you can’t achieve this result, then will CEO Victor step in for the gift and let me hug him all night long instead?

Victor: You sure know how to make demands.

Victor: Nonetheless, all of this is contingent on you not being late. Otherwise, it’ll be like fetching water with a bamboo basket – all in vain.

—

[Tidbits]: the word cup (杯子) actually has the similar pronunciation to 辈子 (meaning one’s entire life). So, it’s considered a romantic gift among couples to express their emotions of being together for a lifetime~

【Mail】

“Using handmade offerings to pray for ‘predestined love and marriage’ is somewhat elusive. The wish to never be separated— just expressing it to me like this is enough.”

—

[burrat1n0]

Character Voiceovers

Voice Claim: Sapphire from Steven Universe

Purple - Locked behind Story Quest

Orange - Locked behind Archon Quest

Hello - I am Burratino, the 2nd 11th Fatui Harbinger of Snezhnaya. Though, you may use the title ‘Vera’ whenever we chat. When we are not within the boundaries of business, please, do not be so tense. Unless you are one of the people who haven’t paid their debts, rest assured I will not harm you mindlessly.

Chat: New Recruits - New recruits will come in soon… I can only hope they have some level of discipline.

Chat: Paperwork - Sigh, I just remembered the amount of paperwork piled on my desk. I forgot to do some last night.

Chat: Going Home - I always try to finish my work quickly so I may return home on time or early, as it gives me more time to spend with loved ones.

When the Sun is Out - In Snezhnaya, the sun doesn’t usually come out. So I like to soak in its warmth whenever I’m visiting other nations.

When It Rains - While we certainly don’t mind rain, our clothing does not. Come stand next to me, I can make a small dome to keep us dry.

After the Rain - Ah, the sun has come out. This would be the perfect time for a walk, in my opinion. Some rain boots are in order, though.

In the Desert - I… Much prefer the cold of Snezhnaya over this… groan Blistering heat of Sumeru’s deserts…

When It Snows - Snow… No matter the hour, it never fails to look as pure as it does. It never fails to be a sufficient backdrop for a mission, either.

When It's Windy - ... I wonder if he still watches over me, even now..?

When the Wind Is Blowing - If you listen close enough, you’ll be able to hear a friend's whispers within the wind. Maybe even a ballad.

Good Morning - The sun usually is still rising when I wake up, so I never really had the experience of being blinded by sunlight when I wake up.

Good Afternoon - Lunch time. A good time to recuperate after work, events, or just the day itself. I always like to seek company for mealtime, as I find that my food tastes better during such.

Good Evening - Traveler. Do you need something? I’m just sorting out the paperwork for some missions, and operations that are to be done and carried out… Evening? Oh. I, er, hadn’t realized time had flown by so quickly.

Good Night - Clear skies tonight, a perfect night for stargazing. Ah, ah, but I suggest that you go to sleep tonight. I’ll be fine, but you should not strain yourself. You may stargaze with me another night. Sweet dreams, Traveler.

About Vera: Polearm - A gift from years ago, back when I was younger. It was given to me by my father, after I had achieved an important goal of mine. It is something I cherish very dearly, as it holds a lot of sentimental and practical value. To maintain its condition, I only use it for battles that I deem worthy for me to use, and clean it every day to avoid staining. My right hand always marvels at how well-maintained it is, but I can assure it looked better when I first got it.

About Vera: Names - Kuval supposedly means ‘water lily’ and ‘wisdom’. At least, that’s what I remember. People in Mondstadt always complimented my name, finding it pleasant to say and hear, and how it suits me. I really only liked my first name back then, as Alberich… Well, it only reminded me of my biological father, who you know, wasn’t exactly present. I was much more comfortable being a ‘Ragnvindr’, the name of the family I felt most at ease with. But then I left even that name as well. But now, after I’ve finally had the chance to fix old bridges… I can proudly say I can take on both names. Along with… A certain someone’s last name.

About Us: Friends - I’d say after everything, we could be considered friends, no? Haha, I never really thought I’d have such a status with the almighty Traveler. Saviour of Teyvat, alongside their most trusted guide. But all jokes aside, I truly am grateful to be able to have your trust. Trust is a very delicate, but strong concept. So, in turn, you have my trust as well. Both in and out of battle.

About Us: The Stars - I’ve known for a long time that the sky of Teyvat is fake, but it does not mean that it takes away the beauty of the stars. It truly makes me wonder what the real stars are like… Even better, you say?... Ahahahaha! Well, I suppose I have to take your word for it, right? After all, you yourself have flown and traversed the stars. Maybe after the Old World has turned to ashes, the both of us can gaze at the true sky together.

About the Vision - This old thing…? While strong in battle, and while it does indeed help me in combat, I truly wish the circumstances in which I received it were entirely different. Why? Well, the story isn’t exactly pleasant, so I won’t bore you with it. Even if my vision comes from those wretched islands above the clouds… Well, won’t it be ironic for Celestia’s gift to be the reason for its downfall?

Something to Share - Whilst traversing the Snezhnayan forests, you always have to be careful. Especially during the night, as wolves or other predators usually make that time of day when they hunt. But during the day, that terror goes away and you can see some of the most adorable creatures you’ve ever seen. Foxes, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and more. The first time Childe and his family took me to see, I was absolutely starstruck. The snow just made it all the more magical.

Interesting Things: Memory - Despite my status as a Harbinger, my memory isn’t… Exactly ideal. While I am more than capable of remembering important details for a mission, and peoples faces and names and more, I can’t help but forget the small things. Paperwork, meals, the time, small errands… Unbecoming of me, I know. That’s why I always carry a notepad with me. But even with that, I still manage to forget sometimes.

Interesting Things: Children - The children of Snezhnaya are pure and untainted, like freshly fallen snow. Their smiles are innocently kind as they walk up to you and hand you a flower or treat, or ask you to play with them. It can’t help but melt your heart and indulge them just a bit. I’ve made it a habit to make small baked treats for them. But in the future… I’d more than love to have children of my own.

About Kaeya - My… Dearest twin brother. We’ve seen each other's ups and downs, back when we were younger. Always cheering each other on, always standing up for each other, always being there for the other to lean on during tough times… Always there to offer a warm hug and a ‘job well done’... Even if we haven’t spoken to each other in years, the bond we share never wavered. Not in the slightest. I suppose that even during the years we didn’t speak, we were still cheering each other on.

About Diluc - The last time I spoke to Diluc before I left Mondstadt, both of us hadn’t left any words of comfort or care for each other. I never got to hear the words he had for me until we all finally sat down and talked. About back then. Back then, all of us weren’t in the best state of mind to talk properly and hear each other out. So to finally do so and repair our bond, even after years had passed by… I had nearly forgotten how warm his hugs were.

About Crepus - For years, and years, I had always refrained from calling myself his daughter. Why would I? After I had failed to protect him, after I failed to even keep the family together after his passing… I thought myself weak, a coward, unworthy of the Ragnvindr name. But now, after all these years, of knowing his final wishes for me… I had no hesitation when I said I’m his daughter.

