#then I heard the original story and i loved it

[thoughtlesssadness]

In the tags:

There is so much I love and agree with here. Your takes on reciprocity especially , and how the symbolism just works so much better, the story threads would feel more tied in. The story still seems built around this original, omitted idea.

In the story we got. Hiccup keeps slipping on his prosthetic which symbolizes that he needs Toothless.

But if the mummified leg wasn’t “cut” from the story, it would also motivate Toothless to bring him back the old leg that worked. Thus one idea would serve multiple functions, adding cohesion.

If I could add. The scene where Hiccup gives Toothless the new tailfin. To me Toothless’s reaction read as a bit conveniently overdramatic?

Toothless figures out what the tail and looks at Hiccup, eyes narrowing. Hiccup takes a step forward and Toothless flinches away before booking it.

Booking it to apparently, find Hiccup’s helmet. Which, you know, is very important, it was made from his mother’s breastplate and all - but to leave so suddenly your friend thinks you might be running away from him? It’s a lot.

I’ve heard the interpretation that maybe at first Toothless really was feeling the “call of the wild” the other dragons did. He just, couldn’t find another night fury so found Hiccup’s helmet instead. I don’t like this interpretation. But it seemed a little more in line with how the scene played out.

But if instead, you could read it like Toothless realizes what Hiccup has given him, that Hiccup has ‘fixed’ him, and is so overwhelmed (and mayhaps guilty), that he needs to, immediately, instinctively, fix him right back. Right the wrong of ‘failing’ to save his leg.

Well I can just see it a lot better. It would feel more in line with Toothless.

THE SHIT (GOLD) YOU FIND IN THE OCEAN (YOUTUBE COMMENT’S SECTION)

[leidensygdom]

So huh, as you may have heard, sadly Alias Conrad Coldwood's soundtrack isn't coming back for the Switch/Steam OFF release. I'm sad about it, I love the ost so much, but-

It seems the new composer is Morusque (Yann van der Cruyssen). Who didn't ring a bell initially, but is the composer of Stray (amidst few other things). Also handled the arrangement for Cave Story on the Wii, which feels pretty interesting

Again, I love the original ost, but I'm pretty curious on what Morusque will bring to the table too. I've liked the tone of the trailer ones and seem to be fitting with the game, and more music is never a bad thing

[oreolemur]

can you plsss make a fic about geto’s reaction to his wife offing herself?

Wasn't really gonna write his reaction, but here you go <3 Link to the original story: Lesson Learned

Hearing a loud thump coming from upstairs, Geto called out to you. “Darling?! What was that?”.  The house was silent. He felt something was wrong, but didn’t know what it was. “What was that noise?”, he shouted again. After waiting a few minutes for a response, he decided to go to you. “My love?”. The closer he got to the bathroom, the deeper the feeling got. “Y/n?”. He heard the sound of water running. “Did you fall?”. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. “Baby, open the door”. He heard nothing. Geto rattled the knob again, his actions getting more desperate. “Say something!”. Without hesitation, he began to kick down the door. “I swear to god if you escaped I’ll-”. 

The moment it flung open, his eyes widened. “Baby?”. You laid on the floor, blood everywhere. “No…no…no”. He crouched down, shaking you. “Please wake up. You’re still here”. He checked your pulse, but felt nothing. “No no no, come on!”. He tried to perform CPR, but everytime he pressed on your chest blood oozed out of your neck. “Fuck!”. He began to panic. “Something told me I shouldn't have left you alone”. Suguru paced around the bathroom, losing his mind. “It’s all my fault”. He didn’t know what to do. “I was too hard on her”. He then sat beside you, holding your lifeless body. “I’m so sorry”, he sobbed. 

After crying for what seemed like an hour, he decided to call Satoru. “Please pick up…please pick up”. Once he heard Gojo’s voice, he explained what happened. “I’ll be over in a few”, the man said. Geto remained in the bathroom as he waited for his best friend to arrive. “Don’t worry, my love. I’ll make sure I fix this. You’re not leaving me this easily”. It took about 30 minutes before Satoru arrived. “Geto?”, he walked upstairs to the bathroom, witnessing your dead body. “She killed herself and it’s all my fault”, Suguru said. He was staring off into space, mind filled with thoughts of suicide. “She’ll be all alone. I have to go with her”. He reached for the knife that laid beside you. “No!”, Gojo shouted. He quickly ran over to Geto, snatching the weapon from his hand. “Get your shit together…I know what to do”. 

❤~An Hour Later~❤

The two men cleaned up the bathroom as they left your body laying on the bedroom floor. “That should do it”, Gojo said. Geto sat on the toilet with his hands covering his face. He was still in shock. “What am I going to do?”. Satoru looked over at you. “We’re going to bury her…somewhere no one can find her. And then…once you’ve settled…I’m going to help you find someone new…someone better”. Suguru glanced at his friend, “Ok”, he said. They gathered up some materials and placed you in the trunk of Geto’s car. “At least she doesn’t have any missing persons report”.

They drove out deep into the woods, finding a spot to bury you. “Fuck this is harder than I thought”, Gojo said. Geto wasn’t much help. All he did was hold you, thinking about the memories you two shared. “I don’t know why you stopped me from ending my life. I just want to be with her”. Dropping the shovel from his hands, Satoru walked over to him. “Hey”, he said. When Geto looked at him, Gojo sent a hard punch to his face. “Get over it!”, he shouted. “She’s not the only girl in the world. We can find someone better for you”. Just at that moment, they heard the sound of a twig snap. Looking to the right, they noticed a girl standing there. “Oh no”, she said. She stood there frozen, giving Geto enough time to fall for her. “Satoru…I want her”.

[random-fanfiction]

Summer Skirts

Carlos Sainz x Oscar Piastri

Warning : 18+, Oral (Male Receiving), Homosexual relationships, Anal, Anal fingering, Dom/Sub Dynamics, minimum name calling, boys in skirts

Summary : Oscar Piastri has the wonderful idea that summer break will be the time he finally wears his skirt in front of his boyfriend, and it turns out better than he expected.

Words : 2541

Notes : This is my first person x person ff I wrote in a while. Well my first ff originally posted on A03 it’s here now

The idea was to tease him. Oscar just wanted to tease Carlos. It was summer break and they were spending it at the beach. Well a beach resort. Oscar had spent the day relaxing on the beach with Carlos until the other left to go to the store.

Oscar had pack a few outfits for their time away from society, he wanted to play around with Carlos kinks. Today he was going to wear a skirt and a crop top. The black crop top was a little shorter then it was when he bought it. It’s been sitting in the back of his closet. He frowned a little and looked at himself in the mirror the master bedroom of the vacation home. A huff left his lips pulling it over his chest and looked at his stomach. As he was putting on the skirt he was deciding if he would go all the way. He decided against it. Maybe next time, he has to see if Carlos was fully into this first. It was a plain red tennis skirt that fit around his waist perfectly. He smiled at himself and did a small twirl in the mirror. A smile lit up his face.

Oscar made his way to the bed to pick up his phone. He took some photos of himself because he liked it, he hoped Carlos did as well. Some seductive photos for later just in case. When he heard the front door open he placed his phone in the side table and sat in the middle of the bed. He was sitting up, his legs folded beneath him, his hands resting in his lap as he waited for the other.

Once Carlos ended the home he went to the kitchen putting the food he bought away before going to look for Oscar. Finally he wondered into the bed room and stopped in his tracks at seeing the other. Carlos looked him up and down over and over. For a moment the smile on Oscar’s face started to falter, upon seeing that Carlos walked into the room and over to the edge of the bed.

“Hey mi vida. You got all dressed for me?” Carlos asked his voice was soft.

“Yes, do you like it?” Oscar’s voice was low. He was still a little nervous that Carlos wouldn’t be into it, but the eyes looking at him were telling a different story. Oscar knew Carlos was bisexual. Especially after his dating history but they never talked about anything like this before.

Carlos could see the other spacing out so he hummed and took Oscar’s chin between his thumb and pointer finger. “I love it. Now be a good doll and pay attention. I don’t want you getting lost in that head of yours.”

Oscar nodded, hearing the nickname Carlos had for him a that was reserved for special moments he smiled again. His eyes trained on Carlos, his hands slipping off his lap and onto the bed as he leaned forward nudging himself towards Carlos. The others hand dropped from his face and went to run through Oscar’s hair gentle at first before a small tug made Oscar close his eyes and whimper softly.

