#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.

[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 >.<

[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)

[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.

[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!

[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.”

—

[fudanshipoe]

the brightest star in the sky 🌌

— g rated, sigma & dazai pre-relationship, 1.7k

- they/them for sigma (Sigma is transfem nby in this au, but this is set pre-transition)

- pre-ADA member sigma

- stargazing, descriptions of hospitals and panic attacks

- day 5 of my fem sigma week event (stars)

- first in series of ada sigma au oneshots

- cross posted on my ao3

The first and last thing Sigma sees is a bright light. No light at the end of the tunnel, bit a blinding, fluorescent glow above them. What feels like needles prickles from head to toe, a dull throb vibrating through every vein in their body, somehow scalding hot and ice cold to the touch. They hear the faint, monotonous drone of a– heart monitor? Sigma was hardly familiar with medical equipment, but they were briefed on it concerning the Casino having a clinic room, and had limited knowledge from the past. They were watching their body behind a mirror, eyes cracked under the blinding– fluorescent?– lights.

A hospital. That was where they were, likely. It was the most they could deduce in the thick fog in their brain. Sigma stirs, their body heavy, all energy drained. Their eyes squint against the harsh light while they try hard to recollect their scattered thoughts.

A noise, someone clearing their throat, cuts through the monotonous buzz surrounding Sigma. They blink a few times, focusing their eyes and moving their head to the side. It's a hard feat, taking what nonexistent energy they have. Dazai smiles back at them. It's Dazai, Dazai is in their hospital room. A thick lump forms in their throat, and they swallow the questions crawling through their mind.

A weak groan bubbles in their throat, and the sound catches Dazai's attention. He speaks with an even tone, a reassuring demeanor carefully crafted through his relaxed posture, “Ah, I was starting to think you'd never wake up! A regular Sleeping Beauty, aren't you? Escaped the kiss of death, it's rather unfortunate, don't you think?”

What an absurd response, Sigma thinks somewhere in their clouded mind. Everything about this strange man was, from his mind to his behavior. It made Sigma more exhausted to even try to figure Dazai out. Their eyebrows knit together, and another low moan is all they can manage to respond with, but Dazai doesn't seem to mind. The book he held in his hand is set on his lap, Sigma doesn't bother trying to be nosy and read it from that far away. Not when their head is pulsing from the inside out. Dazai stands up, striding over to Sigma's bed.

Like the mind reader he is, Dazai begins to answer the string of questions circling through Sigma's mind. “You were in a coma for a few weeks. After that rat Dostoevsky left you for dead, Chuuya and I were able to take him down. The others took care of the rest. Everyone is in remission now.” His arms are spread out by now, and the high, overacted lilt to his voice grates Sigma's ears. They shift, pulling at the IV connected to their arm without meaning.

Dazai reaches out, putting a firm hand onto their shoulder, “Don't do that, you'll rip it out.” The tone of his voice drops, and Sigma can tell he is speaking in earnest now, “Things are still being figured out. I was able to get Yosano to help you, so that knife wound won't bother you.”

And he was right, they noted. Of all of the bone-deep aches coursing through Sigma's body, none of it feels at all like a stab wound. Yosano was the doctor, they were sure. None of this was important, though, and Sigma knit their brows together with hard focus, any effort at isolating their thoughts.

Sensing that Sigma could understand him just fine, Dazai continued. “Rest for a bit, alright? You can fill me in later, I've done my part."

There is nothing left in Sigma to refute him, so they reluctantly nod. Any conversation after that goes unheard by Sigma, blurring in the background along with their vision as the exhaustion overtook them.

The world continues to be dark, even after Sigma's eyes are open. It takes them a minute to register that it is late at night, or early in the morning, they can't begin to tell. A soft grunt escapes their lips as they arouse in a stir. It takes a valiant effort to brace their arms against each side of the hospital bed and pull themself upright. The one positive note Sigma can make is that they can at least sit up now. To Sigma's surprise, Dazai is still in the same chair as before. Sigma can see the vague shape of him in the darkness.

They struggle to untangle themself from all the wires, but Sigma takes caution as to not yank their IV needle. The room is eerily silent. The long twisted shadows of the surrounding medical equipment spurs an unfamiliar, dreadful sensation in the pit of their stomach. Sigma has dealt with being thrust into alien situations countless times, it's one of the simple things they experience being in their place. The uncertainty of it plummets them into emotional turmoil they know all too well.

Sigma makes the brilliant decision to slide off of the hospital bed, using the IV pole as a form of support. It slips from their grip a few times while Sigma tries to keep themself steady, though the effort proves failed. A soft thump is heard when they finally collapse into the chair next to Dazai's, all energy depleted by that little action. Hospital chairs certainly are uncomfortable. The cheap material sticks to Sigma's legs through the thin hospital gown material despite the low temperature of the room. They push the IV pole away from them finally to beside their chair.

Sigma folds their hands neatly in their lap, surveying their surroundings. Though the room is bathed in shadows, a bit of light spills in from the moon above, casting just enough so Sigma can see the room. Now that they're up and awake, they can really take it in. The room is falsely welcoming. A sterile smell lingers in the air accompanied by the blank wash of the room itself. Everything was white, except for some beige accents like the chairs, the small table between them, and the average looking painting of a flower vase above the hospital bed. Their eyes sweep over the room with disinterest until they look out the window. Sigma can only assume they're in Yokohama, which is evident by the amount of light pollution. Not that it was an obvious enough assumption to make beforehand, on account of Dazai's information earlier. The sky is muddled between hazy artificial whites and yellows against the stark black above. Blurred together in an unrecognizable mass. The stars are hardly visible beyond the clouds. It is a sight causes them to sigh.

A sudden interjection is heard, a sharp contrast to the thick silence from before, “I'm glad to see you're up and moving.”

Sigma's head whips over their shoulder to face the tired smile on Dazai's face. They swallow before they nod once, blinking at him. “You scared me.”

“I could say the same. My apologies, I'm a light sleeper. I haven't gotten any rest, cleaning up this mess has been so busy.” It's an awfully honest statement coming from Dazai. Sigma can't find any indication that he is trying to play a little game, which takes a bit of weight off of their chest to worry about.

“It sounds like it.” No other words can be said right now, so they relent to stare back out the window to avoid conversation.

Dazai, on the other hand, does the opposite, and continues to prod Sigma with a question, “Is there something interesting out there? I suppose you've probably never been around a big city before.”

Hesitantly, Sigma shakes their head. The reality is they haven't really done much in their life. What has there been to do? Three years of qualms over their own existence and place in this distant world doesn't exactly leave much time to experience regular life. A few awkward moments pass before Sigma is too antsy to let the silence hand over, “I was trying to see the stars.”