About Jean - Even after so many years, she still overworks herself to the point everyone has to drag her out of her office to take a break longer than 15 minutes… Yes, some things never change, but a habit like this is one of the things that need to change. Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t passed out yet… She has? I’m not surprised.

About Lisa - It was very refreshing to have a chat with her amidst all the work and avoiding my brothers. She understood that I was no longer the old me, and my need for quiet companionship with no questions asked. Only when we started actually talking did she start to pry. Despite her laid back demeanor and tendency to try and do as little work as possible, Lisa is smart and caring. She’s a good person, and a good friend.

About Eula - Back then, we never really talked much, but we did have some respect for each other and sparred together for training. She’s gotten stronger over the years, and more laidback, I can tell. Amber just has that kind of energy to her that rubs off even on a person like Eula. I’m just glad her old clan members don’t cause much trouble anymore.

About Varka - A boisterous man. All bark with the bite to make up for it, is also how I’d describe him. His claymore slices through the battlefield, and his voice commands the attention of his soldiers to lead them to victory. I’d like to see him again sometime.

About Venti - During the years I spent in Snezhnaya, the wind always seemed to follow me wherever I went. A light breeze comforting me, or a bustling wind guiding me somewhere. Sometimes, it even saved me. And when I stepped foot in Mondstadt again, I could already feel the gaze of someone watching me. But it wasn’t scrutinizing, nor was it judgemental. It was more… Parental. Warm, as if making sure I would be okay. It makes me happy, knowing that he still considers me a child of the wind.

About The Jester - Pierro was the one who found me in Snezhnaya’s woods, and the one who took me in and ultimately cared for me. In his own way. I was one of the lucky few to witness what he could do firsthand, and one of the few to receive his guidance. It’s thanks to him that I’m able to do what I do now. I’m forever grateful for what he’s done for me. Even if some of his decisions can be questionable at times.

About The Captain - The Captain… We spoke a few times before his passing, even gave me a piece of advice as I was practicing with my sword. But I could tell that he carried a heavy burden, a weight on his shoulders from 500 years ago that followed him to the moment he passed. Though, I never knew what… I’m… I’m just glad he finally got to find peace. For himself and for his comrades.

About The Doctor - Tsk, Dottore… A genius, but an incredibly insufferable and psychopathic one. He is the type of person that I hate to associate myself with, but alas, we are both Harbingers of The Tsaritsa… Whenever I deal with him, I always try to make our interactions as short as possible.

About The Damslette - She is strange, is what I have to say about her. Columbina always looks like she’s in a sort of daze, but there’s no denying the underlying power she has underneath that small smile and gentle voice. Slightly unsettling, yes, but she does make for good company. In a way. I guess.

About The Knave - Her heart is covered in thorns, but the thorns hide a core that ultimately cares for the children of the House of the Hearth. The Knave’s tactics may sometimes be seen as too harsh by others, or just downright cruel, and I understand why. But in my opinion, it seems to be enough. She is a complicated person, whose scales of good and bad fluctuate every day. But I find her to be a person deserving of respect.

About The Rooster - Pulcinella is someone I always like having a chat with, whether it be about the weather or Snezhnaya’s politics, I always find myself with a small smile during our short talks. He is one of the more enjoyable Harbingers to be around, in my opinion.

About The Marionette - Weird, but at least she isn’t like Dottore with all his segments. Eccentric, yes, but her inventions are truly fascinating to look at. And I must admit that her wardrobe is in both ways elegant and cute. It always amuses me slightly to see the top hat her robot has. Mm, speaking of her inventions… She truly is dedicated to them, that’s for sure. So dedicated she shuts herself inside her office most of the time.

About The Fair Lady - I respected her, she… Kind of respected me, and that was that. It took a while for us to hold a normal conversation, as she most likely looked down on me. But when we did have those small talks… They were always pleasantly nostalgic. I could tell she still had some sort of fondness for Mondstadt, and for children. But she always seemed to be yearning for something, something she couldn’t quite reach… Nevertheless, I hope she managed to find what she wanted in her passing. But I do wish we got to talk more.

About The Regrator - I only ever talk to Pantalone about the Northland Bank and other business related things, as he is rather… Shrewd. It’s hard to put into words, but he seems to have… A lot of pent up emotion inside him. Though, I don’t really talk to him outside work, so I can’t say for sure.

About Tartaglia - We’ve been married a few years now, and known each other longer than that. It all started when I was training when I first joined the Fatui’s ranks, and he approached me out of pure curiosity. And to look for a spar. We talked after training, and kept talking. We’d spar, take a break, spar, and talk while eating. Then we’d see each other out of uniform, I’d visit his family, and we would talk more. It was there I saw a side to him that not many got to witness, walls broken down… Including my own. Ah, I’ve rambled on about that again… My point is: I’m happy to have met him.

About The Tsaritsa - Gentle. Caring. Compassionate. Understanding. Almost like how a mother would be like. But she always has this… Sadness to her, in the way she speaks. As if weighed in with guilt, guilt that I don’t know about. Despite her ice cold hands, the freezing temperatures of the Palace, when she held my hands in hers, she was… Oddly warm. And yet I could feel the power she held as Archon, and my respect grew ten times that day.

More About Vera: I - Oh, you’d like to know more about me? Well, I don’t really see much issue with that. It’s natural to want to know more about someone. Especially someone like me, hehe. Perhaps we can chat over some snacks?

More About Vera: II - When I first joined the Fatui, a Mirror Maiden named Rowena was among my seniors. She helped me with training my control over my vision immensely, and how to utilize it in battle. Over the years, as I rose in rank, she was always there supporting me through it all. And in the end, after I had been granted the ranking of Harbinger, I asked her to become my right-hand. Now, she helps me manage my work. Whether it be debt collection, paperwork, or simply taking a break, she helps me through whatever I need help with.

More About Vera: III - Me and Tartaglia are married, but we haven’t held a proper wedding yet. Due to our positions as Harbingers, we aren't able to hold the grandiose celebration we want due to safety concerns. That, and with The Tsaritsa’s grand plan.. And familial concerns, it did not seem like the right time to hold a wedding. So, we made a pinky promise to each other. A pinky promise to live long enough to be able to hold the wedding, and be properly wed to one another.

More About Vera: IV - My vision is born from a big fight. Years ago, around the time my father had passed. I refused to leave the area he had died in, and only when I heard the distant sound of fighting did I leave. Only, when I arrived at the scene, I saw my two beloved brothers fighting each other with no restraint, with Kaeya having miraculously gained a Cryo vision with the cost of his eye. Not able to stand the sight, I ran in between the two to block their attacks, wherein my Hydro vision manifested and repelled the two. But I felt nothing for it, I even hated it for some time. After all, who would want a constant reminder of their family breaking apart?... Oh, please, do not fret, that was long ago. I’ve more or less come to terms with what happened, so don’t worry.