“Look at you, needy aren’t we.” It wasn’t a question more like a statement, Carlos stood up and retraced his hands from Oscar. “Floor baby. Let’s get started.”

Oscar opened his eyes and moved to the floor sitting on his legs again. He looked up at Carlos extending, his neck to look up as much as he could. Carlos watched him and with a small smirk. “You look so pretty, all dolled up for me. Sitting here waiting for me. Such a pretty boy, what do you want me to do to you?”

Oscar thought for a moment and took a deep breath before he spoke. “Use me Sir.”

The one statement took Carlos to the edge. He nodded and placed his hands in Oscar’s hair again. “Remove my pants,” it was a simple request but Oscar knew it was a command. He removed the belt first before moving over to the buttons. His fingers fumbled around before pulling Carlos pants down all the way waiting for further instructions. His eyes zoned into the others crotch. Carlos was half hard by now, and it was only getting worse from there.

Carlos kicked off the pants and was now in his boxers, he looked down at Oscar’s face and chuckled, “How bad do you want me doll?”

“Very badly, I want you in my mouth. Please.” Oscar started pouting. His eyes moved to Carlos face. “Please.” The soft whine that escaped his lips and his lips started to frown more.

“Go ahead, baby.”

Oscar nodded and pulled down the other’s underwear, by now Carlos was almost fully hard. Oscar brought his hand up to bring Carlos cock to his lips. He licked from the base of his dick to the tip before bringing it into his mouth. Oscar hummed pleasantly and started to slowly move his head back and forth.

A groan escaped Carlos lips as he continued to watch the other. “Take me in baby. I know you can take it.” Carlos started to take control using the hand his had in Oscar’s hair to set the pace. He didn’t want to be too rough but Carlos could not deny that the outfit was turning him on more than he thought it would.

As Carlos continued to fuck into the others mouth his moans grew. For a moment he threw his head back and stifled a moan before pulling Oscar’s head back. There was a popping sounds as Oscar’s mouth fell away from Carlos cock. Oscar started to whine looking up at Carlos who was still looking up at the ceiling. When Carlos finally looked at Oscar again he groaned, Oscar’s face was turning red and his slips were starting to swell. “Joder, mi vida. Perfecto amor.”

Carlos groaned and let go of Oscar’s hair. “Stand up baby. Let me see you.” Carlos Sat down on the edge of the bed and watched him.

Oscar stood up carefully and looked at Carlos. Oscar placed his hands behind his back and intertwined them. Carlos put his hand up and twirled his finger. Oscar knew what that meant, he walked to stand between Carlos legs and started turning slowly infront of him. Carlos looked him up and down before going to softly stroke himself.

“How long have you had this Oscar?” Carlos placed his hand on Oscar’s thigh and used his thumb to rub circles on the bare skin.

Oscar looked away shyly before feeling the squeeze of Carlos hand, a silent message. Their eyes found each others and Oscar spoke softly, “A few months.”

“What took you so long to wear it?”

“I was nervous, I wanted you to like it, and I wanted to be prepared if you didn’t.”

Carlos frowned and used his hold on the others legs to pull him closer placing his other hand on Oscar’s other thigh. He started rubbing Oscar’s thighs softly still holding eye contact.

“If you like it, I’m always willing. Everything is worth a try, and this is most definitely a win. You look great mi vida. Never be nervous to share with me me what you want to try.”

Oscar nodded and went to hug Carlos, “Thank you.” He smiled softly and pulled back, standing up. “What’s next Sir.”

“Oh, welcome back doll. Well right now I’m just enjoying the view, especially the fact that I see there’s nothing under here.” Carlos pointed out the obvious, Oscar finally fully hard and it was starting to protrude through the skirt. Oscars face turned an even deeper shade of red. “Want me to suck you off Doll? Or do you want me to start prepping you?”

Oscar thought for a moment twisting his waist so the skirt started to move around him. Oscar stopped moving before going to straddle Carlos. “I want you to kiss me.” Oscar nuzzled into the others neck places quick kisses on the skin as he could give him of Carlos shirt and lift it off of his head leaving Carlos full naked and Oscar still with his outfit on.

A soft gasp left Carlos lips bit he complied when Oscar lifted up his shirt. “Let me kiss you baby.”

Oscar pulled away from Carlos neck and went to attack his lips. The kiss was passionate and hungry, Carlos hands found there way back on Oscar thoughts but they slid up into he was cupping Oscar’s ass in his hands. He squeezed roughly getting a soft moan from Oscar as he pulled away.

Carlos stood up and carried Oscar with him Turing his body around to lay the other on the edge of the bed. Carlos dropped down to his knees on the floor and flipped up the skirt to look underneath it. Oscar watched carefully, he moved his body so his elbows were propping him up. A gasp left his lips as Carlos pressed into him with his finger.

Carlos eyes were on Oscar’s hole, sliding his finger in and out slowly. Setting a teasingly slow pace. Carlos pulled his finger out completely before turning to the side and pulling a bottle of lube from the drawer. He spread some on his fingers as well as pouring some of it one Oscar’s entrance. The cool liquid making the younger gasp at the contact.

After a moment Carlos continued his motions pushing his fingers back into Oscar. The pace slow and teasing until he added another finger, that’s when the pace began to pick and Oscar’s gasp turned into moans. He relaxed his body into the bed and laid back.

“Baby remove the top for me. I want to see you with just the skirt on.”

Oscar complied taking the crop top off in one full sweep. He pulled it off and over his head tossing it onto the floor before laying his body flush on the bed. Carlos watching him the entire time still thrusting his fingers into the other. He finally let his fingers fall out of the other before lining himself up, pouring some more lube onto his dick tossing it to the side again he slowly pushing into Oscar, “Tell me if it’s too much baby.”

Carlos pushed into Oscar slowly. It was gentle, and caring. Oscar was nearing his wits end. His dick was hard and still untouched. He knew that when Carlos took care of him properly he never needed to be touched and this was one of those times, Oscar could feel his orgasm creeping up to him.

Carlos hands were gripping on Oscar’s waist. Once he was fully engulfed inside the other he took a deep breath and looked down at the other, “I could cum just from this view, you’re so pretty doll. You need to wear this skirt more often.”

His thrust started off slow letting the younger get used to his size a before speeding up. Carlos wanted to take his time with Oscar, watch him fall apart slowly. Oscar was laying on the bed, his arm laying at the side of his body as he wrapped his legs around Carlos waist. In between his moans whimpers were escaping his lips and his back began to arch.

“Touch me, please.” Oscar whined closing his eyes. His back began to arch slightly. The skirt was laying loosely, the top flipped up on his stomach and the rest crinkled around his body. “I need you to touch me.” His whines we’re getting louder and so were his moans.

Oscar back arched more as Carlos complied. His hand wrapping around the others cock and he started to stroke it slowly. The teasingly slow strokes matched with the fast pace thrust were driving Oscar insane. His climax drawing closer and he could feel Carlos’s getting close as his movements became to be more rigid.

Carlos groaned softly closing his eyes for a moment, he took sever shallow breaths before opening them and quickening the speed of his strokes. His current task make sure Oscar cums first. He loved watching the other unravel infront of him. He slowed his thrust making sure to focus on the task at hand.

Oscar was close, his hands began to grip the sheets and his body arched more, “Oh Fuck-“ a moan cut him off as he closed his eyes. “I’m cumming.” And with that the dam broke. Oscar’s cum landed on Carlos’s hand and his stomach, some falling on the dress. But as Oscar was riding out his orgasm bucking into the others hand, Carlos was just starting his own. He spoke under his breath a string of uncomprehendable words fell from his lips, Oscar assumed it was Spanish but at the moment it was the furthest thing from his mind as he felt Carlos warm semen fill him.

Carlos made one final thrust before bottoming out and finishing inside Oscar. His grip on the others dick loosened and felt to the side, his eyes on Oscar’s face and a long moan escaped him. They stayed like that for a moment until Carlos pulled out. “You okay baby?”

Oscar whined at the lost but nodded. His eyes opened to look at Carlos, he reached up and grabbed onto him humming pleasantly. “‘M fine. Bath.”

Carlos understood what he needed, one thing about Oscar was he loved a aftercare bath. To soak in the water with Carlos and sometimes drift off to sleep. He picked the smaller up off the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Carlos sat Oscar on the counter, who winced at the chilled surface, to go and start the bath. He plugged it, and turn on the water making sure it was a good temperature before returning to Oscar.