“The stars?” Dazai rubs the back of his stiffened neck, stretching his limbs from the ache of napping in a chair. Sigma watches him closely, and Dazai returns the favor back.

It's unclear what either of them are searching for anymore, so Sigma confirms his inquiry. “Mhm. I think they're pretty.” That was at least one of the things Sigma had time to do. Staring up at the sky, some silly attempt at escapism into their own imagination.

“I see.” The simplicity in that response can only irk Sigma. Their grievances dissipate quickly, for once, when Dazai continues. “Do you actually know anything about them?”

It's a difficult thing to answer. Knowledge about the nature of the world is understandably limited for Sigma. They start, “Oh, not much.” The conversation can't go dicey again, or else Sigma will die, so continue to keep up the impression that they can still feel their own limbs. That they aren't about to collapse under the weight of their own situation in front of someone else. “Um– they make shapes?”

Dazai squints his eyes against the darkness before a look of recognition forms on his face. “Constellations.”

“Con– constellations.” The word falls messily off of Sigma’s tongue. “Yes, those, thank you. I know a few by their shape, the um– the spoon one?”

Their face flushed when Dazai laughed at them. It was ridiculous to even try conversing with him, everything was a joke to this man. Thoughts race through Sigma's head while they curl inwards on themself, but those thoughts are quieted when Dazai's flurry of giggles dies down. “It's called The Big Dipper. There's the Little Dipper too, connected to the North Star.” A confused expression must be visible upon Sigma's features because Dazai continues on, “The very bright one, that you use for navigation.”

“I see.” At a loss for words, Sigma echoes Dazai's earlier remark. “Thank you for the information.”

“You're so formal about everything, you remind me of Kunikida.” Fondness colors Dazai’s tone now at the thought of his friend and partner.

A wall is put up in Sigma’s mind as they nod, the action catching Dazai's attention. He leans forward in his chair a bit, easing some of Sigma's worries as he speaks. “Don't worry, you'll be introduced to the rest of my coworkers some time soon. I know you've met Atsushi.”

Sigma casts a glance back out the window, before they nod curtly. “I would like to meet them.”

[gwynbleiddyn]

🍓 🍁🙊 🙉💧🌟🌏 for MiMi <3

MIMI...

🍓 STRAWBERRY - do they eat their fruit & veg? what is their favourite fruit or vegetable?

he is a fan of his fruit n veggies

favourite fruit is maybe pomegranate???? or watermelon??? like pomegranate is so tart but slightly sweet and Mio likes sharp, strong flavours but watermelon,,, juicy,,,

honestly Mio will eat any veggie so long as it's been obliterated with garlic and honey which were pretty much staples in any form of cooking back home and i think maybe by definition the fact garlic is a veggie might put that as his favourite bc it makes everything else nice

🍁 MAPLE LEAF - what is their favourite season? why?

very obviously summer because it has his favourite weather, his favourite occasions (his birthday) and his favourite associations (rebirth and association with his prime deity)

also everything is just so much more colourful. so vivid. the world feels like a more tangible place when you can see every detail that hasn't been washed out by autumnal fading or winter's stillness.

🙊 SPEAK-NO-EVIL - what is something your oc will refuse to stay quiet about?

hmmm i had to think about this one... he's very good at keeping secrets, even ones that are terrifyingly big and potentially life-altering. probably most especially those ones. so he doesn't have too much in the way of things he can't stay quiet about, however...

i think it would have to be something in the vein of defending things considered holy - like, if someone were to decry pelor or sehanine or insinuate that his belief in the gods is meaningless, he wouldn't take it lying down, yknow? he'd almost always retaliate, even to the defense of other gods that aren't his own. and when i say defense it isn't always in the sense of upholding their virtue, but maybe a reminder sometimes that the gods are far more powerful than anything on faelethris - e.g treating Talos like another enemy in their way is stupid, anyone reckoning to pick up a sword or sling a spell and fight a god is going to get reality checked by Mio pretty quickly.

answered 🙉!

💧 DROPLET - random angst headcanon

i think that, lately, Mio has taken to writing letters in his journal to various people. Mostly his family, Onu, Shadiya. Some to Talisman and its individuals.

he's not somebody that's scared of dying and what death means (at the moment, anyway) because he's dealt with so much of it under Sehanine's guidance, but he is deeply afraid of leaving unanswered questions behind - because of the way his dad left him. suddenly, violently, without conclusion.

mio writes as a way of apologising, but also as a way of reassuring himself and his loved ones. he writes what he wishes he could have heard from amun - he writes that he loves them, that he's proud of them, that he sees them for who they are and it doesn't matter, as long as they're happy with the choices they make.

there is a clarity to his life now that Mio didn't have before, which i think has come from a slowly growing acceptance that dying in pursuit of his goals is quite likely -- it feels inevitable, and inevitability invites a certain kind of simplistic resolution. there is only one road to follow, and so all the stress and worry of indecision and choices become irrelevant to mio, leaving behind what's really important to him which is all of the above.

��� GLOWING STAR - what do they think about when they look at the night sky? is there someone they want to star gaze with?

he feels watched over, i think. at peace. particularly on a night with a bright, full moon. i don't know that he thinks of much on nights like these, because it feels like one of the few times he can fully relax. no thoughts only vibes. he probably just says the first thing that comes to his mind with no filter.

he'll stargaze with anyone, but it's something he feels most comfortable doing with Shadiya. but certainly most of Talisman could convince him to join them, or Onu, or his brothers. the usual crew of people he holds dear.

🌏 EARTH - will they give up the world for someone they love? is this decision easy for them?

there is nothing in this universe that he loves more than the gods, on paper. but he is not ruled by love alone -- in akhenian culture, his soul is an entity separate to his heart, and of these two things it's the heart you can live without.

he has a soulmate. and i think for her, he would.

[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.’

[kentuckywrites]

Santago’s New Sleigh

Pongo accidentally reveals his secret persona to Fudge a few days before Christmas. What does the Outfitter do? He builds a core component for Santago that’s been sorely missed. Featuring @anryl ��s Danny and @deltheor ‘s Sydney, with brief mentions of @skell-pilot-sora ‘s Ruadha and @stargazer-ele ‘s Polaris.

“Damn, Pon. Whatever you’re reading, it must be important.”

Pongo squeaked, looking up from his comm device to meet Fudge’s gaze. He’d decided to visit Fudge’s lab, a routine at this point since Fudge had the tendency to lock himself away for days on end working on new inventions. Most often he’d make conversation with the Outfitter as he worked, a measure against Fudge’s self-inflicted loneliness, but today was not like most days. Pongo had decided to get a headstart on the Christmas list for the year, and instead of using the regular paper, he’d made the transfer over to keeping a digital list on his comm device. After all, the last few times he’d been out in public checking over the paper list, he’d gotten caught and sheepishly had to explain himself. His identity as Santa had to be a secret, after all! Wasn’t that the point of being Santa? If everyone knew that he was the one dropping off their gifts, then the magic of Christmas would surely be ruined!