More About Vera: V - My ancestry goes all the way back to Khaenri’ah. Back to the founders of the Abyss Order… Ahahaha, really not a good omen, is it? More than once, during my fights with the Order, have they brought up the ties I have to their founders. More than once have they tried to sway me to their side with superficial dreams and half-baked lies. More than once have they tried to guarantee my heart's desire. And more than once, have I struck down each and every deal, along with any of them who stood in my way. I will not deny my ties to Khaenri’ah, but I refuse to let it shape my entire life and future. Because, no matter how great a nation it was, Khaenri’ah is now in the past. Why should I grieve a nation that I have never seen, after all?

Vera's Hobbies - I have taken up crocheting over the years. I can make scarves, cloaks, hats, gloves, and other clothing accessories. As well as little trinkets suitable for gifts or decoration. I find it incredibly calming, just mindlessly moving and making something out of it too.

Vera's Troubles - I have problems sleeping properly throughout the night, which in turn makes me lose rest, and in turn makes me more irritable throughout the day. Which isn’t the best thing to be as a Harbinger. On the occasion I have nightmares, it gets even worse. I’ve had to start taking medicine that helps me sleep better, and it’s been working. Enough.

Favorite Food - I’m not much of a picky eater, but if I have the choice, I like meals that are easy to eat. Though when I’m on certain missions, I don’t really have the option to be picky.

Least Favorite Food - I don’t like foods that are hard to eat and chew. It just makes eating tiring, and sometimes even feels like I’m eating a big rock. But if it’s the only thing on the table, I will eat it.

Receiving a Gift: I - Delicious, simple as that. I have heard of your culinary prowess, and I am more than pleasantly surprised. Surprised enough to ask for a second portion to take back home.

Receiving a Gift: II - It tastes good. The flavors go well together, and the dish looks nice. Good work, Traveler.

Receiving a Gift: III - Uhm, this is… This is not palatable, I’m afraid. Perhaps you can, er, gift this to someone else. Thank you.

Birthday - Happy Birthday to you, Traveler! The day you are born is always a momentous day to celebrate, because it means that you’ve persevered to live another year despite the hardships you’ve faced. I’ve prepared for you a cloak made by myself, it should be suited to your tastes and keep you warm from Snezhnaya’s winters. Traveler, I hope that you will continue to live a life with minimal difficulty. Even if you do encounter a stump… Please know that you are not alone. Happy birthday, Traveler.

Feeling about Ascension: Intro - One step forward is a step nonetheless.

Feeling about Ascension: Building Up - Fascinating, how much a person can learn and grow… Either in years, months, or even days. Maybe even hours.

Feeling about Ascension: Climax - This power… Is unlike any other. And trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of power.

Feeling about Ascension: Conclusion - The time we have spent journeying together is an experience I will never forget, Traveler. I have learned much, seen much, and witnessed much. I have learned from you as much as you have learned from me. For that, you have my thanks.

[lionhcartt]

where: cupid's carnival who: @hedcniist

Before heading over to her shift, there was something important she needed to do.

"Special someone?" The florist asked as she handed over her credit card in exchange for a bouquet of Stargazers, smile tugging at her lips.

"The most special." She replied before dashing over to the carousel where they said they would meet. She was running a little late... but she hoped Val wouldn't mind. She had a very good reason.

She tip-toed to spy over people's heads in the search for her friend before lighting up at the sight of her.

She tucked the flowers behind her back before popping up in front of her.

"Happy love day, gorgeous!" She beamed, the first true smile she could manage in a while. "I swear, you're probably the only person I can say that to right now and mean it." She said with a playful roll of her eyes before presenting her with the flowers.

"I know Lilies might be a little on the nose, but they get to remind you of me, so figured we both win." She teased.

[creoterative]

Mateo or Yun chuan hcs

If dating someone

I imagine their second bounties are very telling

🥺

I. Am. So sorry.

This has been sitting in my requestbox since last week I think and I absolutely forgot about it, shame on me, really.

I'll go with the Lore again and make up my mind about it, because, I gotta admit it... I don't own them either... I can only read what is given to me on the Wiki or in animations... sorry :>

Again, I apologize for taking so long, but I've done my research and heeeere it comes - I'm gonna do both xD :

Mateo

It literally says in his Lore "The burning ember Mateo left behind must have melted the icy walls surrounding someone's heart."

So I'm gonna go with that, it sounds very symbolic and kinda nice for someone as ruthless and arrogant as him.

Mateo isn't coldhearted, but... he's harsh. Even finding someone to date him would be pretty challenging. I imagine him being quite picky with the company he keeps.

From what I've seen of him so far, the only thing he really wants to be, is a hero. The way to achieve this goal though, that, uhm... isn't important at all. He'll make sacrifices if needed, not if they are morally correct, so I think that's the same approach he'll have in a relationship.

Finding someone to date is hard enough with his character and story, but if he does, his affection is gonna be like an exponential curve. It starts of very slow, very low, just little sparks and turns into a flickering flame until it suddenly explodes and becomes a blazing tornado.

Mateo seems like the kind of guy to take his time with relationships and dating in general. He's slow, not wanting to pick the wrong person, but it takes one impactful event and he's head over heels.

He might become a bit... clingy after that.

In an affectionate way, but... it can be annoying from time to time.

It takes a lot for him to open up though since too many people tried to humiliate him in the past and of course he doesn't want that to happen again.

As mentioned before, it'll take time. But after the ice is melted, well, his significant other will have a friend for life and the force of fire and storms by their side.

He doesn't like physical affection though. I imagine him being more of a praise guy. If the significant other is talking to him, about him, with him, that's all he needs. He doesn't need long cuddles or movie nights or walks in the park. Talking to them is what he gets his energy from in the end and affection through words is what he seeks. In the end, he'll learn to return the favor.

Edit:

"You're safe with me" is said a lot. Does it work? Not really. Does he mean it? No, he knows quite well that his significant other won't be 'safe' with him at all. What he actually means is "Danger follows me everywhere, but I'm here to protect you at all cost".

Fancy is a word that might describe him, but that's a word to describe most of the characters in Dislyte. Fancy restaurants, fancy cars, fancy gifts for the loved one. But when it comes to the actual romance, he's... or he seems to be rather easy-going. Traditional. Stargazing, good food, talking... that's more his style.

Don't give him too much credit, the man will become even more arrogant than before and keep a personal record of the times he's been able to get a "You're so cool" out of his significant other.

Yun Chuan

Oh he's soft.

Dumb, but soft.

Well, not dumb dumb, more in an innocent way, he's just... uhm... slow. When it comes to dating.

I imagine him being quite determined and if he's set a goal for himself, he doesn't stray from his path, so dating is just the same.

Yun Chuan is sweet though and can be a real gentleman if he wants to, but on the other hand, if he finds a significant other, he expects them to train just as hard as he does.

That is more for their own protection than because he's demanding the same determination. He knows very well that he can't be around at all times, so he wants his love to be strong.