“Let’s get this off of you baby.” Carlos spoke gently going to remove the skirt from Oscar’s body gently. He pulled it off and tossed it to the floor before going to placing him in the bath as the water continued to fill it up. At about half way he turned off the water and slipped in behind Oscar pull him close to his chest.

Carlos held him and they stayed like that until it was time to start cleaning themselves. They did that in a comfortable silence. When they both determined they were clean enough they relaxed again. Sitting there.

“So tell me, why did you buy the skirt? You told me when, but why?” Carlos was the first to break the silence, his arms wrapped tightly around the other.

“I wanted to try something new. I thought I would look pretty.” Oscar’s voice was low. He was relaxed and practically at peace in the others arms.

They eventually got out of the bath and dried off. They spend the rest of their day cuddled up in bed. They talked and even watched some TV, and for dinner Carlos cooked while Oscar cuddled up on the couch. It was a simple day, just like there simple summer vacation. Carlos had Oscar wear the skirt a few more times before they left, and the rest was history.

[noircheols]

˗ˏˋ  AS THE SUN HITS ; l. seokmin ´ˎ˗

she'll be waiting, with her cool things, and her heaven. (7.6k+)

⋆ SYNOPSIS. ― you were his muse, the motivation behind every note he strummed on his lyre, and every verse he sang. but now the air that would rush through his lungs as he'd sing could only be pried from your cold dead hands.

⋆ INFO. ― angst, fluff, ancient greece!au, historical fantasy!au, greek mythology!au, hurt no comfort

⋆ PAIRING. ― orpheus!dokyeom x eurydice!reader

⋆ PRNS. ― they / them

⋆ CW. ― MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, blood, seokmin can carry the reader, seokmin is afraid of dying cus of hubris, hades!minghao and persephone!jun take on gender fluid-esque forms for my sake (dont question it), mentions of starving, s3xu4l 4ssault mention (verbal), alcohol, food, kissing, pet names (my love, darling), possible historical/mythological inaccuracies, mentions of a beheading, mentions of poisoning, mentions of vomitting, light smut mention (if u blink u probs won't notice)

⋆ 💬.  ― special thanks to @seokmn for proof-reading!! inspired by a post which quite literally stated "orpheus seokmin x eurydice reader" BUT I LOST IT I WANT TO CRYYY. basically op wanted somebody to write something along those premises so i done just that (not shocked if somebody else got to it first tbh...) IF SO THIS WAS NOT COPIED FROM ANYBODY INTENTIONALLY THIS CAME OUT OF MY TINY BRAIN. i forgot who the original poster is but if anybody figures it out PLEASE TELL ME IMMIDIETALLY !!! this idea isnt mine i just wanted to bring it to life :(

Seokmin's favourite pastime was to have you running your hands through his hair. He loved the way your fingers gently brushed through his scalp, as you coaxed him with sweet nothings after a long day. It's what kept Seokmin going, his knees buckling as the musician climbed the hill to your cottage. Every day followed a very specific routine, you would be diligently looking over your garden, and he would wrap his arms around your waist from behind. It was your voice that renewed his love for music. Every word you spoke perfectly pieced together like a song. The way the corners of your mouth curled into a cheeky smile, the shape reminiscent of his lyre. Everything about you sounded right. It's why you made so much sense as his fiance.

Domestic life, despite his rich imagination, was something Seokmin never envisioned. He had travelled across the globe, seeing all that grew upon Gaia's skin. Kings had discovered his talent from messengers, and out of curiosity, invited him to perform. Everybody that heard his voice was bewitched, with rumours spreading that he was Apollo, the God of the Sun and Music taking on a mortal disguise! For his performances, Seokmin had been offered sparkling gems from the King of the Sea, pearlescent ivory from foreign lands in the South, and olive oil that flowed like honey from the finest of orchards. But Seokmin believed the best gift he had received was the gift of song. The gift of your song. With your song came his most stunning melodies. Melodies which tell the story of a wandering bard’s love for a valley nymph, an auloniad. The bard had only hoped the auloniad would notice him. Fortunately, Seokmin could conclude that the bard had a happy ending, because he was living it.

"You've been working too hard, Minnie."  you giggled as you gently tucked a flower behind his ear. You two sat quietly on your shared bed. Seokmin felt his body sink deeper into the linen with how gentle you were, treating him like he was made from the finest glass. Even with his eyes closed, could feel the warmth of your gaze. "You should tell the King to give you a day off, spend it with me, no?" you winked at the man, whose head rested on your lap. A blissful smile rested on his features. He looked angelic with the way the sunset cast its glow upon him.

"My love, he's invited to our wedding tomorrow! I can't afford to accidentally disrespect him. You know how these things work. There are too many stories of courtesans being beheaded; you don't want your fiance dead just before the fun starts!" he laughed. "Wait— are you planning on getting rid of me!?" his eyes looked like they were about to fall out of his sockets.

"Well, your big brother Wonwoo has been looking so good after becoming a scholar in Athens. It would help if you were out of the picture," you smirked, eager to see your fiance's reaction. Seokmin scoffed loudly, getting up from your lap.

"I'll kill Wonwoo before he can even see you!" Seokmin jokingly yelled before tackling you into the bed to be tickled mercilessly. You squealed "stop" repeatedly as your laugh filled the small house. Seokmin was pleased with your reaction, and finally released you from his grasp. He was hovering on top of you, hair falling in front of his eyes. You wanted every day to be like this. You wanted to see that same hair of his turn white and his face aged with time. You wanted to drown in his neverending love. Marriage would finally make you one being, an entity that shares a future and a past, and two breaths walking.

"I can't wait for us to get married tomorrow," Seokmin sighed, as he reached for your hand to kiss. You smiled as his lips brushed against your knuckles. You had heard from fellow nymphs that marriage was a poison that seeped into your bones, immobilizing you and keeping you trapped in a moment. Nymphs were born to be nothing more than bargain pieces, their names alone meaning "bride". However, you begged to differ.

When it came to Seokmin, you felt free. Never did you feel that you were inferior. Waking up next to him peacefully sleeping, as he spooned you. His soft pleas for you to "stay in bed a little longer". When he'd come home from a long day of performances and litter your face with the sweetest kisses, where he would thank you for "being his muse". Looking into his eyes after a long day felt like staring into the wide skies in the valleys you would live in.

You couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

"You look good," Wonwoo chuckled as he placed a wreath of gold leaves on his younger brother's head. Seokmin took a good look at himself in the mirror, the gold illuminating the spark in his eyes. It was Wonwoo's wedding gift he brought with him from Athens. His brother supposedly enlisted the best of the best goldsmiths with the very little money he had left to his name to make the stunning crown. The gold metal felt heavy on Seokmin's head, but your love was something he would proudly wear.

It was the day of your wedding. Seokmin had invited his human friends he had met on his adventures, and you invited nymphs of every kind. It was still early in the morning, much before the ceremony would commence in the evening (a personal touch Seokmin included; he remembered how you would get up in the middle of the night to stargaze). Still, the garden was bustling with life. He could hear the joyous hollering of well-wishers from outside his thin house walls.

"Look at you, getting married before me." Wonwoo teased. "I thought you were going to die in a tavern as a spinster— thank the Gods that you found [Name] before you met your fate drunk in a random street."

"Please, I'm not THAT miserable." Seokmin pouted at his brother's remarks. Seokmin's chest heaved. He wanted to see you, he wanted to kiss the bridge of your nose and tell him he was honoured to be your companion in life. He wanted to lift your veil off your face and see your doll-like eyes stare into his.

"Do you think..." Seokmin began to trail off. "Do you think they will love me forever? I know I will love them forever, but what if they become too good for me?"

"Well, Heraclitus had famously stated 'you cannot step into the same river twice' with his Doctrine of Flux—"

"Please don't go all scholar on me! I'm going to my wedding, not to school,"

"All I'm saying is, love never remains constant. It's a dynamic entity, but then again, you and [Name] are pretty dynamic too. You match each other perfectly, it's like Aphrodite blessed you. Although, my little brother has always been loved by the Gods." Wonwoo smoothly explained.

Like Aphrodite blessed me.

Seokmin gave himself a proud smile in the mirror before putting on the rest of his wedding garments.

Brushing the blackened ash of incense over your lashes, you grinned satisfied with your reflection in your hand mirror. You didn't previously imagine marriage or starting a family because you had heard so many stories from fellow nymphs of their nightmare affairs. But once again, Seokmin was different. He had the sincerest of emotions for you, and you for him.