So, with the transfer to a digital list, Pongo was excited to covertly check everything over and make sure he’d gotten all the residents of NLA. Since Fudge was busy building stuff, Pongo didn’t think he’d notice or deign to bring it up. When Pongo didn’t respond immediately, Fudge raised an eyebrow. He was perched on top of a ladder looking down at Pongo; he’d been working on his Skell and had been too short to reach the back panel behind its face. The height advantage made Pongo feel more than a little exposed, and he had to briefly wonder if Fudge felt like that all the time. 

“So? What are you reading?” Fudge probed.

“N-Nothing!” Pongo defended himself, tucking his comm device in his pocket. It was a harder maneuver than he anticipated, considering he was awkwardly seated on what may have possibly been the only clean chair in the entire lab surrounded by spare parts and mechanical debris. 

“Ooh, did you get a text from that rich guy you’re dating?”

“Oh, ah, n-no.”

“Wait…Pongo, are you reading something naughty?”

“WHAT?!”

“I’m just messing with ya,” Fudge cackled, stepping down off of his ladder and approaching Pongo - who, at that moment, was as red as a tomato. “Whatever it is, you’re like…super into it. I mean, you didn’t hear me ask you if you could hand me a tool before.”

“...RIPS, did he really ask me that?” Pongo mumbled. 

Fudge’s AI system responded nearly immediately. “AFFIRMATIVE, MASTER CALDRAVIX. IN FACT, MASTER CARSON ASKED YOU FOR THE SOLDERING IRON TWICE WITHIN THE PAST THIRTY SECONDS.”

“Gods above,” Pongo sighed, putting his head in his hands. “Sorry, Fudge. You are right, I got distracted.”

“You still haven’t told me what you were reading, though, so now I’m curious,” Fudge knocked some stuff off of his desk, leaning against the empty space he had created and crossing his arms over his chest. “Spill the beans.”

“...What beans?”

“Fucking hell, it’s a saying. Means ya gotta tell the truth.”

“Oh, well, um…” Pongo shrank into himself. His hand palmed the pocket containing his comm device despite his uncertainty. Why did it seem like every year, someone new had to learn about his masquerade? And why couldn’t he lie?! Seriously, this would be so much easier if he could think of a valid excuse for being distracted, but nothing came to mind. At least it was Fudge and not some stranger, right? 

With a defeated sigh, Pongo pulled his comm device back out. As it opened back onto the Christmas list, he explained, “It is the list of gifts for the residents of NLA this year. The songs always say that Santa checks it twice, so I was going through it again to make sure I got everyone.”

“Your list has everyone in the fucking ci - wait a fucking minute,” Fudge’s eyes widened, his arms falling to his sides. “Are you the fucker that delivers everyone’s gifts each Christmas?”

“Y-Yes,” Pongo admitted.

“Holy shit!! Holy shit,” Fudge exclaimed, slowly becoming more and more excited, “The Outfitters have tried laying traps for you for years now! They wanted to know who you were so badly! I should’ve fucking known it was you, only someone like you would be able to pull a stunt like that off every year, you gotta tell me everything about how you operate - are there people that help you behind the scenes? Did you recruit some aprica for your sleigh? Oh fuck, I wonder what your sleigh looks like, I bet it’s a -”

“I do not have a sleigh,” Pongo interjected, “I just use my Skell every year. Eros is able to carry the weight of everything just fine.”

Fudge stopped suddenly. “You don’t have a sleigh.”

“No?”

“...”

Pongo prepared himself for another rant, a bout of frustration. Fudge was an easy man to annoy, and something about that confession made him feel defenseless. He’d never really thought about the specifics regarding Santa’s sleigh, taking it as something he could easily swap out and get the same result. But maybe the decision to do so cost him some necessary Christmas magic? As Pongo silently cursed his oversight, Fudge’s shock slowly turned into something else. Pongo expected a scowl, but he was greeted with a far greater sight. A devilish grin, a plan hatching in Fudge’s mind. Oh, he looked positively demonic like this, but the wider the grin grew, the better Pongo felt. After all, that grin could only mean one thing.

Fudge had an idea.

“RIPS, cancel all the plans I had for tonight,” He told his AI, spinning around and scurrying around to the side of his desk. “Tell Alexa I came down with mimfluenza or some shit, I don’t fucking care. Someone else can take up repair duty for the week. We’ve got a rush order to deal with.”

“What are you planning?” Pongo asked, standing up. At the same time, Fudge pulled out some blueprint paper, slamming it on the empty space on his desk. He kept his hand firmly placed on top of it, whipping a pencil out of thin air and smirking over his shoulder.

“Tonight,” Fudge said, “I’m building Santa’s sleigh.”

~

True to his word, Fudge sketched out a sleigh to build, decked out with all sorts of functions that Pongo couldn’t wrap his head around. All he was able to gather was that it’d be able to fly in a similar manner to a Skell and wouldn’t require the use of reindeer (or aprica, which couldn’t fly anyways!). It’d have a functional GPS system and a way for Pongo to input all of his stops, as well as check which locations and people had been given their gifts and which hadn’t. The sleigh would be powered by nuclear energy and have safety guards in place in case of an emergency, and - above all else - it would have a sick paint job. Pongo didn’t make the comment in the moment, but Fudge’s excitement almost made him cry. He was acting like a little kid, waiting for his presents under the tree, living in the memory of youth. It was too beautiful a moment for Pongo to squander.

After assessing what necessary for the sleigh, Fudge gave Pongo a shopping list of parts to acquire from the Outfitters and the shops in Armory Alley. The names boggled Pongo’s mind, and trying to pronounce any of them was hard enough, but he didn’t even know their purpose! It resulted in a lot of confusion. Thank the gods Pongo never decided to become an Outfitter, honestly.

Luckily, none of the parts Fudge requested were too big to carry, and Pongo now walked confidently with a shopping bag full of pipes and gears and other knickknacks. It was heavy, of course, but nothing Pongo couldn’t handle. He decided to peruse the commercial district afterwards in the hopes that he could pick up some last-minute gifts from the list. It was busy, but predictable at this point - Pongo was a pro at his job, after all! Years and years of experience shopping for the good people of NLA taught him a thing or two about savings, navigating the crowds, and -

“Pongo!”