I think he's definitely more cuddly than Mateo, while also being more on the distant side. He won't cuddle when other people are around, but when they're alone in a room, yeah, then he's all in.

Depends on the phase of the relationship of course, because I imagine him being a bit shy at the beginning, not knowing what he can and can't tell the other person.

Much like Mateo, he is loyal to the end, but other than Mateo, betrayal doesn't affect him as much. He's kinda used to it and somehow even expects it, so while there isn't a constant thought in his back, telling him that they might betray him one day, he knows that it COULD happen. And all he wants to be is prepared.

Lots of talking about and playing with his little guard dog.

Aaalright, that's it, I hope ya like it ^^

Have a nice day and stay safe!

[stonekey]

TIMING: Late 2023 FEATURING: Luci (@luci-in-the-stars) & Thea (@notstinky) LOCATION: A hill somewhere SUMMARY: Thea is looking at stars when she's joined by Luci, who was hoping to do the same. The two get along well, but Thea's HAIR has other ideas...

Thea adjusted the knob on the side of her telescope, bringing Neptune in all its bright glory into focus. She’d never been more pleased with a birthday purchase before; it had been a little treat to herself considering the rest of her birthday went a little bad, to say the least. Eating an entire camping family was pretty bad but, hey, at least she had the telescope! Thea always thought it was important to look at the positives. Other than a few bumpy nights out of the month, she was a totally normal girl. And now, with her bald hair fixed via a strange hair tonic, there was nothing stopping her from enjoying the night sky and all its splendor. With Neptune at its annual opposition, it was the best time to view the planet—the summer triangle still hung high in the sky, Jupiter was bright as always, and Pleiades was getting ready to illuminate winter skies. 

The crunching of grass behind her, shrill in her ears, caused her to snap around. Thea’s vision easily adjusted to the dark, observing the figure that approached with their own telescope. Thea wondered if she should have felt more alarmed at a stranger invading her carefully thought out stargazing spot (she’d run her own research, running around town to find just the right altitude) but the sight of the telescope both instantly calmed her and endeared her to this stranger. “Hello!” She waved, her words tumbling from her mouth at a rapid pace. “Come to see the sky too? I’ve got Neptune locked in on mine and I think I can get Triton too, if you wanna take a peek.” She paused. “Oh, sorry.” Thea stuck out her hand, “I’m Thea. Sorry, I get excited.” 

—

Luci had wanted to figure out the star maps here before she asked potential friends to come with her. After all, it would probably be embarrassing if she wasn’t able to name the stars over here. It was just so much brighter then where she had lived, where only the brightest of the stars could get through - even with her telescope. So she had asked around where a good stargazing location was, and had carefully packed up the telescope she’d gotten for her fifteenth birthday and set off. 

Although she hadn’t expected someone else, Luci wasn’t at all frightened seeing a scope set up. After all, it was a beautiful night to stargaze and as nervous as she was to do it in front of friends and get things wrong, others weren’t a bother at all. Especially when they seemed friendly. With a smile that reached her eyes she said, “Hi - yeah I did. It’s a lot brighter here than where I’m from. - Oh you can see Neptune here? I hadn’t realized it would be bright enough.”

Without thinking Luci nodded her head excited at the idea of seeing Neptune with her own eyes on a screen - only stopping as the other remembered normal customs. “Oh - no worries. I got excited too. I was going to look at your scope before even getting your name. You see -I’m trying to make some star maps and - well you know,” Luci said with a blush starting on her face. At the hand Luci took it and shook it gently and said, “Oh I’m Luci - It’s nice to meet you Thea.” 

—

“Yes!” Thea perked up. “It’s in opposition right now, which means it’s opposite the sun and—“ Thea shook her head. “What am I saying? You probably know this, you’re trying to make a star map. Anyway, it’s right in front of Pisces, so the trick is making sure you’re not actually looking at Bélénos or something.” To anyone else, it probably sounded like gibberish but Thea trusted that to her new friend Luci, who was definitely now her friend, it was comprehensible. “And by my angle, if I’m right…” Which she usually was, she’d been stargazing since she learned how to speak and ask about the bright dots that populated the night. “…I should have Neptune.” 

Thea grinned, asking, “where are you from, Luci?” She gestured to her scope to allow her friend Luci—she was going to force them to be friends if she had to—to look through it. “They’re a lot brighter here than where I’m from too. I grew up in the city and you probably know, city stars are…” Thea sighed. “…hard to see. Toronto has never been known as a great astronomy location. There’s a dark sky preserve like two hours away from the city but that’s like, two hours away.” Not that she didn’t regularly make the trip anyway. 

The hair did not like this conversation; it was not about hair. The hair had awoken with the sound of another flesh sack sloshing around and that was particularly tantalizing. How easily did Luci bleed, it wondered. Maybe they could make a star map out of that.

—

Luci’s eyes glittered in excitement as she followed what the other was saying “Oh! That would make Neptune a lot easier to see. Oh to be fair I may not have known it. So you’re absolutely fine.” After all, Luci herself had a habit of over-explaining herself, and if she was honest she loved hearing people talking about things that they were passionate about. It didn’t bother her at all. Nodding along she continued, “I bet you are.” 

Going closer to the telescope and looking into it just confirmed that her new friend was. For a moment Luci was more concentrated on Neptune, taken with how bright it was here before going away from the telescope, “Yes that’s got to be Neptune! Wow, it's pretty.”  

Looking at Thea now she said, “Oh I’m from the Bronx. - Oh New York City.” She quickly corrected herself, knowing that she shouldn’t just assume that people knew what the Burrough was even if it was a habit of hers to lead with it.  “I could see some of the stars, but - not like all of this. I bet in the winter it’s even clearer I can’t wait to see them. - Oh you’re from Toronto?” Luci said liking to know new facts about people and gave a smile and nod. “Oh wow I’d never heard of that! It must be so nice to see the stars without any light pollution.” 

She wondered idly how the stars must have looked like, and wondered how she’d  feel seeing them all bright in the sky. Would Luci feel small, or in awe of what the universe could produce just outside of her reach? Part of her wanted to ask Thea what she thought, but figured that was too much of a conversation for first meeting and instead stuck with, “I know it’s a bit of a lame question, but what’s the coolest astrological body you’ve been able to see? - Oh I am kind of assuming you got to go to the dark sky preserve, but if you did you know?” She said smiling at Thea, hoping that there was an answer. 

—

Thea brightened, at her own emotional height—if she could be seen through a telescope, she probably glowed. “Yeah! Isn’t it just?” A lot of people had a passing or romantic interest in the stars; they might look up and think it was pretty and learn a few names but few people were scientifically fascinated. Finding celestial bodies in the sky wasn’t just as easy as pointing some lens at the sky; there was measuring, finding the ecliptic, charting a course though other known bodies, adjusting and fine, yes sometimes looking at an app. Did anyone ever appreciate that she was using an apochromatic doublet refractor telescope? Sure, it wasn’t the same as the Sky-Watcher Evostar 150DX that she had in Toronto, after she’d saved up all five thousand dollars for it, and sure it couldn’t look at deep space objects but at least it wasn’t a Powerseeker 70EQ, or something. 