You took a good look outside of your window, inhaling the fresh air. The air was particularly sweet today, maybe it was from the plethora of figs and wine available. Or, maybe it was because your heart swelled so much with excitement from the wedding all your senses were being overshadowed. The cottage you and Seokmin resided in was looking exceptional today, with the bouquets of wildflowers and candles. The cottage was a gift bestowed to you and Seokmin by the King of Aeolia, who adored Seokmin's music. The orchards were bountiful, the fruit plump and sweet. The garden was your favourite place, as you were previously a follower of the nomadic forest deity, Pan. You remember vividly how you first met Seokmin.

You were stringing flowers up from the Earth when you heard a scream ripple through your valley. You chuckled softly to yourself. Humans. Still, there were many stories of them searching for greatness, ignorant to the fact that they were designated to ultimately become the dirt they walk on. Your previous lover, a minor God of trickery, would boast about his status and the inferiority of humankind. You’d laugh at his stories of luring humans to their death, but you were aware that nymphs were just as weak— if not weaker, than humans. Really, nymphs and humans were two different sides of the same coin— two entities that were used by the Gods as playthings to pass their time as immortals. However, a key difference was that humans spent their time locked away in their big marble palaces and scriptures, and nymphs would be imprisoned by the freedom of the wilderness.

What would a human be doing out here in auloniad territory?

You tracked down the origin of the sound, finding yourself deep in the forest. "STAY BACK!" the man shrieked. You peeked behind a willow tree, its long branches acting as a disguise, and you cracked a wicked smile. The man, clutching his lyre, was cornered to the back of a tree by a boar. The beast snarled, showing off its sharpened and bloodied teeth. Boars, to auloniads, were like what puppies were to humans. If this were any other human, you would have allowed the beast to have its way. But something about this man, with his big doe eyes and perfectly sculpted face made him seem... different. He held an aura— no, a glow, that made you interfere.

"Alright, Sherman, please don't eat the nice guest." you stepped out from your hiding spot, cooing at the beast. The boar stopped its hunt once it heard your voice. It trotted over to you, for you to cup its face. "Aren't you just adorable!" you gushed, ruffling with its fur.

Seokmin's eyes fell onto you, fear evaporating from his body. You were... magnificent. He had seen beautiful people before, when he was entertaining royalty. Princes and princesses would throw themselves on him, begging to take him to bed. But you were beautiful like the waterfalls he'd see on his journeys, birds chirping signalling a new day, the rocky steppes of mountainous terrains in Crete.

"His name is Sherman?" Seokmin began to laugh.

"Her." you giggled, as the beast revelled in your affection. Seokmin began to laugh to himself, wondering how the same vicious boar, who had chased him from across the forest, could resemble the same characteristics as a harmless puppy under the right touch.  You released Sherman, letting her go to run off into the wild. 

"Thank you for saving me," Seokmin spoke up, drinking in the nymph's beauty. You laughed— goodness, how could somebody be so charming? "Next time when you come into this neck of the woods, I'd advise you to not play any instruments. Boars are extremely sensitive to noise. Rather, go to the Pineios River to practice." you advised. "What were you playing, anyways?" being a nymph, curiosity bested you. It’s not always you get a human in your hand.

"Oh, just this old thing!" Seokmin brought a rather strange thing from his dilapidated satchel, a gold tubular instrument.

“And… what is it?”

“A salpinx! Its pretty loud though, soldiers use this in battles. Maybe this thing is why Sherman wanted to kill me…” Seokmin thought out loud. You giggled at the human's cuteness. He was endearing, like a fawn.

“Well, I should get going now, back to doing absolutely nothing.” you chuckled. As you began trekking up the forest, you heard Seokmin call out to you.

“Wait!— Why don’t I play something for tomorrow, just the two of us? At the Pineios River!” Seokmin offered.

He was composed when it came to playing in front of giant cyclops to convince them to let him live, at weddings of huge political significance, impressing the Goddess of Arts and Crafts, and setting wild lions to sleep with gentle lullabies. But to have you in his audience was the most nerve-wracking thing to him. To feel your eyes bore deep into him was… tantalizing. To be the object of your attention, as you spend your days together lazing in each other's company. He had never felt stage fright before. But that only motivated him to perform the best he could.

Grinning, you turned your head around. “I’d love to.”

He knew at that moment he wanted to marry you, and that feeling only grew stronger every time he played for you.

The festivities were in full swing. Guests took it upon themselves to feast on the multiple honey-flavoured sweets prepared and the platter of goat's cheese with cucumbers and figs. There was an overwhelming amount of wine available to wash it down. "Eat it all up and vomit it all out" was the Ancient world's favourite way to pass the time. Amongst all their excitement, Seokmin was oddly quiet.

"You aren't eating anything," Wonwoo observed, eyeing his brother's untouched plate.

"Something feels wrong," Seokmin responded, voice hushed so only his brother could hear.

"How?" Wonwoo asked before going for a second lamb rib.

“It feels like… my life is going to change tonight.” Seokmin solemnly spoke. “I mean— aside from the fact I’m literally getting MARRIED. But, I don’t know, something is telling me I should check in on [Name].”

"Maybe you’re just experiencing pre-wedding anxiety. It's common.” Wonwoo explained. Wonwoo was Seokmin’s polar opposite, in that he viewed convoluted situations as simple problems with logical answers. Wonwoo was reasonable, a characteristic all scholars possessed. Growing up, in difficult situations, it was Wonwoo’s brain that triumphed over Seokmin’s heart. “I'm sure [Name] is alright, they have all their friends. Just trust me on this and eat your food." Seokmin gave a weak nod before picking up a fig to eat.

Seokmin wishes he had listened to his heart before it was too late.

By evening, Seokmin was expected to have wed you already. By now, you would be dancing to his lyre with a careless smile with the stars smiling down on your union. But as Seokmin searched tirelessly for you, he could hear the stars laughing wickedly.

“My love?!!” Seokmin called out for his love. "Please, answer me!" Seokmin's eyes frantically scanned over the almost endless rolling hills. He felt like he was staring into the ocean. At first glance, the ocean was inviting and almost harmless, but the danger was in its infinite grasp over the world. But Seokmin would claw through the waves if it meant he could be with you.

"No sign of them here!" one of his wedding guests shouted.

"Over here!" one of your nymph friends called out, waving at him. Seokmin ran over to see what was happening, and his heart sank. You lay peacefully on the tall grass, as though you were just in a deep sleep. The earth was waiting for you to finally return to its arms. It had yearned for your return ever since you left the valley to travel alongside Seokmin. Now that you have returned to it, Seokmin knew better than anybody it wouldn't let you go. 

"We were all just dancing, like we normally did and—" another nymph choked on her tears, rolling down her cheeks at the same tempo of the beads of blood rolling down your ankle and staining the lush bed of grass underneath. "We were startled by an entourage of hunters, threatening us with all sorts of crude things, because that's all nymphs are good for. But [Name] wouldn't take any of it, and soon enough, it delved into an argument— and the huntsman just shoved them so hard that they stumbled onto a stupid venomous snake."

Rage.

There had never been a moment where Seokmin felt so much rage.

What was even more bitter was that your blood was trickling into the Pineios River, the same place he had given his first performance to you. The sounds of the water gently crashing against the shore did nothing to soothe him. His world, you, had just stopped. But the rest of the world still flooded past your body, reminding him that he was just another pebble in the riverbed that was life. The river, which was supposed to be a natural monument to your love, was now stained by your death. You had deliberately chosen to get married by the Pineios River and to have your cottage here, because this is where time would stand still for you and him.

"Where are those hunters?" Seokmin questioned, as he scooped you into his arms. It hurt him that you were so perfect. Even in your final moments, you chose to remain generous and protect the people you love most. How he wished you could have been more selfish.

"They ran off into the woods, laughing to themselves..." another responded.

Seokmin's fingers clung to your figure, hoping to feel your blood rush. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to bring you back and finalize his vows with you. He was supposed to carry you into your shared cottage as blushing newlyweds, staring up at the ceiling together because that was your favourite thing to do. But here he was, carrying your cold lifeless body. That same body which he spooned to sleep. Just moments ago, he woke you up with a kiss on the forehead. How did moments seem so distant?

Burying his face in your chest, Seokmin sobbed. Maybe he could hear your heart beat once more? Maybe you could feel his warmth, and then you would regain your spark and miraculously come back to life. Your eyes would flutter open, and you could spend your last moments with him in the sweet bliss of domesticity. Seokmin thought that if he wailed loudly enough, the Gods would hear his pleas and give him his greatest love. His big brother's words, "Beloved by the gods," echoed in his mind, ringing painfully in his memories.