Oh, someone said his name! But in the thick of the crowd, Pongo couldn’t identify the source right away. He scoured the road, the sidewalks, trying to see who could’ve called out to him. Only when a hand clasped his shoulder did he realize that the person had been behind him all long, and that person had some rather recognizable metallic red fingers. 

“Sydney!” Pongo twisted around and gave Sydney a hug, wrapping his arms over his shoulders. Sydney chuckled underneath him, returning the embrace gingerly. When they separated, Pongo asked, “Doing some last minute shopping for Christmas?”

“Kinda,” He replied, “Looks like you are, too. Is it for the…you know…”

“Oh! Well, technically yes,” Pongo realized Sydney was referring to the bag of parts he was holding onto, “One of my Outfitter friends caught on and insisted that I need a sleigh. He asked me to get some parts to help construct it. He needed…” A pause, as he attempted to remember the names. “...A regeneration corepipe, a couple formstruct plating adhesives, a type three automotive latching mechanism…” Another pause, when he couldn’t bring himself to try and pronounce the names of the more complicated ones. “...some other things, too. I must admit, this kind of stuff is not something I understand well.”

Sydney peered into the bag, his head tilting in curiosity. Pongo made a mental note that he looked rather dashing today, dressed up in one of his fancier white suits. The red tie around his neck matched his arms in grandeur, a slight sheen to them that reflected the sunlight just enough to stand out. Gods above, it even made his eyes pop, a vibrant and passionate crimson hue. 

“...Pon?” Sydney glanced up, wearing a faint smile.

“Mm?”

“That’s not a regeneration corepipe. That’s a regeneration corner pipe. Same material, but not the same purpose.”

Pongo’s face fell, the color draining from his face. “Oh, shoot! I should go back and get the right one then, gods I thought -”

“I’ll come with you, if you want,” He offered, “And don’t beat yourself up for not getting it right. It’s a pretty common misconception. Lots of Outfitters mix it up, even.”

“I appreciate that,” Pongo smiled wide, the quick bout of fear residing into his typical cheeriness, “Goodness, I am lucky to have someone so smart by my side!”

Sydney rubbed the back of his neck, a faint blush forming across his cheeks. “I mean, I’m an Outfitter now. I’m supposed to know these things.”

“I wonder if Fudge would welcome your help in constructing the sleigh,” He mused out loud, a careful hand upon his chin. “He insisted that he would be able to complete it before my departure, but…”

“If you’re trying to play friend matchmaker again, I’m not really sure it’ll work out.”

“One bad introduction should not define the entire experience! I mean, do you remember how we met?”

Sydney stiffened at that. “Ah, y-yeah, um…”

“I said it before and I will say it again: I forgive you for doing that,” Pongo gently nudged Sydney’s shoulder, an act of reassurance. “That aside, if it truly makes you uncomfortable, I will not ask Fudge about it. You will at least get the chance to meet him on Christmas Eve!”

“You still expect me to be there?” He asked, “I mean, last year was just a fluke.”

“Part of the magic of Christmas is spending time with your loved ones,” Pongo asserted, “And last I checked, you are under that umbrella.” A pause, a shy smile. “It would not be the same without you there.”

There was a sliver of hesitation in Sydney’s gaze, biting the inside of his lip where the scar ran across his jawline. An image came to mind of Pongo running kisses down its path, but he had some amount of restraint, considering this was a public setting. There’d be time to sing those praises after he’d completed his mission. 

“I’ll be there,” Sydney eventually promised, and Pongo allowed himself to break his self-inflicted restraints and give him a quick peck on the lips. 

“Thank you, Sydney,” Pongo said, “I cannot tell you how much this means to me.”

Then, taking Sydney’s hand in his own, Pongo glanced up towards the administrative district, the high and mighty BLADE Tower radiant in the afternoon sun. “Alright, now come and show me which one is the corepipe!”

“Okay, okay,” Sydney couldn’t help but chuckle as Pongo nearly dragged him across the sidewalk, and he eventually took the lead down to the hangar’s elevator. Pongo smiled wide the whole way back, his mind swimming with a list of things still left to do, gifts he still needed to get, hugs he still needed to give. Gods above, how Christmas filled him with such wondrous spirit! Not that he wasn’t full of love every other day of the year, but ever since he’d heard of Christmas, something about the holiday gave him the excuse to take things up a level. And considering last year’s Christmas had been…well, less than satisfactory, given his whole “missing both of his legs” deal, Pongo was excited to return to the field and make this Christmas one to remember. 

Just thinking about how magical everything felt, he allowed himself to daydream, to imagine how perfect the night would turn out to be. What could possibly go wrong?

~

Fudge would never admit this to anybody out loud, but damn, did he love Christmas. It had always been one of his favorite times of the year, a moment always shared with his dad and the rest of Carson Tech. There was a kind of feeling that didn’t come with any other holiday, the feeling of spending time with those you loved most. All that “Christmas spirit” bullshit that the commercials and songs spouted over the intercoms got on his nerves pretty quickly, but even then, they held some truth to them. 

So hearing that Pongo was the famed Santa Claus that had been delivering presents for the past couple years, hearing that he didn’t have any mode of transportation aside from his own Skell? What a brilliant excuse to combine two of his favorite things!!

Working on something this secret, though, meant that Fudge had to make a few sacrifices. RIPS was automatically programmed to notify Fudge of any incoming calls, and of all the calls he got leading up to Christmas Eve, the majority were from three people. The first was Ruadha, who was simply happy to talk to Fudge over the comm device about everything and anything. They did pry about the whole “secret invention” thing, which Fudge fully expected, but it still prompted him to put up some extra security measures for his lab just in case the little gremlin decided to pay a surprise visit. 

The second frequent caller was his father, Antonio Carson. Those calls were daily, and the conversations were on the same wavelength as those Fudge had with Ruadha, sprinkled with a few fatherly words of advice. He didn’t ask about the secret invention as much as Fudge thought he would, but he quickly found out the reason why. Turns out, his father also had a secret he was working on, and he explained that it didn’t feel right asking for a secret to be revealed when he was in no position to return the gesture. That didn’t stop Fudge from wondering what it could be, though.

The third most frequent caller was none other than Polaris. However, that had been something of an error on her part. For whatever fucking reason, she called him a grand total of eight times in a ten minute time frame. When Fudge finally ordered RIPS to pick up so he could scream bloody murder at Polaris, her voice was muffled and far away. Fudge rolled his eyes, immediately deciphering what was happening - especially since Polaris wasn’t the only voice he heard on the other line. Nope, there was a second person in the background, though he wasn’t about to guess what the fuck they were doing. All he said before hanging up was “Blackmail material”. Whether or not it was worthy blackmail material, Fudge wasn’t sure. It just felt good to scare her. 