“New York City…” Thea repeated. She’d always thought of New York as the sort of place people wanted to escape to, not escape from. How much of a right did she have to judge when the same could be said about Toronto? Which was as Thea saw it, the New York City of Canada. She decided not to comment on it. “Oh god,” she grinned, memories tumbling into her head, “like, so many things: a couple of nebulas standout, Dumbbell and Crab; clusters like Hercules and then you get to the shit that doesn’t even have proper names like M5, M12; and every planet in our solar system, every bump on the moon, comets, asteroids…” Thea’s eyes swelled with water. She gestured up at the inky sky, jumping in place. “How can I pick? It’s all so cool, it’s all so beautiful: there are billions and billions of things out there, and they’re billions and billions of miles apart and when you stare up at them all you see is the little dots but far off, far away, farther than we’ll ever go, they’re burning beautifully and brilliantly and for this moment--this cosmically small grain of time--I get to see it. Me. The universe is so grand, so big, so unfathomable and I get to see it.” Thea sighed, clutching herself as tears streamed from her face, emotions of existential wonder.  “I don’t think you pick a favorite. It’d be like picking your favorite drop in the ocean, or something. I don’t think you do that. I think the first time you look up at the sky, like really look at it, like the first time you see a celestial body, you accept that that’s the greatest fucking thing you’ve ever seen and there’s a billion of those. More than a billion. A stupid, unthinkable, infinite number of beautiful things. The first time I saw Jupiter, I had nightmares for months.” 

And like that, with Thea holding herself against the cosmic beauty of the universe, The Hair lunged, darting out of the darkness. It aimed to slice Luci’s skin and spill the red nectar of her body. 

—

Luci was easily in awe of the sky. She often felt small, and it was no different now but there was something comforting when it was the cosmos telling you. Her notebooks and star charts couldn’t match the feeling of peering up and knowing that the stars flickered on no matter what you did. There were rules and laws that guided them into their place and they were wholly unfazed by her. It should make her feel lonely, Luci thought lightly but her eyes grew instead thinking about how they flickered and she wondered what secrets they could tell her. Just because they didn’t know her didn’t mean she couldn’t know them. “Your telescope is amazing, wow the winter up here’s going to be phenomenal.”

“Yeah,” Luci said at her home wondering if she was connected to it. She certainly thought she was connected to her family but the place itself wasn’t all that important to her. No place really felt all that special, but right now the stars twinkling at her did. At the others' explanation she nodded slightly, listening carefully, and trying to find a way to write it down. It was beautiful, in a way that Luci couldn’t articulate and she liked Thea - and she wanted to remember what she said. It made her pause though as she saw the other get emotional at the stars and for a moment Luz wondered what that felt like. She was in awe a lot of the time and she felt the emotion and the amazement that you could see all the stars and planets in their own universe but - Luz was always a little outside. She always felt like an observer and not a participant but that might be too much to express to someone she just met. How you were in awe of something but couldn’t feel the emotions of it as easily.  Instead she turned to show Thea her notebook to ask if she wanted to see the list of elements related to the different stars to share some of her knowledge as a thank you - when suddenly there was a flash of something coming at Luci. 

Without thinking, Luci tried to move away her hopeful smile turning neutral as she felt her arm suddenly in pain and wet. Looking at her friend her eyes grew wide and she said, “Thea - not to alarm you but I think - You have something on your head. Oh -” Without room to finish her statement Luci side stepped again trying to avoid whatever it was moving to her bag instinctually. 

—

Curiosity built up on the edge of Thea’s tongue; questions dug into her mouth. She wanted to ask Luci what celestial body was her favorite, if she agreed with her take, if it was totally lame that she was crying about Jupiter, if they could be best friends for real because she’d never met anyone else that got it like this. Then her hair streaked across the sky and for the first time since it’s started attacking people, Thea was sad about it. She probably should have felt sad about it sooner, considering all the damage it had done, but this time was more personal; she was desperate to be Luci’s friend. “No!” she shrieked, but her hair had never listened to her before and wasn’t going to start now. 

The Hair stabbed the earth, thousands of strands of dark hair woven together into large spikes. It was slow, always going where Luci had just been rather than where she was, but slowly it was learning. Each piercing blow, safely nestled into the earth, gained momentum, chugging along like the starting engine of a train. Soon, its speed rendered it a blur in the air, stabbing wildly in the direction of Luci. 

“Um, it’s just hair!” Thea called out, dancing from foot to foot. She tried tugging her hair back, but it tugged back on her and she hissed as it ripped at her scalp. “I mean, It’s pointy! And it wants to eat you! But like, if you have scissors…it’s just hair!” If her new friend died before they could officially be friends, she was going to cry. 

—

Luci wasn’t exactly scared, now curious about why her new friend’s hair was - trying to eat her? Maybe this was something Milo was worried about as she moved again to miss the hair again, her arm stinging where it had gotten to her. She was bleeding now, and she should be concerned about it. It did seem to want her blood. While not ideal, it wasn’t something that was going to make her abandon Thea who seemed rather distressed. 

“Fascinating - how long has it been doing this?” Luci said moving again to get out of the way, almost dancing dodging as she tried to think of what was happening. Her tone was more relaxed than her movements as her brain whirled with the possibilities. She had a pair of clippers in her bag, and a lot of her wanted to take a bit if only to see what the hair was made of. Still, that couldn’t have been the solution right? “It’s just hair? - Did you put something on it or does it have a mind of its own? Oh sorry that’s probably rude of me I just meant has it always been like this or is it new?” 

Luci probably couldn’t dodge the hair forever, but she wanted to at least see it closer. If only because Thea looked like she was in pain too. It wouldn’t be good to leave her upset, and besides she wanted to ask her more about the stars. Still, it was getting faster and faster and while Luci had been on the track team she was still a human.  “This might sound weird - but did you use something magical on it? Or get an object or something?”  Holding her bag in front of her she heard a thud, where the case of her telescope stopped the hair still pushing Luci back. She might have to fix that later too - wouldn’t be the first time. 

—

“Fascinating? Fascinating!?” Thea screeched, digging her heels into the dirt. The Hair didn’t relent in its volley, charging after Luci with fury. “It’s trying to kill you and this is fascinating?” At least Luci wasn’t running away screaming; that boded well for the potential friendship Thea was aiming for. Eventually, when she realized Luci’s questions wouldn’t stop, Thea decided to answer them. She did so all at once, whimpering into her violent strands of hair. “Yeah! I put something on it. A hair serum? From the internet? It said it was totally safe!” It had actually said ‘100% sock’ but Thea took that to mean safe. Although, she had noticed her hair had a strange love for socks. “Um, I guess it was magical? I mean, magic doesn’t exist but…I guess?”

