#yandere yue

[the-air-nomad]

when the moon falls in love

You were just an ordinary child from the Northern Water Tribe. Your father was one of the priests of La and your mother was a housewife like the vast majority of women in your tribe.

 You had a happy and fun childhood until one evening when your father came home strangely happy.

 As a child, it seemed strange to you to see the man as cold and rigid as a piece of ice smiling.

You became anxious when you noticed that your mother was trying to mask her anxiety with curiosity.

 Soon your father revealed that Chief Arnook wanted you to start having play dates with Princess Yue. 

Apparently, Master Pakku/Yagoda had praised your waterbending and intelligence.

The Chief thought you would be a beneficial influence for his daughter

At first you were happy, you understood too late that your father only wanted to use you to gain influence over the leaders. 

You met the princess the next morning. 

In the beginning, you understood each other very well, even if she was a bit shy. 

You became friends and started to love Yue more and more.

 She was adorable, always waiting for you with cakes and excited about any idea you had. 

When you got into trouble, she did everything she could to save you from punishment.

The first time you noticed that Yue wasn't as perfect as you thought she was was when you skipped a play date.

 It was a friend's birthday and you had completely forgotten about the princess.

 Chief Arnook was not happy and came to your house to talk to your father. 

Yue had cried all day and refused to eat or get out of bed. 

Of course, your father went absolutely crazy and punished you. He tried to slap you in front of Yue's father but your mother made you promise not to be selfish anymore. 

That upset you. Were you selfish? No way! Now you didn't want to see Yue anymore.

You had no choice, so the next day you apologized to the princess and her father. But from then on, you started not enjoying Yue's company anymore. 

She noticed that you no longer treated her with such warmth as before and tried to flatter you by giving you gifts. You told her to give up, which disappointed her.

 She tried to subtly threaten you by telling you that your fathers will not be happy if she is sad. 

You told her that you don't care and that you'd rather spend your time looking at your ceiling than looking at her.

 That made her bite her lip and burst into tears. 

You felt horrible and thought you were too mean to her.

 You hugged her and she told you about how she was born sick, she was blessed by Tui and her father was too protective and didn't let her have any friends. 

Now you wanted to dive into the ocean because of the shame you felt. Not allowed to have friends? This is so bad.

You continued to be her friend out of pity, even if sometimes she freaked you out with her jealousy and protectiveness, you were sorry to leave her alone locked in a boring palace. 

As you grew up, you thought more and more about marriage and how you would be able to forget about the palace and your father.

 Unfortunately for you, the others had other plans. So you were engaged to the princess.

You felt that the spirits liked to make fun of you. 

Then came the avatar and his two companions. 

Let's just say the whole tribe exploded when Master Pakku saw you trying to teach Katara waterbending. 

Yue looked half ready to pass out and half ready to kill Katara with her bare hands. 

Who did she think she was?! How dare that girl come into her house and steal the love of her life?!

Did I mention you were born to create drama?

When Katara confronted Master Pakku you defended her and spoke out against your sexist traditions.

 You decided that it would be good to have the support of the princess, so you gave her a tearful speech about how you want to make a better world for her and for your mother. 

Yue believed you the moment you mentioned your mother, she knew that you absolutely adored your mother.

Then came the siege and sacrifice of Yue. 

The sadness you felt surprised you.

 You shouldn't have been sad for Yue.

 But you should have been saddened by the loss of your freedom forever because Yue was ready to have you both in life and in the spirit world.

 And you couldn't do or say anything, 

what waterbender would dare fight the moon?

Although I do not own the characters from avatar the last airbender, this work belongs to me! I sincerely hope you liked it. please rate it and leave a comment! follow me to see my next posts! Don’t forget that the request are open💖💖💨

You can buy me a coffe if you want:  buymeacoffee.com/TheAirNomad

[gaywarcriminals]

The Grand Unified Theory of Shen Qingqiu is one of my favorite depiction of YQY. He is so responsible and nice and dignified, but if you peel that back or just leave him around a permissive Shen Qingqiu for long enough, he’s just so so weird in a deeply charming way. Qijiu have to be this weird about each other, there’s just no other way. 

[centuryberry]

Replanted AU

Summary: To Yishan, Sangshen is everything. So, when the doctor said that the winter weather of LoES would weaken his beloved and make her pregnancy harder than it should be, he packed his bags, left behind his title as Clan Heir, and moved somewhere warmer. It ends up being FFM.

Or: Yishan moves out of his parents' house and gets a job. Sangshen lives and reunites with her long-lost brother. Yue ends up with five parents and one annoying guy who loves her Mama very much.

Some things about this AU:

Just to preface: Yishan has little to no character development. He remains his wife-obsessed asshole self throughout the entire AU. He has no paternal bone in his body and never develops one.