No human could ever be loved by a god. Not the same way he loved you, at least.

He loved you. And that's what was going to be his undoing.

It had been days since the wedding. Seokmin hadn't been eating regularly. Some twisted part in his mind lashed at him for not being there to protect you. He should have been the last thing you saw. He should have held you so as you shut your eyes and left this world he could have been able to say goodbye. He wishes he could have been able to say goodbye. Or maybe, he wouldn't need to say goodbye, because he would keep you away from those hunters and you would have never tripped. It doesn't matter now, because while your breath was faltering and your heart slowed he was feasting without a care in the world.

Seokmin also stopped sleeping. It's grown to hurt him too much. Every time he would close his eyes to rest, he hoped that when he woke up, it was all a part of a cruel trick his mind was playing on him. But it never was. It then grew to become him trying to sleep forever, so that time would pass by seamlessly and he would shrivel and find himself in the Underworld with you. But it would never work. It was because he was selfish. He would wake up in the middle of the night, his chest heaving and gasping for air. As much as he was terrified of losing you, perhaps most importantly, he nursed a fear of dying. He was a coward who turned his back on death, the only time humans are treated equally. But he was not like the rest, he was a jewel amongst the rock garden of humanity, and you were supposed to adore him. He was vain, but any artist with self-respect was. Why should he be treated the same as other humans, when he was a hero of far-off kingdoms and Apollo's champion?

Rather than disappointing himself, he took to roaming the gardens you tended to so ardently. "I'm still a nymph, after all! I’m good with plants" your voice rang clearly in his head like a bell.

Staring mindlessly at the flowerbed, meddling with the strings of his lyre, singing to himself. All he could think about was how spring was treading forth on its heels, bringing flowers in their bloom. But when you died, you left him none of the bright colours that dotted your shared world. Maybe, he could catch the Goddess of Spring, Persephone, and beg her to convince her husband to bring you back to him. The Goddess of Spring, or as he likes to appear to humans, Jun.

Seokmin knelt before the once flourishing bed of flowers, singing once more. Louder. With more strength. Maybe Apollo won't fail him, and will take his golden chariot mounted by swans to pluck you back from Hades and return you back home. You would emerge from the shining beams of sunlight, and you will both laugh about this cruel dream. If Apollo could gift him his lyre, surely he could gift him his love?

Seokmin's eyes fluttered, feeling those restless nights catching up on him. His exhaustion made him mistake the dirt as a gigantic pillow. Seokmin's shoulders sank, as he lowered his head. Maybe the dirt will consume him and crush him into a fine dust that will leave nothing but his soul, free to travel between worlds and free to reunite with you. But— then he would be gone. He would be nothing more than the dirt people stepped on. He could no longer hear the music of the world he loved so much.

"No!" Seokmin shook himself awake. His eyes slowly enlarged. That once large brown pillow suddenly had flowers sprouting out of its barren surface. Soft pink blooms with thin twig-like stems, native to the craggy stony steppes of Aeolia, called evia. Your favourite flowers. There was only one possible explanation of how this could have happened.

A figure walked towards the bard, long pastel pink silk trailing to the ground and flowers from every part of the world woven into his hair. Jun. The manifestation of the Goddess of Spring.

"A nymph was sobbing in the Underworld about you, mortal." his voice echoed.

"How did you find me?" Seokmin bowed in front of the Goddess, making sure to keep his eyes glued to the ground.

"Please, enough of these formalities! I'm not going to drag you down to the Underworld." Jun chuckled, finding Seokmin amusing. The Goddess of Spring was much kinder than his husband, that's for sure. Although, that didn't mean they didn't share the same sense of gallows humour. It makes the Ancients let out a sigh of relief that it wasn't Hades allowed to crawl the service and take all who frustrated him back underneath the Earth's crust to never be seen again. "As one finds all champions of Apollo, find where the sun shines brightest and where the music sounds sweetest."

"What are you doing here, then?"

Jun merely laughed at that question. "What gall you have, mortal! Asking why spring goes where it wishes?" Jun stopped laughing, catching his breath.

"Normally, I don't care about the dead. That's Minghao's job. It's so glum, don't you think? Listening to whining brats isn't really my forte, thank goodness he's so patient." Minghao was the chosen mortal name of Hades, the malevolent ruler of the Underworld, waiting for the fall of every being from the shadows. “Patient” was certainly one way to describe him.

"But this one was special. Wailing as loud as possible so Apollo could hear them, but alas! His home is high up in the sky, he's too brilliant for us! Minghao told me that this was the soon-to-be spouse of Apollo's champion. Naturally, I was curious about them, since they had managed to capture the attention of one who is in Apollo's favour."

"I'm honoured to have caught your attention, but..." Seokmin paused, wondering what to say. "Will you please bring them back?"

"Bring out your hands, mortal." Jun sighed, reaching down to pick up an evia. Reluctantly, Seokmin laid his palm flat. "Minghao always explains to me that mortality is chained to time. The second a mortal is born, the clock never stops ticking. Second after second" Jun tears off a petal. "day after day." and another. "Year by year." and another. "Your darling was already dying. Until finally—" SNAP! Jun rips the stem in half. "The clock stopped." Jun brushed off the broken flower into Seokmin's palm. "Now if you excuse me, my curiosity has been satiated."

"Forgive me for my intrusion, but you're immortal. I don't think you should be explaining how death works to me." Seokmin spoke up without thinking. What had gotten into him!? Why was he challenging a goddess!? Guilt sunk into him. "I'm so sorry! I— I was speaking without thinking!" Seokmin got on all fours. Jun once again laughed.

"Mortal, do you think I'm enraged? On the contrary, I'm amused!" Jun smiled, kneeling to grab Seokmin's chin and make him look into his eyes, bright like flowers emerging from the cold winter snow. "I'm nothing like those old hags on Olympus! I like your attitude. I was worried that Apollo favoured idiots, but I'm glad he finally chose somebody with a mouth!"

"I— Really??" Seokmin was at a loss for words, getting back up on his feet. "All I ask is, I have a word with Hades. I'm sure he will understand my plight."

"Are you saying you want to challenge him?"

"I mean, you are his bride. You have his affections, surely he will listen to you!" Seokmin pleaded. "Please, I need to see [Name]. Every day has been worthless for me. Food has no taste, music has no rhythm." Seokmin stumbled on his words, his mouth clogged by the emotions plaguing his heart.

"You do understand, mortal, that the dead is not my kingdom. Once we head to the Underworld, I won't be able to protect you." Jun explained. Seokmin sighed, weighing the options.

"I've travelled oceans and fought monsters, talking with the King of the Underworld seems like nothing if I can have [Name] back," Seokmin answered.

Jun wryly smiled, his eyes mischievously glinting with the opportunity to witness a game, as he began his long walk back home. "Well, onwards we go then. It's a long way back." Seokmin firmly nodded, picking up his lyre, as that was all he'd need. "Seriously? That's all?" Jun quirked an eyebrow. Seokmin nodded. Jun scoffed. Maybe all of Apollo's favourites were idiots.

Finally done climbing up the stony steps, Seokmin arrived at the large entrance of Hades's palace. Dark obsidian columns with silver accents and a large door handle of bone, except large bouquets crawling down its walls (courtesy of Jun).

"Let's go over some basics before you meet him, alright?" Jun turned to Seokmin. "Number one, don't touch anything! Otherwise, you're stuck here for good. Instead, let me open this door for you." Jun leaned against the cool frame of the door. "Number two, Hades isn't nearly as cruel as you mortals make him out to be. He's actually quite fair, as death should be."

"Death wasn't fair to my love." he huffed, letting his true feelings show. Jun knew this feeling of resentment toward Minghao wasn't uncommon. So many mortals beg for his forgiveness, to make their deaths as seamless as the flow of time. But even then mortals resent death for taking their loved ones away.

"That's what they all say." Jun rolled his eyes. "Third, play by his rules. Minghao normally finds you mortals championed by the arrogant Gods of Olympus to be so prideful, so it'll be refreshing to see something opposite of that, and you'll be in his graces." Seokmin's ears perked at the last bit. Could he wager immortality, then? Could he have you and him enjoying the future without the fear of it ending?  "Number four, and most importantly. It's easier to get into the Underworld than to leave it."

"Alright so no touching, Hades is nice, listen to him, and it's hard to leave." Seokmin recounted.