The Hair recoiled off the crunch of the telescope case, disoriented. It returned to Luci with an animated hunger; the strands pooled together to form thicker missiles, plummeting the ground. The Hair throbbed with its hunger. With each moment, it only grew more desperate.

“Can you do anything?” Thea called out, desperate. “Anything at all? I don’t want you to die!”

—

 Luci was a bit put off on why the other thought it wasn’t fascinating, but she still huffed out, “Yes I’ve never seen hair that can do that. I would love to study it - once it’s not trying to kill me.” She managed to stun the hair for at the moment letting her get a little father away from the hair and to her bag to pull out the bag. 

Pulling out a notebook she grinned,“ Just stay there for a minute Thea! I’m not leaving but I think your hair will take a second to get back up. I think I can help if it’s magic. If it’s a hair oil it can only have so many compounds. I’m just going to change one of the compounds okay?” Luci knew it probably wouldn’t make much sense but she flipped through the pages she had already filled out. Vera had wanted a hair oil before and - bingo. 

“Okay I’m coming back! When I do I’m sorry but I’m going to have to give you a hug okay? It might be scary but your hair won’t hurt anyone,” She said getting up and ripping the page out. She’d need to touch Thea’s hair to the paper, but she figured it would be easier if she gave a hug to do so. That, and it kinda seemed like Thea needed a hug with how upset she was. Milo often gave people hugs when they were upset, especially to Luci so it shouldn’t be so wild right?  “Ready?” 

—

“Study it? My hair?” Thea wasn’t sure if she should feel complimented or worried; either her new friend Luci was weird or she was the weird one. She hoped it wasn’t her; she’d gone her whole life trying not to be weird. Sure, she was a weird child but everyone was a weird child, right? “I guess you can? I mean, you can have it!” But not, like, all of it. Thea hoped that part was implied; she didn’t want to be bald again. Then Luci started talking about compounds and Thea grabbed wildly at errant strands, trying to hold them back. “Like chemistry?” she asked. “You’re going to do chemistry on my hair?” But she couldn’t wrap her head (and hair) around what that meant. Sure, everything was chemistry, technically. Everything had compounds; everything was made up of something else. But what could Luci possibly do?

“A hug?” Thea blinked and the offer startled The Hair as well, which slackened just enough for Thea to close the distance between them, arms outstretched. Hugging Luci wasn’t at all like what she thought it would be like—not that she’d been thinking of hugging Luci. It was precisely her not thinking that this could happen that was surprising about it. Luci was soft, warm, and she smelt nice. She felt like a friend. Thea’s eyes started to fill with tears. It had been so long since she’d been hugged, really. Her throat tightened. And what if her hair ate Luci? What if she did? Here was this nice young girl who shared so many of her interests and there she would be, impaled by hair or—as was more likely—having to be picked out of Thea’s teeth. Maybe she didn’t deserve nice things like friends or hair. 

Maybe it would be okay if she was bald after all.

The Hair didn’t agree. Unlike the wet meat body it was attached to, it had a hungry desire to live and thrive and it was going to eat. It was going to—

—

Luci nodded a little, “Like chemistry.” It was the thing that she knew best after all next to magic which - in all fairness was linked in her mind. Alchemy and Chemistry twisted and folded together that while they were separate fields it was only just barely. She liked that about her kind of magic though, to be so close to what regular humans could do if only just a little twist. 

Running up to Thea wasn’t hard wrapping her arms around the other girl she thought that it was - not unpleasant to hug people. She wasn’t a hugger normally, that was usually Milo’s job - but it wasn’t bad either. Pressing the page into the hair Luci felt the now purple sparks flowing from her hand into the page dodging the hair that seemed hungry for flesh and blood for some reason. There was time to answer questions later, but there seemed to be a shuttering stop of hair as the sparks flew. 

For a moment everything was still, the page disappearing as the compound changed subtly - just one off to what the structure had been before and Luci waited still holding her new friend cautiously as if worried the hair would start up again. She was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to do anything if it did hit her. 

“Um - How does it feel? Murdery?” Luz said moving back just a little. 

—

The ends of The Hair lit up, and the mass recoiled, tightening into a hardened lump. Slowly, the strands burnt up, fizzling into particles of non-magical dust. In the end, there was no more hunger, no more desire to murder either. There was no more hair. 

Thea opened her eyes; she felt lighter. She felt cleaner. She felt…colder. Cool air traced the top of her scalp and without raising her hand to her head to check, Thea knew; she’d been bald long enough to remember how it felt. What she didn’t know was how Luci had done it. All she’d taken from her bag was some paper, as far as Thea could remember. Did she paper-cut her hair into non-existence? But then what was all that she was saying about compounds and chemistry? Questions swirled in Thea’s head, followed by the swamp of bald-sadness. Above, the stars continued their flaming luminescence. It was chemistry too: a series of compounds smashed together that would eventually burst and float away and reform into new stars. Thea reminded herself of the expanse of the universe, and how tiny she must have seemed to any star. Her baldness felt trivial. 

But Luci didn’t. “Not murdery.” Thea shook her head, forcing a small smile. “Oh, but I think I’m getting a special transmission…” Thea rubbed her bald head, which sprouted a small field of fuzzy, new hair. “Hmm, I think Neptune is saying we should look at it some more.” She gestured at her telescope, which miraculously hadn’t moved. Slowly, her smile grew. “If you want to say Luci, I think the universe is waiting for our eyes. And I think we should be friends.” And she wasn’t going to think about how her new friend just made her bald. Again.

There were an infinite number of beautiful things out there, somewhere. Down there, with them, Thea thought they possessed a perfect fraction of it: a new friendship and the stink of burnt hair.  

[zenasflower]

Flowers For Funerals

Flowers for funerals convey sincere sentiments to the bereaved. They add a richness and beauty to the event, uplifting those who are mourning.

Roses are one of the most popular flowers for funerals. Each color has its own connotation. Lilies, in particular, evoke a sense of peace and purity. Chrysanthemums symbolize remembrance and are often included in floral arrangements.

Roses

One of the most popular flowers for funerals are roses. They symbolize love and sympathy. A classic bouquet of white roses reflects peace and purity. Lilies are also popular choices for funerals. They symbolize the innocence that is restored to a soul that has passed on. White lilies convey majesty and purity while pink (stargazer) lilies express sympathy.

Tulips and daffodils are often used at funerals to provide a visual reminder that the grieving family is not alone. These bright and cheerful flowers remind the family that life will eventually include happiness again.

Carnations are another popular flower for funerals. Their bold colors and affordability make them ideal for large floral arrangements. The color of a carnation also carries specific meaning, such as red carnations expressing affection and pink carnations indicating remembrance.

Lilies

Whether you’re buying flowers for yourself or someone else, it’s important to understand the meaning behind the blooms you choose. The right floral arrangement can convey a variety of sentiments, from your deepest condolences to your admiration for the deceased.