Moving to the exact island where Sangshen's little brother lived was by complete accident. Yishan just wanted to take her there since he heard it was paradise.

The entire reunion was tearjerking. Macaque has a family who never stopped loving him and Sangshen got her brother back.

Wukong and Macaque were there at Yue's birth and were one of the first people to hold her (Yishan wasn't interested.) They adored her immediately and Macaque cried when he's told she was named after him.

Yishan got to have an official wedding with Sangshen and make her his legal wife like he's always wanted. She made a beautiful bride.

As a citizen of FFM and not Clan Heir, Yishan needed to pull his own weight to provide for his family. Thankfully, because he was Clan Heir, he had skills that put him under Liu's command.

Surprisingly enough, Liu manages to get through Yishan's difficult personality and becomes his first and only friend. (No, in-laws and their not-yet-lover/king don't count.) They have this bromance thing going on, though Sangshen still lingers in 90% of Yishan's thoughts. But Liu has the honor of having a consistent 5%.

Yishan eventually chills enough to form healthy(?) relationships outside of his wife. He also provides for his daughter. Just not emotionally, which is fine since Yue is loved enough already by literally everyone else.

Yishan and Beng butt heads a lot. Actually, Yishan gets under almost everyone's skin because his personality is terrible to everyone except Sangshen. FFM eventually just accepts Yishan having a rancid personality. That's Yishan.

To the shock of everyone, Yishan was the one to get Shadowpeach together. And then, everyone ended up not being as surprised when it turned out that his agenda was to have Wukong and Macaque distract each other to cut down on time his wife's attention is away from him. Yishan is well known for getting the impossible done for the sake of his wife's time and love.

Trade agreements, alliances, battles - all end up successful when placed in Yishan's hands as long as it has something to do with his wife. He makes it happen.

Yishan can also be charismatic and friendly to outsiders and/or enemies in order to manipulate them. Does it often while he's on the job. FFM as a whole was thrown in a loop the first time it happened. They were all like: who??? r u????? Where's our rancid wife-obsessed monkey????

Yishan hates Azure. Yishan knows himself. He embraces it. But another person like him? In HIS slice of heaven? Threatening HIS wife’s little brother’s love life? Hahaha, no. Sangshen already planned out the wedding gifts and is making the wedding veil. No way.

Yishan has HUGE beef with Peng, which started after they accused Macaque of begetting a child with Yishan (The Brotherhood hadn’t met Sangshen yet and believes she’s fake lol). How DARE they accuse him of sleeping with anyone other than his wife?!?

Shanzha is still sent over as a bride at some point. Heaven express-shipped Yishan's little sister. She isn't received with suspicion. Instead, it's with pity since they knew how much LoES messed Yishan up by then. Sangshen is happy to see her again. Yishan wants the gift receipt to return her but reconsiders when he realizes that she can be another babysitter (more undisturbed time with wife).

The one and only time Yishan does the impossible for anyone other than his wife is for Liu. He somehow manages to pull RinRin from Diyu by employing the help of the Red-Buttocked Baboon (and the Long-Armed Gibbon is there too). Whoops, accidentally acquired a girlfriend for his sister. Well, at least she's distracted now too. And Yue gets another babysitter.

Honestly, Yishan makes a happy ending happen with his own hands soley so everyone would leave him and his wife alone to spend together. That's it. That's the plot.

Extra Fun Fact: Yishan spends every Spring Season wooing Sangshen as if they were unmated monkeys. Say what you want about him, but this man loves his wife.

[zebratimw]

I still love you (Song: Still in Love with You by Deeps)

[tyiaunia-harris]

Amechu week day 5: College. Everything for Alfred seems to be going fine, he has a beautiful woman as his roommate and he's in his final year of college. But, lately he's been noticing strange things occurring, such as whoever he's close too that isn't Yue, dissappear. One day he decides to investigate for himself and the results are surprising...no, this can't be...the person being this is his own girlfriend/roommate?

[thegoldenavenger]

Finished svsss final verdict: I'm so glad I liked shen yuan as a character otherwise I would have died skimming four books for the like five mentions of liu qingge—I was really rooting for you in the succubus cave, man

[latimeria-fell-from-heaven]

you have some of the best writing i’ve ever read tbh

omg omg thank you so much sweetheart!! sorry that i'm not really posting as much as i'd like, but i promise that there are a few works in the making! (૭ ｡•̀ ᵕ •́｡ )૭

[gaywarcriminals]

While I see yanYQY as wildly out of character, I’m personally fond of the idea that YQY has some yandere thoughts and impulses, but keeps the bottled up inside both out of shame, and out of acknowledgment that it might make SJ uncomfortable (As seen in Grand Unified Theory of Shen Qingqiu, for instance).