"Exactly!" Jun gave a thumbs-up before the gates opened for him.  "Now put your game face on, Champion of Apollo." Seokmin quietly followed after Jun, his eyes glazing over the palace. Each wall held engraving of different stories, all stories which shared an ending in the Underworld. The final destination for all.

"Hao!" Jun called. "I brought you somebody!"

"Leave them at the front desk, the clerk will sort them out!" Minghao replied, his voice booming. Seokmin covered his ears, he forgot how loud the voices of Gods appeared to regular people. Jun opened the last gate, and into the throneroom. Seokmin's jaw dropped. He could only imagine being back at the cottage with you, composing a song of Hades and rescuing you. The large throne perched upon stairs of what looked like sizzling magma. Seokmin gulped looking at the throne, composed of skeletons, all of them belonging to those who had mocked the King of the Underworld. Most importantly, was the very king that sat comfortably on his throne. Seokmin imagined the king to be hot-tempered, like the fires which scorched wrong-doers. But it was very much the opposite. Cold. Cold like a corpse when it stops breathing.

"I bring to you, a Champion of Apollo! This is the one we were talking about earlier, the fiance of the nymph." Jun turned to Seokmin, signalling for him to follow.

"Um, uh— greetings, your... awfulness? I would say highness, but we are at the lowest part of the Earth. Would your lowness work better?" Seokmin mumbled, awkwardly, kneeling in front of Hades.

"Isn't this exciting!" Jun forced a smile, mentally face-palming.

"He isn't dead." Minghao finally spoke, a chill piercing through the room. "Stand, mortal. I want to look at the one who dares challenge me." Minghao stepped down from his throne as Seokmin's legs struggled to stand up without wobbling. Jun sighed, knowing this was where his power over Minghao ended. As Jun walked up to his own throne adorned in flowers, he turned to Seokmin and mouthed "Good luck."

"Mortal, you dare mock me? Using my bride as a bargaining piece, breaching my palace, and all while your heart still beats?" Minghao threatened, analyzing the man in front of him. Minghao was perfect. Perfect in the way all Gods are. But he was impressed with Seokmin, that even compared to a God he was able to stand proud. "It makes sense that you caught Apollo's attention, but I detest the Gods of Olympus. They keep me underground, send me humanity’s worst, and expect my generosity." he scoffed.

"I— I only have one wish for you." Seokmin finally spoke. Minghao raised a brow. "I suspect it has something to do with shipment #50A194. The auloniad." Minghao thought out loud.

"You assign numbers to everybody who comes here?"

"People die every day, I have to keep track somehow." the God casually shrugged. "They were nothing like other nymphs. Normally, nymphs are relieved to come to my arms, as humans and gods alike toy with them. But this one was upset. This one says you have shown them something special, something that makes my kingdom pale in comparison. I wonder what it is." Seokmin's answer of “music” hung in the air.

"All I ask from you is that you return my love to me." Seokmin blurted. A beat of silence. Seokmin felt the air around him suffocate him, his body growing numb. Another beat of silence.

Minghao stepped closer to Seokmin. "Are you afraid of dying, mortal?" Seokmin froze.

"W-what?" he tried playing it off, but Minghao knew the living just as well as the dead, and the racing of his heart gave him away.

"You champions are all the same. You lead fruitful lives, you find great loves and great riches. But you all are terrified of the end." Minghao smoothly explained. "Just because the sun bends in your favour, doesn't mean death will. You are a coward, is what you are. A coward that fears his end! You will not do what is natural and wait for death to find you. No, instead you will mock death. You will find death, and you will demand it give you what you deserve. Your love for [Name] is not true!"

"OK ENOUGH!" Seokmin roared back, tears dripping down his face. "I love [Name]. More than anything. You can call me a coward, I don't care." Seokmin spoke. From the corner of his eyes, he could see a satisfied Jun enjoying his performance. His vision began to obscure with tears falling once more from his eyes. "Yes, I'm scared of dying. I hate the idea of it. I know it is everybody's fate, but the journey has to be completed alone. I cannot bear the idea of being alone. I cannot bear the idea of being without [Name]." Seokmin looked at the god, gaze unfaltering and filled with rage, the same that filled him on the day of your death. 

"Fine. I admit, I empathize with your cause." Minghao reluctantly sighed. "I shall retrieve your love, and dress them in the finest of Underworld garments and jewels so you can have a wedding ceremony even better than the last." "Really?" Seokmin blinked.

"There is an exit out of the Underworld only Jun and I know, you two can hike up it and will be back home in the blink of an eye. However, I have a condition"

"Anything!" Seokmin grinned, already imagining how he would hold you the second you two reunite. You two will exchange stories of brushing with the Underworld and the sights. He’ll tell you about his encounter with Persephone and her husband, and you will tell him about your trip across the River Styx. 

"You by any means cannot turn around. Not even go as far as to check on the nymph that will be right behind you. You will only have one chance. If you fail, you shall be separated from each other in eternity." Minghao sternly spoke. Seokmin's smile dropped as quickly as it quirked up. "You are forbidden from communicating to them, as well as touching them. You will also be unable to hear them."

"But, how will I know they are with me!?" "Not my problem." Minghao sighed. "This is the most you're getting from me. Now, shoo." Rolling his eyes, Minghao made his way back to his throne. "The next time I see you, you better be dead. If not, I'll make sure of it."

Seokmin waved goodbye to the kind Goddess of Spring and bowed to Hades to signal his respects to the Underworld. He took a deep breath in, looking up at the glittering light seeping through the cracks. The only exit out of here, and his ticket to freedom. He could imagine the sweetness of your lips kissing him. Your voice sighs in relief that he came to rescue you from oblivion. Standing in his way was a long, steep and rocky path, its width shrinking the closer it was to the exit.

"My love, how I missed you!" you grinned. "You can't believe how abysmal it is here! God, it felt so lonely, I just– I couldn't stop crying."

As he gently stepped forward, he could feel the loose soil underneath him shift and slip. Normally, he would have no concern. You're an auloniad, for crying out loud. Rocky terrain dotted with grass is your home. But the snake bite that pierced your ankle was bound to compromise your movement. He figured he'd just move slowly, for your sake.

"Ah, I fear my leg still hurts from the bite. Could you go a little slowly?"

As Seokmin carefully climbed the rugged steps, a thought popped into his head. Hades did not specify that he was forbidden from singing to himself. It just happened to be a coincidence that you overheard him. Humming to himself (and maybe to you, as well) he strummed the strings of his lyre.

"My favourite song!" you gushed. "Do you remember the first time you performed for me, at the Pineios River? Goodness, you just get better every single day!"

Normally, his song would penetrate through the deepest of depths, and his voice would triumph above all. But it all felt hollow like the darkness of those depths was consuming him whole and slowly pushing him back into the Underworld. He wished, so desperately, to know you were listening. Seokmin couldn't hear your steps or your breathing. It was haunting, how you weren't here on this long climb, yet he could vividly remember you. Grief is strange. How you must restrain yourself from looking back on memories of loved ones corrupted by their death.

"Please, turn around so I can get a good look at you. Don't you think I deserve that, at least?"

Maybe he was doomed. How could he know that Hades wasn't mocking him? The light which had guided Persephone to him and the passion which motivated him was being waned.

"Seokmin, why are you ignoring me?" your voice grew softer. "Is it something I said? Have I upset you? Please, just answer me already. You're making me nervous." You reached out for his hand, but he moved it away.

Feeling the chill of a cold wind brush past his palm, Seokmin moved it closer to his chest, hoping the Underworld hadn’t drained him of his life. When will he get to hold your hand again?

Knees buckling, he let out a sigh of relief that he was finally halfway up, already smiling knowing Apollo was waiting for him with the way the light grew even brighter.

"Darling, please, just talk to me. Say something." you huffed. "Why can't you just turn around!?" You hobbled on your ankle, trying to keep up with your lover, watching him disappear as he moved closer to the light. "I don't understand, what is wrong with you!? Please, just turn around already!" Your eyes began welling with tears, raising your voice as much as possible.

As Seokmin treaded higher up, he noticed the crack enlarge just enough so that he could pop his head through. He let out a long sigh of relief, as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, his knees stinging from exhaustion. What would be the first thing he would do with you on the Overworld? Roll in the grass? Breathe in the fresh air? Hoist you up and listen to your heart beating in your chest? Seokmin tries to think, but the Underworld is unforgiving. The air felt thick and heavy, gravity dragging him down as he tried to tear himself away from its clutches, taunting him that your death was inevitable and that he would soon be ensnared in the Underworld’s net. It casts doubt upon him. Does his music have the strength to pierce through the darkest of moments as he prides himself on? Was his passion enough? Was Hades and Persephone lying to him? The Gods are not exactly above toying with mortals, as that is their favourite pastime. Doubt settled in his mind. 