Lilies are an especially common flower choice for funerals as they signify a renewal of innocence and purity. However, they have different meanings depending on the color – white lilies symbolize purity while pink lilies represent sympathy.

The traditional casket spray is an elegant display of a full or half-casket filled with one or more types of flowers and greens that sits on top of the coffin during the service. These arrangements are usually selected by close family members. Standing sprays and wreaths are also popular choices and can be made from a wide range of flowers.

Carnations

Carnations are an appropriate flower for funerals and each color has its own meaning. Red carnations express love and white symbolize innocence. Carnations are often used in wreaths and standing sprays.

Other flowers include forget-me-nots, which represent eternal love, and chrysanthemums that express sympathy. These flowers can be shaped into hearts, crosses or rosaries and are appropriate for any service.

Floral arrangements are typically sent to a family’s home or to a gravesite for a burial ceremony. Wreaths are circular arrangements that resemble the shape of a coffin. Flower arrangements called standing sprays are larger and are placed on an easel near the casket. They are usually selected by close family members.

Gladioli

Flowers can be a comforting symbol of love and support during difficult times. When choosing Flowers for funerals in Liverpool to send as a sympathy gift, it is important to consider traditional language and meanings. Roses and lilies are popular choices for funerals. Lilies symbolize the innocence restored to a soul who has passed away. White lilies express majesty and purity, while white stargazer lilies signify sympathy.

Gladioli are long-lasting and make a beautiful addition to funeral wreaths or standing sprays. Their broad spectrum of colors convey different sentiments, with pale pink and pure white expressing admiration and remembrance.

Roses are an ideal choice for funeral arrangements, as each color carries a specific connotation. Red roses convey respect and love, while dark crimson roses evoke feelings of grief and sorrow. Yellow roses are traditionally presented by close friends and indicate enduring love.

Chrysanthemums

The flowers you choose to send can tell a story about your relationship with the deceased. They can also help express your condolences to the bereaved.

Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, are a popular choice to add to funeral flower arrangements. They are believed to symbolize joy and optimism and their orderly petals represent the sun’s rise and perfection. The Japanese even have a national chrysanthemum day, known as the festival of happiness.

These flowers are long lasting and come in a range of colors, each expressing its own meaning. For example, red carnations evoke affection and pink ones are thought to be a symbol of remembrance. White stargazer lilies are known to be a symbol of sympathy. They are frequently seen in classic fan spray arrangements.

[tifa-simp]

Oh? Never thought of this. But since you bring this up, I wonder if Gongaga LS and the Dream date suppose to be foils too.

Both girls fall from high place. Both girls take a brief trip to the afterlife. Both times Sephiroth is there to control Cloud and later goes after the girls.

With Tifa, Sephiroth uses the black whispers to manipulate the situation, takes over Cloud's body and only release his influence when the killing is done. Tifa's saved by the WEAPON, she hears her mother's, father's, old friends' voices guiding her to safety. Follow the voices, Tifa visits a lot of her special places like her house, the water tower, the Nibelheim bridge, we can see Seventh heaven and Stargazer height and Nibelheim entrance somewhere too. Then we see Sephiroth manifests from afar with his real body and immediately tries to kill Tifa but fails so he attacks the WEAPON instead (Also this is the only time we see Sephiroth canon struggles in a fight). However he does manage to make her suffocated and out cold. While being unconscious, Tifa sees even more of important people in her life (Barret, Dr Sheiran, Zangan and Aerith) and they all give her words of encouragement. Then we see the second time Sephiroth has talked to someone telepathically (the first is Cloud, if I'm wrong please correct me so I can fix it), mocks Tifa that her words can't reach Cloud no more. And after that, the WEAPON returns Tifa to the gang.

With Aerith, Sephiroth also controls Cloud but seem like it's not the same type of control in Gongaga. Cloud acts like an actual puppet in the Temple. And the black whispers attacks both Tifa and Aerith this time, not Cloud. When Aerith falls from the branch, either Cloud breaks free from the control or Sephiroth lets him go, he runs and saves Aerith and fall into the dream. In this dream, which takes place in sector 5 Midgard, we don't see Elmyra, Marlene or the sector 5 boy Oates, or anyone we know before, the only people we're familiar with in this world are Cloud and Aerith. Later we meet a bunch of npc that used to appear in Crisis core in Aerith and Zack's date. The difference that in this dream date, everything goes wrong. None of the gift options are available, their couple photo isn't chosen, all of the snack taste bad. At some point we can see the black feathers of Sephiroth flying around like he's taunting her. To end the date, Aerith asks Cloud to go to "their place" but Cloud didn't understand what she means at first. It's the church where Zack's sitting outside.(Fun fact, we can see a dog toy and a dog graffiti- likely reference to Zack, in previous date spots). After giving Cloud the white material, Aerith pushes Cloud to a portal and we can see Sephiroth is right behind her. It's unclear if Sephiroth's done anything to Aerith in the dream world, all we know that right after that, Sephiroth follows Cloud and shows him the true nature of reality. So my guess is that Sephiroth is after Cloud in the dream date than Aerith. Finally Aerith says goodbye to Cloud and they're back to reality.

Just like the parallels above, these 2 scenes mirror each other, one takes place in the Lifestream in the dark and one takes place in a seemingly afterlife world in broard daylight, one has memories of real Cloud and one has Cloud in the flesh of another variant of himself. One has Sephiroth directly attacks her and one has Sephiroth seems to skip her to aim for Cloud. One receives a lot of supports from all the dear people in her life and one has none.

A fun side parallel that I noticed after checking the dream date.

These are Tifa describing the Lifestream- which is a part of the Planet, Sephiroth describing the sound of the Planet and Cloud describes the sound of the Planet. There's so many ways we can interprets this parallel.

1. Has the Planet always been screaming but it doesn't do it with Tifa? Or was it really chill by Gongaga but gets so much worse to the point of screaming by the end of Rebirth?

2. Does the Planet wants to show to Tifa that it's winning but Sephiroth who thought it's on his side mistakes that as a rapturous sound and Cloud mistakes it as agony scream? Or does Sephiroth just want to gaslight Cloud but Cloud hears how it truly feels?

3. Does the scream sound different to different people so Sephiroth hears cry of joy while all Cloud hears is screams and Tifa hears no scream? Is the Planet more gentle to Tifa and more hostile to Cloud?

Idk if this is intentional from the devs but it's a fun parallel to think about.

I just realized how much these scenes mirror each other. There’s the obvious standing at a railing; night vs day; facing left vs right; bringing up Midgar as a way to start conversation. There’s more physical distance between Cloud and Tifa compared to Cloud and Aerith, and he doesn’t respond to Tifa’s attempt at casual conversation. He knows they’re about to have a difficult, personal convo, and he initiates it by voicing his doubts that Tifa is real. Aerith, on the other hand, catches Cloud off guard by bringing up Tifa. He’s expecting casual conversation, not a personal talk, and he’s reluctant to open up about what’s going on. Aerith ultimately doesn’t get much out of him.