The sleigh was easy enough to build, so long as it had Fudge’s undivided attention. Pongo returned with the parts far sooner than he expected, and Pongo even handed him an extra regeneration corner pipe. “I mixed them up,” Pongo had admitted, and to that, Fudge had responded, “I’ll call this an early Christmas present then”. Pongo didn’t stay much longer after that, and so Fudge got absorbed into his work for the next few days. 

Christmas Eve came, and by the time the sun had set below the horizon, the final touches were being made to the sleigh. Fudge wiped his brow, gazing lovingly at his newest masterpiece. He couldn’t think of anything else it would need, so he set his tools down and asked RIPS, “Send a text to Pongo and ask him where the rendezvous is for the operation tonight.”

“YES, MASTER CARSON.”

A few minutes passed, a bliss that came with success and pride, before RIPS informed Fudge, “MASTER CALDRAVIX HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RENDEZVOUS LOCATION IS ON TOP OF BLADE TOWER IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT.”

“Alright, sounds like a pla -” Fudge stopped. “...Oh. Oh fuck.”

RIPS didn’t even need to ask. How in the ever loving fuck was he supposed to get this sleigh to the top of BLADE Tower without anybody noticing? Fudge groaned, the base of his palms digging into his eyebrows. Looked like he had some more work to do. 

~

As fate would have it, a quick invisibility cloak did the trick. Was it as polished as the rest of the sleigh? Oh absolutely fucking not. Was Fudge a little ashamed of how spotty that last minute detail was? Yep. But hey, it would work for tonight, and he’d have an entire year to refine it further.

With the invisibility cloak on, Fudge used his Amdusias Hades to lift the sleigh and carefully fly it to the top of BLADE Tower. Luckily, the vast majority of NLA’s population had retired for the night, so questions about his Skell’s cupped arms were few and easily dismissed. As he flew closer, Fudge spotted other Skells parked on top of the tower - ah fuck, was he late? Whatever the case was, he landed near the edge, setting the sleigh down as gently as possible before exiting his Skell and greeting everyone outside. He recognized Eros, Pongo’s Skell, which had a comically large sack placed in front of it. Those were the presents, presumably, and thinking about its contents made Fudge’s heart flutter for a moment. Not too far from the Skell’s feet was Pongo, dressed in a rather nice Santa outfit, complete with the hat atop his head. Was that puffball on the hat’s tip heart-shaped? Okay, that was a nice touch. He waved to Fudge as he approached, and that was when Fudge saw the person he’d been talking to.

“L, what the fuck are you wearing?” Fudge asked, nearly choking on his words. The jolly blue xeno was wearing a rather skimpy elf outfit, rather akin to those cursed bunnybods Fudge occasionally witnessed BLADES strutting around in. 

“It is our Christmas attire!” L exclaimed cheerfully, unaware of just how he appeared, “We parade in this every year during Christmas’s Evening!”

“Costumes are not necessary, but I think they are rather fun,” Pongo chirped, “When I recruited Danniel, I gave him reindeer antlers. I…well, I am not quite sure what I would give you, Fudge. I think we might need to duplicate some roles.”

“I’m the sleigh guy. Isn’t that enough?” Fudge raised an eyebrow, praying to every god that he wouldn’t have to wear something stupid. Sensing his unease, Pongo gave him a reassuring grin. 

“It is more than enough. Though, ah…where exactly is the sleigh?”

Oh, right. Fudge turned back towards his Skell, towards the still invisible sleigh. Pulling out his comm device, he typed in the command for the invisibility device to decloak, and in moments, the sleigh revealed itself to the bystanders atop BLADE Tower. The sides shone a metallic red, glistening in the remnants of the sunset. The seat inside was lined with as plush a fabric as Fudge could find - don’t ask him what material it was, because honestly, that was not Fudge’s area of expertise. A control panel sat in front of the seating, forming a near-perfect semicircle that was reminiscent of the paneling inside a standard Skell. Even the buttons were in a similar arrangement, though none of them were lit up. Pongo would have to turn the bad boy on before the real light show began.

“Oh my gods,” Pongo breathed, “Fudge, you are brilliant.”

“Go ahead and take a closer look if you want,” Fudge told him, “It’s yours, after all.”

That was all Pongo needed to rush forward, squealing like a child, admiring all of the detailwork in half-formed ramblings. Fudge allowed himself a second to revel in the pride, the absolue beauty that he’d managed to build in record time. However, as he glanced to the left, to the right, he realized that there were a few more people here that he hadn’t interacted with. Another darker skinned fellow with reindeer antlers and freckles that rivaled Fudge’s stood awkwardly nearby, for instance. Pongo had mentioned his name over texts - Danny, right? Pongo had the tendency to call people by their full names, an endearing sign of respect that he’d apparently learned early on in his life. Eh, fuck it, Fudge could try to make conversation.

“Danny, yeah?” Fudge started, and the address made Danny make a little noise from the back of his throat.

“Oh, ah, y-yeah! Nice to meet you,” He replied, offering a gloved hand out to shake. As Fudge shook it with his left hand, he could immediately tell that the material under the fabric was different, clearly not the standard mimeosome framework. Fudge resisted every temptation to probe into the details, so he broke off the handshake first and shifted focus. 

“How’d you get roped into this shit, then?”

“Oh! A few years ago, Pongo bumped into me while he had his Christmas list out, and I saw it and decided to offer my help,” Danny explained, “He said I could be Rudolph since he was Santa and L was an elf.”

“Does that mean you helped him deliver everywhere in the city?” Fudge asked, genuinely curious as to his role.

“No, I just help him find everything on his list. He does all the deliveries himself - and now he’ll do them with a really cool looking sleigh!” He said, eyeing the sleigh that Pongo was still bouncing around. Seriously, how could anyone have that amount of energy? As he watched the show unfold, Danny continued, “The sleigh looks incredible, by the way. It must’ve taken a long time to build!”

“Eh, three days, give or take,” Fudge shrugged, and he couldn’t really determine why Danny’s eyes grew wide at the answer. “It doesn’t have nearly all of the features I wanted it to have, but it’s got more than enough to function for tonight. Next year I’ll have made it perfect.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second,” Danny agreed, “I look forward to seeing it!”

They both watched as Pongo boarded his Skell, the heavy sack of presents lifting easily in Eros’s arms. Fudge tensed; he hadn’t given Pongo the go-ahead to load the sleigh yet, and he wanted to make sure the weight distribution wasn’t going to fuck up the sleigh’s integrity. But the sack came down on the back half of the sleigh, and though Fudge was bracing for the worst, he heard no signs of the sleigh faltering. Pongo then exited his Skell and continued to geek out over how wonderful the sleigh was, with L piping in with his own compliments every so often. 