YQY has a very strong innate desire to protect and provide for SJ, and I think it’s cute if those thoughts become a teeny bit weird about it ❤️

Actually I think that even though the characterization of YQY in fanfics as a yandere is super OOC, between 79, YQY is definitely the Least Normal about his feelings for SQQ

[the-air-nomad]

My Story List

Aang x Katara (Kataang) :

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719501586826706944/a-love-a-little-too-strong?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719946454717906944/saw-that-requests-were-open-and-was-wondering-if?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/745235865684623360/hi-i-hope-my-bad-english-doesnt-confuse?source=share 

Sokka x Yue:

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719043967998656512/our-duty-part-1?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719125972910309376/our-duty-part-2?source=share

 Toph Beifong:

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/718938851634233344/yandere-toph-headcanons?source=share

Ozai x reader:

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719741684747059200/burning-destiny?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720100606701912064/burning-destiny-part2?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/721589459145080832/burning-destiny-part-3?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/764253283788423168/can-you-do-more-fire-lord-ozai-x-reader-hes-hot?source=share

Ozai x Zuko (platonic), Ozai x Azula (platonic)

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/721038763705384960/when-a-phoenix-becomes-a-father?source=share

Sokka x reader :

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719829957064507392/a-wolfs-love?source=share

Jeong Jeong x Pakku:

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719854639524315136/realization?source=share

Suki x reader:

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720298513083269120/for-the-heart-of-a-noble?source=share

Yue x reader:

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720663293237297152/when-the-moon-falls-in-love?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/764253366673080320/hi-js-wanted-to-ask-would-you-write-like-a-short?source=share

Pakku x Hakoda :

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719932264265515008/alrighty-then-so-heres-my-requests-note?source=share

Hakoda x reader: 

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720832563602767872/fire-lily?source=share

Azula x reader:

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/719741684747059200/burning-destiny?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720100606701912064/burning-destiny-part2?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/721589459145080832/burning-destiny-part-3?source=share

  https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/720298513083269120/for-the-heart-of-a-noble?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/764161157225414657/hi-there-i-have-a-request-for-a-flick-azula-x?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/the-air-nomad/768047065146277888/hi-i-was-wondering-how-azula-and-evil-reader-scene?source=share

[louissatturi]

There Is a fannon thing that I hate só fucking Is fanfics and au's that are not 1000% shit post making Yue qingyuan call shen qingqiu "xiao jiu"

The guy called him that TWICE as an adult in the novel, one time him FUCKING DYING and other time being him testing the waters after reaviling the incident

My men is very wet puppy and pathetic but he is not INCONPETENT and STUPID (I mean he is but is not his fault, this is airplanes fault)

Like I get the appeal of yandere insane kinda uncomfortable yqy but he is not like that common guy

COMON

STOP TREATING HIM LIKE THE VILLAN OF SVSSS/PIDW IN FANFICS

HE IS NICE AND KIND, LET HIM BEEEEEEEEE

[orenji-iro-no-sora]

The most fun thing about SVSSS is that the female protagonist of the original story, beauty beyond comprehension, Liu Mingyan, became a BL fangirl shipping Bingqiu and writing fanfictions of them along with the Holy Mothers. Imagining it to be a self insert character, instead of fighting for Luo Binghe, MXTX said I'd rather write smut of him with his Shizun.

Also Luo Binghe really used the most successful strategy in the history of "getting what you want" aka crying. It works. every. time. Whether he's actually so sensitive or he knows Shizun would cave if he cries idk. Maybe it's a bit of both. Maybe he's just following Shang Qinghua's advice. If he was subjected to the system, he would have lost more badass points than he could ever manage to gain. For a protagonist revered so by cucumber bro, he really was so babygirl. He'd use his puppy eyes, whimpering and whining until he gets what he wants. So pathetic. So smitten. So unlike an overpowered hero. I loved it!!

While the story was hilarious (and heartfelt I loved Yue Qingyuan), I also really liked how MXTX commented on writing and fandom culture. Cucumber bro as a fan thought he understood the narrative and the characters so well but he did fuck up as SQQ. He didn't know anything about Luo Binghe in reality despite admiring him so much.

Was it because Airplane failed to write well or is it because a fan's perspective is inherently different from that of a creator while also being influenced by the creator's objectives for the characters? Afterall, Airplane created Luo Binghe to be loved and commended (he couldn't have a weakness like wanting genuine love and affection, at all cost he must remain cool), making Mobei-jun a side character even though he was his ideal man (I don't blame him).

Another aspect that points to the power of character interpretation held by the fans is the smut included in Song of Bingqiu and the Regret of Chunshan. While she as an author can not include "morally depraved" porn into canon material (although I mean whatever she wrote wasn't... well) unless she turns Luo Binghe into a twisted yandere maniac, fans can write them and she can include it through them. It's quite genius actually.