Seokmin shook his head. He must stay firm. He mustn’t listen to the doubt in his mind and push through. He feared death. He feared the cold wind brushing behind his back, echoing how his story would end. Cold. Dark. Alone. He needed you back with him. He needed your body’s warmth, your light. He needed to die in your arms.

The grating sound of a rock falling off the ledge and into the abyss below obstructed Seokmin’s train of thought, realizing the sound could mean only one thing. “I got you!” he snapped his head back. Seokmin’s jaw dropped, realizing the horrible mistake he had made. “You finally turned around.” you weakly huffed, tears sparkling in the dark. Minghao had kept his word. You were otherworldly. Contrasting against the darkness, you were a bright star, shrouded in a bright white glow. Your beauty only made him even more upset, as his eyes grew wide with the realization he had squandered his last chance. This was easily a pardonable offence, if the spirits knew how to pardon. In their long-spent immortality, never could they empathize with Seokmin’s plight. 

“I… thought.” Seokmin slowly blinked, tears dripping down his face. Breathing heavily, he tried to calm himself down. He thought you had fallen, and your body would crash against the ground like a fallen star. It wasn’t that his love for you was small, but that it was too much. It was overflowing and reckless, just like the nature of youth. He couldn’t resist turning around to help you, especially with the knowledge of your snakebite. The same stupid thing that sent you here. You frowned, heart hurting at the sight of your lover in disarray. Stepping forward, you cupped his face, your touch still lingering with the frost of the Underworld. “Darling, what’s wrong?” You tried to make eye contact with him.

“I’m sorry.” he choked on his sobs. “I wasn’t supposed to turn around… but I just got so nervous, I thought you fell,” Seokmin confessed. “I’m an idiot. I failed you. I’m so… so… stupid. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” Seokmin screwed his eyes shut, unable to muster the strength to look at what would happen to you now that he failed. Minghao hadn’t specified what would happen if he had failed. Would he send furies to tear you apart? Would he force him to drink poison?  

“No! You’re not an idiot. Don’t be so cruel.” swiping your thumb against his cheek and wiping away his tears. “You’re so brave, coming all the way to rescue me… all because you love me. You failed… because you love me. I’m happy knowing that.” You smiled, knowing the bitter end that was to come to you. They needed to kill you twice for him to let you go. But you had to be strong, for his sake. He was strong enough to challenge the Underworld, the unforgiving end. He was strong enough to face death, his greatest fear, challenging its irreversibility. He was strong enough to defy the laws of nature. The least you could do was comfort him. “I’m so… proud of you.” your touch felt feather light against the heavy mortal flesh weighing him down. “Please… just look at me.”

“But, you’ll be gone!” Seokmin wailed. “I… I’m not strong enough for this! I can’t go on!” 

“You are strong enough. So open your eyes.” your words gently coaxed him. Seokmin inhaled one last time, bracing himself for the horror he was about to witness. As his eyes fluttered open, you were gone as quickly as you had appeared before him. There was no dramatic murder, just a hazy glow left in where you were standing before him. That was how mortality worked, in the eyes of Gods. Mortals come and go on this Earth, in the span of a blink. Mortality, which feels like entering a room and just finding the exit. Mortality, which weighed Seokmin down, and held you in its clutches. It was a signal to him that it was time to wake up from the dream that was you. It was time for him to grow up and to accept mourning the loss of his muse. Falling to his knees, Seokmin sobbed, the noise drowned by the hollow abyss of the Underworld. His voice, which set him apart as a champion of Apollo, was indistinct from the rest of the wailing of the Underworld. 

Maybe you will have a greater fate than him. You will drink from the River Lethe, whose waters flowed through the God of Sleep's cave, causing one to forget the mortal world. Sure, it meant you would forget the blisses and joys you shared above the surface, but it also meant you would forget the pain and sadness. You would wake up, yawning as you ponder the strange figure in your dream named "Seokmin". You would be reborn and would carve a path through the foreign wilderness of the underworld. You would be trapped in a moment, a distant memory of a time of idealistic, passionate, youthful bliss. You would be free. Like you were destined to be. Free from mortal anguish. Free from him. Your skin could never wrinkle, your hair couldn't gray, and your health wouldn't deplete.

Who knows what would have happened if you had returned to him in the mortal realm. Would the love between you dry up? Would your love only be immortalized in a contract, and not in real life? Maybe life will ravage your happy marriage and shred the love that once existed. You would part ways and leave him behind, as you could never truly be his. When would be the last time in your unhappy married life you tell him "I love you"? Would he bar the door when you got sick of him and tried to leave? Would he welcome your newfound hatred of him and show you the way out?

The memory of you would be his prized possession, something to draw inspiration for his music, to know he had the pleasure of experiencing such a love, and to wonder the many possibilities if he were successful in bringing you back. He was fine if you could just stay. It didn't matter if you only stayed in his memory and never talked to him again. But please, stay.

thank you so much for reading — @noircheols do not copy or translate ♧ mlist

[to-the-stars8]

Home For the Holidays

Jason Todd & Dick Grayson & Tim Drake All Chapters Ao3

A/N: Just a little Christmas story for the holidays I thought I would post. I don't know if I'll finish it before Christmas or at all, but we will definitely see how it goes! Sorry if the characters are a little OOC, I just wanted to try something new--tho I did try to stick with the og characteristics as much as I could. Also, I'm kind of keeping it sort of to the original timeline, which is why it's set in the 90s.

Jason, Tim, and Dick are stuck in the middle of who-knows-where with little to no money and only five days til Christmas. Not to mention, tensions are high between them, so they have to come together to figure out a way to get home.

December 20, 1992, Reno, NV

Last Christmas was playing on the radio in the motel room as Jason took a drag off a cigarette while he watched Tim try a kickflip for the third time in a row. The plastic lawn chair he was sitting on was rocking back and forth on its feeble legs. He could hear Dick arguing with Bruce on the guest room phone inside, and it was getting heated. Eventually, the conversation ended with Dick calling Bruce a shit father and slamming the phone down. Tim must have heard it from his spot in the parking lot by the way he gave Jason a questioning look but didn’t say anything. 

A few minutes later, Dick stepped out of the room. He sucked in a fresh breath of Reno air before exhaling slowly. It was something he had been doing lately to try and calm down, but, this time, it didn’t seem to be working. 

Taking another drag of his cigarette, he offered it to Dick who declined it with a slight wave of his hand. Jason raised his eyebrows in an ‘you’re loss’ gesture before asking, “What did our dear old Dad say?”

By the sour look on Dick’s face, it hadn’t been anything good. “He’s on some mission and can’t come. He’ll try to get in contact with Alfred, but I doubt he will if it’s not urgent. He also bitched at me for not calling on a ‘secure��� line.”

Jason was all but surprised. Bruce picked and chose when he wanted to be a loving father. Flicking away the bud of his cigarette, he finally said, “This place is too expensive to stay at, even though it’s a fuckin’ dump.” 

“We’ll figure something out,” Dick said, trying to be calm. “I’d like to be home for Christmas. We should be home for the holidays.”

For some reason, that annoyed Jason and he snapped back, “And how are we gonna get there, Richard? Right now, I got thirty dollars to my name, and I would bet that thirty dollars that you got less. I doubt the kid has anything to offer other than piss-poor skateboarding skills.”

“I can hear you, asshole,” Tim shouted across the parking lot. 

Jason ignored him before saying slowly to Dick, “Just give up the Christmas idea.”

“Just because you and Bruce don’t like each other, doesn’t mean he doesn’t like us.”

Dick was sure Jason would have gotten up to hit him just by the look on his younger brother’s face. Standing suddenly, Jason glared down at Dick before turning on his heel to stalk off. Dick, feeling guilty, tried to call him back, but it was useless. With a huff, he retreated into the room. The door slammed shut behind Dick, making Tim jump. 

It had been like a cycle of arguing before coming to a truce since the end of the mission, and Tim had just started to wait until the next time they would blow up at each other. He couldn’t picture Jason keeping any kind of positive attitude of any kind, and Dick didn’t really have the sort of temper that could tolerate anything but happiness and complacency. At the end of it all, it left Tim annoyed, Jason stomping off, and Dick trying not to blow up. 