It was then that Fudge spotted another figure approaching out of the corner of his eye, though they seemed to be ignoring him and Danny. Metallic red arms poked out of a pristine white suit - wait, okay, was there a trend here? Why did everyone have metal arms aside from L? What a weird fucking bias. Whatever the case, the suit alone was enough for Fudge to identify the man as none other than Sydney. He wasn’t wearing any sort of Christmas costume, but that also made him stick out like a sore thumb. That, and the brooding. If there was anything that could get on Fudge’s nerves, it was brooding. 

However, he could already hear Pongo’s voice in the back of his mind, an innocent excitement about his friends and loved ones helping him out on one of the most important nights of the year. So Fudge swallowed his pride and took a cautious step forward, enough that he was an equal distance away from both Danny and Sydney. Sydney cast his glance downwards, and Fudge fought the urge to smack the look off of his face. It wasn’t even like the guy was acting high and mighty - it was the fucking height advantage and the fact that Sydney looked so punchable! Hold it together, Fudge, just for the night. He tried to be civil, thinking that maybe he could see past the horrible first impression he was getting.

“So you’re Sydney.”

“Yeah.”

“...”

“...”

Yeah, no, Fudge didn’t like this guy at all. Why was Pongo’s taste in men so shitty? Whatever, he could deal with working alongside this douchebag for a night. But that didn’t stop him from squinting, from looking this guy up and down and crossing his arms. Sydney scowled, staring right back at him. Oh, now, this was gonna be fun. He could practically smell the distaste in the air, the fuel being poured onto the fire. 

“Are two of my favorite people getting along?” Pongo merrily asked from the side of the sleigh, innocent to the vitriolic stand-off happening in front of him.

Fudge looked away quickly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sydney do the same. They both responded at the same time.

“No fuckin’ problems here.”

“Yeah, we’re fine.”

Pongo positively beamed at that. “Fantastic! Oh, that makes me feel a lot better. I was starting to think that adding onto the team so quickly would be awkward!”

“The Christmas legend states that the more there are, the merrier you’ll be,” L chirped, “And it’s impossible not to be merry on this wondrous night!”

“It’s definitely nice seeing all the Christmas decorations from up here. Shows how everyone’s still festive!” Danny gazed down at the city below, the districts of the lower level shining in all sorts of Christmas lights. Fudge was eventually able to spot his own contribution to the front of the test hangar, though he felt a little disappointed by the fact that they blended in with the rest of the lights from his current viewpoint. 

“So what’s the procedure now?” Fudge asked, sneaking a peek down at his comm device once more. “All the necessary last-minute detailing on the sleigh is done, and judging by the scans, it’s holding the sack’s weight just fine. Should be good for takeoff whenever you’re ready, Santa.”

“L’Cirufe, is every present accounted for?” Pongo said, turning to the xenoform.

“All presents counted and accounted!” He confirmed, “Whenever you’re ready to depart, we shall light the way!”

“Alright! Then it is time to test the sleigh,” Pongo turned back to Fudge, “Remind me what the controls are again? You said there were a few important things to remember.”

“Right,” Fudge adjusted the collar of his sweater, clearing his throat. Could he make himself look a little taller, a little more important? He hoped the bravado did the trick. “When you get into the sleigh, you’ll see a huge panel in front of you. I’ve designed it so it’s similar in appearance to your everyday Skell, with Arts buttons and everything. Center button turns the entire thing on, check to make sure all the other buttons light up when you do that. If they all look good, use the levers to take her up gently - too much force and you’ll shoot straight up vertically into the air.”

“Oh, like what Sydney did with his golden Ares once,” Pongo nodded in understanding, though the comment made Sydney mutter something under his breath about that not being his fault. 

“I don’t wanna fucking know,” Fudge said curtly, “But yeah. Don’t drive like a bitch and you should be fine. Worst case scenario, think of it like a Skell, and ask yourself what you’d do if you were in a Skell. Danny and I will be on the comm network on it too, in case you’ve got any questions.”

“Wait, I’m gonna be connected to it?” Danny seemed surprised at this revelation, and Fudge did his best not to roll his eyes and scoff. 

“I’m making you the navigator, so yeah. Next year I’ll probably install a GPS into the sleigh so Pon can go his own route, but as it stands, I had three days to build an entire fucking sleigh from scratch, so now that’s your job. Rudolph’s supposed to drive the sleigh, y’know, so at least now your role’s gonna be a little more accurate.” He took a moment to adjust his goggles, which were starting to slide down over his face. The wind was really being a bitch about this, huh? “Anyways, I’ll be connected to it too, since I gotta perform system checks and make sure the whole thing’s running smoothly.”

“And what will Sydney be doing?” Pongo asked sweetly.

Fudge looked at Sydney. Sydney looked at Fudge.

“...Emotional support elf,” Fudge shrugged.

“Excuse me -”

“Anyways, if anything goes south, you can reach me and Danny through the intercom in the sleigh,” Fudge talked over Sydney’s protests, “Oh, and don’t like…lean out of the side or some shit. I’m not gonna be held responsible for Santa’s death.”

“Why didn’t you make any fucking guard rails if you were worried about that?!” Sydney raised.

“Alright, bitchbaby, next time you can make the sleigh in three days, how about that?”

“I could do it in two, and I could do it with enough safety features so I wouldn’t have to fucking worry about Santa splatting into the middle of the residential district’s tennis court!!”

“Batter up then, asshole, God fuckin’ knows you’ve got enough credits up your ass to make it happen! Can’t fuckin’ wait to get blinded on Christmas Eve looking for Santa, dashing through the snow on a gold mercedes sleigh!”

“At least mine would look like a star descending from the heavens! What does yours do, crash and burn? Don’t think I don’t know the Carson legacy just because I haven’t been building fire hazards as long as you have.”

“You fucking piece of shit -”

“GUYS.”

Sydney and Fudge had gotten in each others’ faces, teeth bared and trading verbal blows. Fudge could feel the blood beneath his skin boiling, fuel on a fire that wouldn’t stop burning until it knew the sweet taste of victory. But just as he was about to make things physical, Danny placed himself between the two arguing Outfitters, stretching his arms out to create distance between them. Right, Danny was a Mediator. He was trying to mediate. How cute.

“Now is not the night to do this,” Danny said sternly, “You’re allowed to not be friends, but maybe save the arguing for when you’re not in front of Pongo.”

Fudge looked over, and Pongo was by L’s side, having watched the entire argument unfold. Fudge had been so focused on the fire inside his heart that he didn’t realize that he’d taken some of Pongo’s warmth to do so, the air now a frostbitten chill. Pongo was frozen to the spot, eyes wide like a deer in the headlights. Oh shit, were those tears in the corners of his eyes? Damnit, Fudge really dropped the ball on this one. But still, it was not an easy feat to temper his anger, so his next statement still contained a level of animosity that wasn’t meant for Pongo.