I also think it’s neat that when Cloud is recounting (what he thought was) Tifa’s death, you can see the clock tower lit up behind him. The clock tower he climbs the next day with Aerith — the girl who does actually end up killed by Sephiroth later.

[sapphirefallschronicles]

- ̥۪͙۪˚┊❛ Welcome to Sapphire Falls - chapter 7 ❜┊˚̥۪͙۪◌

Basketballer!Chris Evans x Abigail Syverson (plus size!ofc) & Farmer!Syverson x Livia Darmandi (Asian ofc)

Summary: Sy thinks about Livia and the time they spend together as teens.

Word count: 1.2k

Warnings: None

The Advent Calendar (a.k.a. the masterlist)

I had kissed her once. It was when we were fourteen and were discussing first kisses. It was there and then I discovered Livia had never kissed before. Someone as beautiful and desired in our town by many kids at our school, I was sure she had kissed someone before.

However, that wasn’t the case.

Livia Darmandi had never kissed someone.

But after our first kiss and therefore hers, we never acknowledged it anymore. But here we were, sitting underneath the dark sky, filled with shining stars. Stargazing was something I would never voluntarily admit to anyone I enjoyed doing. However with Livia I didn’t hide my love for it. 

My parents were inside, Chris was at practice and Abigail was probably in her room, staring at the damn camera of hers that appeared to have grown against her hand. 

I preferred being outside anyways, but like everything else, it was nicer when I was in the presence of Livia. Already clothed in a thick sweater, she was still shivering as the night grew colder and like always, I would hand her my jacket.

‘Nights like this are my favorite,’ she whispered. ‘It’s the darkness, resembling the mind  and its darkest secrets, while there are also tiny stars, tiny silver linings of life.’ Livia turned to the side. ‘Don’t you think?’

‘Maybe,’ I mumbled, nowhere near as poetic as she was. ‘I just like to hope for a shooting star.’

‘And if you were to see one, what would you wish for?’

‘You,’ I said in a joking tone, though I meant it wholeheartedly.

‘Why would you wish for me? I’m already here.’

‘Yeah, but you forever. That you are gonna be my best friend forever.’

Livia smiled. ‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Caleb Syverson. I’m almost like endless weeds. Always there, even when you don’t want it.’

‘Bold of you to assume I would ever want to get rid of you.’

There was a long silence between us, but it was different than other times. When we first kissed, we hesitated, but because Livia said she didn’t want her first kiss to be with a random person, instead with someone she trusted, we overcame our hesitation.

And this silence, it felt like I went back in time. 

Back to that moment.

‘Kiss me, Liv.’ It left my lips before I even realized it, however Livia didn’t appear to be in shock. Maybe she felt the same thing I felt.

But nonetheless she shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ she whispered. ‘Sy, we’re friends and I always want to be your friend. Forever and ever. I can’t lose anyone so important over a kiss.’

‘Just one kiss,’ I said, my tone hoarse. 

She blinked her eyes, her beautiful dark eyes hiding all that despair behind them, never once letting me in completely. Only showing shatters and bits and pieces. And then she leaned over, pressing her soft lips on mine, her small and slender hand on my cheek. I held her close, as I never wanted to let go, never wanted to stop kissing her, but she pulled back way too quick. ‘Just one kiss.’

Instead of listening, I leaned in again for just a short moment. Just to steal one more peck of her. She accepted the invitation and answered it with a deeper kiss. 

Don’t let go, Liv, I thought to myself. Please, whatever you do, don’t let go. 

At first she didn’t, her arm wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer to her. There were many things I wanted to tell her. Screw us being friends, I want to be your boyfriend and for you to be my girlfriend.

But I didn’t. And then she pulled back. ‘Friends,’ she told me, though she was probably most like telling herself. ‘We’re best friends, Sy. Forever.’

●・○・●・○・●

Working on the farm means that you’re always getting dirty, so there is no use in me investing in high quality clothes, when lumberjack blouses, simply shirts and jeans suffice. I am cleaning the stables, where we keep the horses among other animals. While we have a few horses, Regina continues to be my favorite. 

Regina was my mother’s horse. No matter how long it has been since mom passed away, I still miss her on a daily basis and spending my time around Regina helps me reconnect with memories I had with my mom. Regina is an older horse, so we barely use her to ride. She’s mostly a nice introduction, for when kids want to pet a horse but are a little afraid. Regina is calm, sweet and patient. 

‘Never walk behind a horse, otherwise you get rightfully kicked in the face,’ I hear a very familiar voice say from behind me. Livia never had a deep voice, but when she pretends, it sounds weird and a little funny. ‘If I remember correctly, those were your exact words.’

With a smirk I turn around. ‘You sure listened well and have the memory of an elephant and I mean that in the nicest way possible.’

‘I’m deeply touched.’ Livia looks casual, with a simple sweater, skinny jeans and boots. The other day, during our reconnecting time here on the ranch, she dressed up a little. Even wore green. I truly think green brings out her best features. She looks beautiful in green. She always looked put together, but seeing her casual like this, I like it. ‘Poop scooting?’

‘You are right.’

‘I’ll leave you to it then. A proper lady never touches animal feces,’ she jokes with a dignified voice. 

‘You came for Abigail?’

She shakes her head. ‘No, I came for you. It’s shocking to see how there is no queue here, desperate for one glance of Caleb Syverson.’

I’m not following. ‘What?’

‘Come on, I just got back from the store. Those gossipy old hags are still there. They recognized me and asked me if I knew whether or not the Syverson boy was dating.’ She smiles and adds: ‘Look at you, the bachelor of Sapphire Falls.’

I shrug, before I continue to clean up the stables. 

She leans in the doorway. ‘Don’t you want to settle down?’ Livia asks.

‘I’m in no rush.’ I look up to her and ask: ‘What about you?’

‘Well,’ she says, ‘it turns out, I absolutely suck at relationships. Can barely hold a relationship together, so… No settling down for me, I suppose.’

‘What was his name again?’

‘Ian. Big city boy.’

‘That’s where you went wrong, Liv. Those big city boys are no good.’ I try to make it sound like I’m joking and in reality I am, but this is about the guy who dumped Liv, multiple times. I feel I have the right to absolutely despise and loathe him. 

‘I know,’ she says in all seriousness. ‘I know that now. So, I shouldn’t expect ‘The Bachelor, Sapphire Falls’ edition anytime soon?’

‘Nah,’ I chuckle. ‘You know how I am with cameras.’

Livia nods. ‘I do. Promise me, before I head back to New York, we take a picture together. You and me.’

Part of me wishes she isn’t going back to New York, but knowing I can’t tell her that, I nod. ‘Of course.’

A second goes by, followed by another, before Livia clears her throat. ‘Now, hurry up with cleaning, so you and I can hang out.’

‘We can hang out here.’

She shakes her head. ‘Ew no, I’m part city girl now. This smell is absolutely appalling.’