With a sigh, Tim went to do another kickflip.

[im-getting-help]

since we talked about beauty and the beast the other day, this post made me think of you, it made me giggle https://www.tumblr.com/illsian/755469591746134017/cant-believe-no-one-has-posted-her-reaction

That reaction is literally me when I saw that scene.

No but like!! you'll never understand how glad I was when I found out I wasn't the only one let down by the transformation! Ily Adam but you look so BORING.

I need to make it clear that I also don't love the drawing style of beauty and the beast, and I think that also plays an important role in why I HATE prince Adam design, but also, he looks the complete opposite to how he SHOULD look.

You know what's the biggest mistake? He looks so kind, like any other disney prince. The problem is that we, collectively, fell in love with the beast. After years of being a spoiled brat and then a literal monster you give me the goodest bestest boy? He's so good and well behaved, did that transformation neutered him too?? 😭

Yeah, that's a no for me.

The moment Felix relents and let's Oliver sleep with him and finds out he literally just wants to share a bed, he'll wake up, not only to the man of this dreams, but a sociopath. He's better trained, sure, but is a rough looking dude with behavioral issues. The scars he got as a beast stay when he's back as a human.

Oliver the human needs a bath and a training collar. He'll eventually become the closest impression of a recued pitbull, looks scary but is just the sweetest puppy 💕

[feroluce]

On Sampo's name (ALL of his names!)

I feel like everyone who's a fan knows the meaning of Sampo's full name by now- the sampo was a legendary item that could magically make endless supplies of gold, flour, and salt, all priceless items at the time! So it works perfectly for a scammer businessman like Sampo. ☆

"Koski" is the Finnish word for "water rapids" which might seem kinda random but actually makes sense for him, since Aha and the Masked Fools are also referred to with water terms:

This kind of analogy isn't specific to only Aha and the Masked Fools, but it does still tie them together. So water rapids fits perfectly! Sampo wants to stir the pot! He likes to shake things around and spice things up! He's taking that stagnant pool and turning it into water rapids! It would actually explain his ridiculous hair color, too; a dark blue wave tipped with white foam haha

EDIT: an amazing contribution from @ricochetlovebombs, who heard it from hoyolab user Rattaboy. If you interpret his first and last name together, instead of separately like I did, you would get something like "money river."

In other words, Sampo's name literally means CASH FLOW SKXJMDMDMD

What I really wanted to talk about is his drag alias name, though, Brughel Poisson, because to me that's where it gets really interesting.

So like in the English version, Sampo goes by Brughel Poisson when he's in disguise. Searching for just "Brughel" itself doesn't seem to get you much at first: a Flemish and Dutch Renaissance painter named Pieter Brueghel the Elder, who was famous for his landscapes and peasant scenery, especially Hunters in the Snow and The Blue Cloak.

He's referred to as "the Elder" because he had a son also named Pieter Brueghel (the Younger), and he began a long line of painters, all named Brueghel. Some of them did original work, and many of them created reproductions of the Elder's art to sell. The Elder was also famous as a printmaker. All of this is hilarious when you remember that Sampo is an infamous counterfeiter and has sold a relic called the Parallel Universe Printer JSKZJSMD

There is also something called Brueghel's Syndrome, named after one of Brueghel's paintings called De Gaper, which pictured a man yawning widely. It's a condition that causes the mouth to open and gape uncontrollably, twisting a person's countenance into a distorted mask of their usual face.

Tumblr doesn't have a way of censoring pics like twitter, so for the sake of the medically squeamish, I'm just showing De Gaper here. But if you look up Brueghel's Syndrome, you can find pictures of actual patients, some of whom really do make faces resembling Aha's comedy and tragedy masks!

In the Chinese and Japanese versions, his alias last name is a lot more silly- In those, "Sampo" is phonetically written as "san-bo" and "san-po." And in disguise, his last names are phonetically written as... "Bo-san" and "Po-san." The Chinese version uses different tones, but still. This smug asshole seriously just decided to write his own name backwards and called it a day NDMKXMDMD

In the English version, Poisson itself is kind of a reused Hoyo asset- it's also the name of Navia's fishing village in Genshin Impact. Which is a really silly name for a village, because it literally just means "fish" in French smzjxkdkdk but!

Again, more water imagery. And in English, if something is suspicious, we say that it's "fishy," which is perhaps the most fitting association yet for someone as shady as Sampo ☆

And for a good while I thought that was the only connection. But then. My beloved @hydrachea, who is an actual native French speaker, dropped this on me right after April Fool's Day:

Poisson is literally the word you use to pull an April Fool's prank.

[forgettable-au]

Hi !! I was wondering if there was any song that you associate with Forgettable AU ? Hope you'll have a good day!!

EHEHE YEAH

Okay so, I was trying to choose ONE but I can't cause there's like sooo many, I have a whole playlist (THAT IS A MESS, SO I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SHARE THAT)

But, uhh, lately I've been super obsessed with "Slipping through my fingers" by ABBA and it reminds me SO much of this AU, specifically of Sans, and it makes me sad

I am going to make an animatic with that song one day!! I promise!! Cause it was one of the songs that inspired me to make the AU on the first place... the angst........

[badnew2005]

SUNNY IS A LOVE STORY @badnew2005

Lighthousekeeping, Jeanette Winterson | @boymiffy | @maccymacdonald | Rob McRlhenney, Philadelphia style | Is the Cast of Always Sunny Irredeemable? ceicocat | True Blue, boygenius | @dennisboobs | @starpeace | @chilledmac | @bitseventimes | Rat A Tat, Fall Out Boy | Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005-)

[earth-updates-today]

screw the other anon. they were thinking too small. make ME the ruler of EVERYTHING IN THE END!!!

NO. NO. BAD. BAPS YOU WITH A ROLLED UP NEWSPAPER. BEGONE, TIME ITSELF

[chevvy-yates]

RYDER’s INVOLVEMENT

Garnet and Ryder are old chooms. They've known each other since Ryder attended one of his first underground raves Night City had to offer: an event at Maelstrom’s Totentanz where he met Falco in the crowd and came into a chatter that resulted into a deep friendship.

Both young men noticed fast, that NUSA techno(ise) differs very much from the one in their home country Germany. So instead of complaining about how bad NUSA raves were, they sat down and developed Garnet’s idea together: the concept of HELL BUNKER and the birth of Chrome Chamber Rave. Garnet may be the founder of it all and came around with the concept but without Ryder’s help he wouldn’t have been able to put everything into action. Ryder had different connections in the city that would help them find a place and where to get helping hands for actually creating Garnet’s vision. Ryder has an eye for neat design and together with Garnet’s business know-how they started the project. Garnet also suggested Ryder to be co-owner, but Ryder declined as he has too much work to do already as a merc but he will become co-owner later when he can finally put his merc job aside after a last great mission. Nonetheless Ryder continued to help Falco to get CCR known in Night City by creating flyers and posting on his socials until it grew quite known already by 2075. Ryder also used to work as a bouncer in the beginning as well and still offers to do it when the club appears to be understaffed. In return he doesn’t have to pay for entering and friends of his always get in for free as well.

To give you a better imagination of what HELL BUNKER might look like, here are two 3-min videos of the Berliner Techno Club 'TRESOR' in its previous¹ and newest form², that shows how Garnet's location might look like – at least the base of it.

I can recommend watching this over an hour documentation if your are interested), This is literally the underground bunker style I imagine for Garnet's club. —

¹ First video is from the old club that got deconstructed in 2005. It has a long history together with techno subculture after the Berlin wall fell. This is literally the underground bunker style I imagine for Garnet's club. ² The second video seems to be of its current location, a big hall and/or rooms within a heat and power plant, that shows a part of it used in the underground for some parties.

[puppyeared]

who up seeing their disorder in a fictional character but feel like its not their place to put a name on it

[nintendont2502]

Just realised hs2 continuing means that we could potentially get canon June, and GOD I hope they handle that decently and the discourse isn't. Bad

[seeminglydark]

Not as naïve as he’d like most to believe.

Just having fun with linework while I recover. Rose and A are from my webcomic Seemingly Dark. A is a very tired boy, he just really needs a nap. No rest for the wicked.

[simplyghosting]

I want fairytales and stories. Grimm’s fairytales. Hans Christian Andersen fairytales. I know those, but I want MORE. I want EVERY fairytale and story from EVERY culture. Common, uncommon, the whole shebang. I want to experience the wonder of woven words.