“Get in the fucking sleigh, Santa.”

Pongo didn’t move immediately, though the brief flash in his eyes indicated that he’d heard Fudge loud and clear. However, after taking a moment in the silence, Pongo’s first steps were not towards the sleigh. Instead, he strode over to Fudge, leaned down, and hugged him tight. Fudge gasped, squirming in Pongo’s grip for a moment. 

“Thank you for doing this,” Pongo whispered into Fudge’s shoulder, “I am so grateful to have a friend like you in my life.”

“Oh, uh…” Fudge found himself at a loss for words, stumbling upon the bashful, “Don’t mention it. Least I could do.”

Pongo pulled away then, turning and giving Sydney the same hug. Fudge could hear him whisper something too, and whatever it was, it made Sydney’s expression melt. Pongo left Sydney with a goodbye kiss on the cheek, and after giving Danny a hug of his own, he rejoined L by the sleigh. They exchanged a quick hug before Pongo climbed aboard, sliding into his seat in front of the sleigh’s controls. As Fudge had instructed before, Pongo tapped the center button, and the sleigh roared to life, the thrusters in the rear glowing a vibrant red. Before initiating takeoff, he looked to Fudge, and Fudge gave a thumbs-up to indicate that all systems were green. 

After that, Fudge could only describe the takeoff as something out of a movie. The sleigh began to ride, slowly, steadily, the flames behind leaving trails of embers and stardust behind it. Though the sleigh wobbled in its ascent, it soon found its balance, and Pongo found his confidence behind the controls. Every system remained operational as the thrusters were given more juice, and the sleigh rocketed off into the night. Fudge even swore that he heard Pongo trying to mimic Santa’s laughter, a hearty “Ho Ho Ho” that echoed across the city. It would’ve brought tears to his eyes if he wasn’t in the company of others, though he promptly noticed that L had begun openly weeping. Danny was the first to ask if he was okay, and to that, L had responded that he was overwhelmed with joy. Thank the fucking gods, honestly. 

And so the ragtag group of Santago’s helpers watched as, once again, Santago took to the skies to deliver presents to all of the citizens of NLA. In the silence of their awe, Fudge smiled, and uttered a single phrase.

“Merry Christmas, motherfuckers.”

[bbiemochi]

𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 | diluc ragnvindr x reader

[an]: this took me a day to write wtf

summary: even from ages apart, your love for each other was endless…

genre: fluff, slight! angst

pairing: diluc ragnvindr x reader

warning: spoilers from diluc’s backstory!

***

YOU & DILUC were both so young when you fell for each other.

age 6, your family had an important business with the ragnvindr clan and had to head straight to mondstadt from fontaine. meeting with a man named crepus, he introduced you to his two sons who share the same age with you, one adopted young boy named kaeya, and a little red head that was hiding behind his father and too shy to even talk to you. the young boy’s name was diluc.

age 7, your family had planned to move to mondstadt for a while until all the arrangements were over from the small town. the three of you were inseparable. kaeya was the one who was more louder than his brother, and diluc would purposely hit him jokingly from his brother’s constant teasing. even with the maids’ calls, you and diluc would always be seen together, holding hands as if you both were scared to lose one another.

age 8, adventures through a wild wide forest (sometimes along with kaeya), baking along with adelinde while his father laughs when you both accidentally poured too much flour on the kitchen, and being there for each other no matter what the situation involved. even if it means by taking care of his pet tortoise.

age 9, kaeya and diluc started to get busy with knightly training. while you were stuck at your manor, being taught by your family tutor of important statements and responsibilities for you to learn for your family’s legacy. during break time, diluc would show you some of the skills he learned from his father and some from the knights. kaeya never fails to embarrass him.

age 10, his vision made your eyes shine brightly. the day diluc received his pyro vision, he showed it to you on a dark yet beautiful evening. the wind singing as the stars were both staring at the both of you, noticing how close your faces are whilst staring at the flaming vision.

age 11, the nicknames he gave you was adorable. n/n was one of them. you and kaeya started to notice how diluc was the most hardworking than the both of you. it was pretty obvious and predicting. chuckling, kaeya whispered to you: “don’t tell him i told you this, but he said he wants to work hard so that he can show off to you. someone he adores.”

age 12, your heart started to pound heavily whenever you and diluc hangout like always. this never happened before. having a habit of asking master crepus of how diluc was in knight training whenever he’s too busy to see you. crepus laughs. “are you interested in my boy?” he asks. and all you could do was blush.

age 13, your vision arrived. element y/v. your family was astounded by this, and diluc & kaeya were both happy for you. you tried your best to concentrate on your studies about what your tutor taught to you. however, he keeps popping up in your mind. you wondered if he ever feels the same…this unknown feeling.

age 14, diluc was delighted when he told you the news that he became the calvary captain of the knights of favonius. this also became a bright reaction out of you. the both of you were so happy, the happiest diluc you ever seen from him. and his father was the happiest.

age 15, despite your family being quite strict with you, diluc would often help you sneak out of your manor so you would go along with him to stargaze close to the dawn winery and talk about your problems and life. he was everything to you.

age 16, the business with the ragnvindr family and in mondstadt was finally over. your family was heading to liyue next and planned to move out of mondstadt. spending the last moments with kaeya, he told you to meet diluc at the “usual spot” where you both stargaze all the time near the winery. he was there when you arrived, as you laughed for the last time with him. opening your eyes, you saw diluc looking at you with red cheeks, faces close, his gloved hands holding both of your cheeks as your eyes were met with each other. you were astonished when you felt your lips sealing, diluc was quick to realize what he did and ran off. thus your first kiss was with your dream boy. the memory was stuck with you when the ragnvindr family payed farewell to your family. you and diluc couldn’t look at each other. and you regretted that.

age 17, you almost forgot about your homework since you and diluc kept sending letters back and forth to one another. earning a scold from your family’s private tutor. you wished you could see him right now, hair ruffled from doing knightly duties and you & kaeya would tease him like always. you swore you would hear his voice in every quote and sentence you read from his letters. never failed to make your heart jump.

age 18, the letters stopped arriving. your heart was broken when you found out about the death of master crepus from kaeya’s letters. you tried your best to comfort diluc through letters from your family home. yet none of his letters were sent back. you soon gave up. and you two didn’t interact through the letters after that. you needed to give him space after all.

age 19, eyes wide, and heart pounding, a huge flame blasted through your eyes as you hear your mother’s weak voice. “run…” she begs to you through the fire of your home. your legs were glued to the floor, tears running down your cheeks. after the fire, you were hopeless. diluc & kaeya’s letters started to flood your room.

age 20 to 21, you were now the new head of the l/n family business. it was rough, yes. but you’re doing this for your family’s legacy after all. you & diluc missed the letters you two send to each other all the time.

present

“so, how was your travel from different nations? was there any clues you two found from your adventures?” amber’s exciting tone made everyone inside the tavern look at both the traveler and paimon who were digging in their meals.

the knights of favonius along with master diluc, jean’s younger sister; barbara and the bard venti all planned a small celebration for the return of the honorary knight of mondstadt from their adventures to different nations. so far, the two managed to only travel to liyue, inazuma and fontaine, so their journey hasn’t end just yet. paimon nodded her head happily, “paimon and the traveler met so much people! like in liyue, we met the liyue qixing and their adeptis! oh! in inazuma we had a hard time yet it was worth it! we met miss ayaka, tohma and many more!”

“and in fontaine—

“we met a very pretty lady in fontaine!” paimon cuts the traveler off. everyone turned their gazes to the two with curious glances. kaeya chuckles along with lisa. “oh? and who was this pretty lady?”

“do tell!” barbara adds.

paimon swallowed her food down her throat before clearing herself and joyfully flying around. “her name is miss y/n! y/n l/n! and she was the prettiest lady paimon ever met so far! paimon bets even the traveler had a small crush on her!” the floating food exclaimed with a small grin towards the now flustered traveler. “paimon!”

“you guys met miss y/n?!” the sudden burst from barbara stopped the traveler from talking. the deaconess’ blue eyes shone bright in delight from the hearing of a certain someone’s name. even jean smiles from this. “glad to know she’s doing well.”

paimon was slightly bewildered. “wait! you guys know miss y/n?!” she questioned.

“of course! she was the most sweetest assistant i ever had,” lisa answers. jean chuckles from this. “she often wants to help along with knights of favonius so we let her be. and i’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty selfless of her to lend a hand.”

“is miss y/n overworking herself?” amber asks next in worry. paimon and traveler awkwardly exchanged glances. “amber how did you know?”

“she is?! oh miss y/n, that lady…” barbara worries.

“seems like our innocent y/n is still working hard in her business,” kaeya’s sentence was visible to the others that it was towards the winery owner. “…don’t you think so too, master diluc?” he added, his smirk directing to the red head who was peacefully wiping a glass. diluc ignores him, face turning away with a grunt.

paimon let out a huge gasp, “even captain kaeya and master diluc knows miss y/n?! how much more do we don’t know about the fair l/n!?” the traveler let out a small laughter as they tried to calm the floating paimon down on the grip of her shoulders. venti rejoiced with a small sentence, trying not to hiccup from drinking so much wine, “ah! the fair y/n from the l/n clan! she sounds interesting indeed, what a plan! and it sounded like kaeya & master diluc know something about the lady. care to share? one or two maybe?”

“ugh, the tone-deaf bard is drunk again isn’t he?” paimon complains. lisa laughs.

barbara laughs along. “although, what i do know about miss y/n is that her family used to have huge business arrangements with diluc’s family—which made sense of how the two met.” the deaconess explained, earning a nod from her older sister. paimon looked back at the traveler, “so miss y/n’s family and master diluc’s family used to have a business arrangement? paimon senses something…”

the traveler grins. “i don’t know why, but it kinda sounds like a romantic line for me.”

“ooh~! you think miss y/n and diluc have a connection~? paimon senses tension!”

kaeya looked over at his brother with a face of teasing, yet when he looked diluc was already glaring at him with a small blush on his face. “don’t you dare say anything…” he whispered in which kaeya just shrugs.

“if you guys are wondering, indeed that kaeya & diluc do know something about the darling y/n. so please, ask them about her. they’ll be sure to answer. isn’t that right?” lisa questions towards the two brothers. the travelers stood, waving their hands nervously in front, “oh no it’s fine! it’s probably none of our business to ask about miss y/n!”

“oh no please, it’s no trouble to ask a couple of questions about an old dear friend. right, diluc?” the calvary captain insists to his brother who never gave out a loud answer, but a nod along with a sigh. “although, how about tell us what you know about n/n—i mean…!” diluc awkwardly clears his throat, a gloved hand covering his mouth while he shyly looks away from the faces of his friends who stared at him weirdly. kaeya an exception of course, instead with a smirking look. “pardon. i-i mean…miss y/n. is there anything you want to tell us about what you know about miss y/n?”

the traveler and paimon both exchanged glances once again from the master diluc’s odd statement. he sounded embarrassed from what he accidentally said. maybe it was something the two shouldn’t ask. although paimon was the first one to talk, grunting at first, “oh master diluc! you’re making this harder for paimon to not get curious! so paimon wants to know first, what’s your relationship with miss y/n—ow!”

“paimon…! shut it…!” the traveler scolds as they hit the emergency food in the head. then, they nervously looked at the winery tycoon, an apologetic look on their eyes. “i’m very sorry about paimon, master diluc.”

“n-no, it’s quite alright.”

“but, we do know that miss y/n is a busy lady. from time to time we would visit her and she would be scrawled over her desk, asleep. overworking is what her assistants said she was doing,” the traveler says. paimon nods, “despite being sweet and all, she also really loves adventuring! oh! we also went to her house and it was sooo huge! it almost reminded us of the dawn winery! maybe being a head of a family business really can make you rich a whole load of mora! miss y/n also loves telling the stories of archons, and the goddess guizhong which is her favorite! she would tell us that story all the time!” and the little one continues…

the others gasp from paimon’s knowledge, while behind the counter…diluc only smiles. a smile signing that he missed you. from what paimon was saying, it was already enough for him to make his heart jump from how they told stories to him and the others that you were alright and was still the happy-go-lucky diluc knows about you. while paimon continued to ramble about their adventure with you, diluc just can’t help but smile throughout the stories.

what paimon and the traveler said about you really was the you diluc knows. the one he adored and fell in love it from ages <3. hmmm, he wonders when you’ll return back to mondstadt so he can fix the awkward kiss you two had.

bonus:

“paimon has a feeling master diluc likes miss y/n.”

“did you really have to think about that?” the traveler says through the process of cooking. paimon watched as they started chopping the carrots into pieces, her arms crossed whilst looking at the cecilia flowers blooming through the wild nature. “well, it is obvious. paimon just wanted to know the history between them! it’s really killing the curiosity of paimon!”

“well you know who to ask if you wanna know something about master diluc…”

there was a moment of silence before paimon replied: “captain kaeya, isn’t it?”

“who else, paimon? who else…?”

***

a/n: haha this sucks 👍

requests are: opened! ^w^