Airplane has his hands tied too. He couldn't write the story he wanted. His fans while criticising his work, also wanted it to be exactly how he's written it. In such creative works, audience really is omnipotent. It makes sense for him to turn out to be an 'insignificant villain' in his own story considering whatever he writes, it won't be good enough. He really has no power. Characters are often slippery anyway. Authors can't really control them, at some point they become sentient and independent and the narrative changes to accomodate them instead. Luo Binghe, the perfect example.

I wished she had written more in this universe although she picked elements of this series and used them better in other works like MDZS and TGCF. I would have loved to see Luo Binghe in the Endless Abyss but since Shen Qingqiu couldn't see what happened there, we can't either. It's the same as when Wei Wuxian fell into the Burial Mounds. Also, I wished there was more Bing-ge vs Bing-mei. The original Binghe is definitely a character I wished she had explored more especially how he'd have reacted with a Shen Qingqiu who wasn't as scummy as the original. Him just giving up and leaving didn't feel too satisfying :/

Overall it was super fun and weird. But mostly fun.

[larothoughts]

anti-ship adjacent ships: liujiu and qijiu

so there's this weird thing that's happening in svsss of all fandoms that reminds me a lot of voltron's klance and sheith fiasco AKA the formation of what i like to call anti-ship adjacent ships

basically, when someone's favorite ship is more indicative of them being an anti-shipper of another ship.

i've had to start excluding liujiu in my ao3 searches because more often than not, the fics that come up are yqy-bashing and what?? this is svsss, right? mxtx's trashiest, most problematic, harem-bicycle-shen-yuan svsss? what is this moral outrage doing in my degenerate danmei fic space, and why are you mischaracterizing yqy just to make an excuse to hate on him??

i've had a few thoughts on the rising dichotomy of shen jiu sympathizers both validating sj's bad behavior and hating yqy for enabling the same behavior. and then shipping him with lqg because liujiu is 'less toxic.' As an old lady fanfic reader who's trawled through all the godforsaken dead dove ships of the old livejournal kink_meme, i'm writing these out because making sense of things helps me cope and i am too old for this shit

(this is actually more 'why anti-qijiu' word vomit than liujiu specific--it just so happens that so many liujiu fics are bizarrely anti-qijiu.)

narrative reasons for anti-yqy liujiu fic:

aka why an author finds it easier for the plot to bash qi-ge

accepting either romantic or platonic qijiu means trying to fix qijiu. this is hard. yqy and sj already have a proven history of failure, while sj and lqg (aka author's ideal white-knight love interest) would be the perfect do-over. making yqy a clear abusive villain sj must cut off ties with 'for his mental health' solves the problem without having to fix things. it frees the author to write what they thought qi-ge should have done to 'save shen jiu right.'

on the same note, liujiu have nearly no canon crumbs. the author can write them however they want without being constrained by their canon relationship.

why lqg over other possible ships? other than yqy, lqg is one of the few characters with any sort of previous relationship with sj. lqg is canonically hot, has strong (even if negative) feelings towards sj, and has no textual or subtextual canon ship (beyond a one-sided crush on shen yuan, with lbh getting in his way lol.) he is also the same generation as sj and thus avoids any age gap squicks like with sj's other ship partners (looking at you tlj)

yqy is the only person in cang qiong with higher authority than shen jiu. while other peak lords are antagonistic, all are ranked lower and can't get in liujiu's way the same way as yqy can as a sect leader. not even the old palace master has the same power because he's the head of a different sect. so if you really want to write a villain abusing their (implicit) power over shen jiu, yqy is the only one that fits the bill.

lbh, as sj's disciple, does not fit the same abuse of power trope even if he becomes an op demon lord. as for bingjiu, lbh's brand of diabolical stalkerish yandere is so over-the-top it's hard to equate him to any real relationship. it's easier to twist yqy's passivity to villainy because it's closer to reasonable human behavior.

if one is coming from the tgcf fandom, yue qingyuan is the closest junwu-adjacent character in terms of personality and rank (on the surface.) so it's easy to transfer any junwu hate to yqy by giving him all of junwu's worst traits and making him 'junwu-lite'

same thing as above but with mdzs and the lan xichen hate for his inaction regarding his own little meowmeow (jgy).

personal author-reasons for anti-yqy liujiu fic:

aka when the character himself doesn't matter

let's get a silly one out of the way: maybe the author only headcanons top shen jiu and most qijiu has sj being a bottom. lqg gives off better hot twinky bottom energy than submissive-but-still-tops yqy. this does not explain the anti-shipping though.

less silly: an author is projecting either themselves or other people in their real life onto their fic, and changing the character's personalities to match their real life projected counterparts (even if ooc). sj is a clear abuse-survivor insert, which shoe-horns other characters into roles that real people in the author's lives have. i think yqy is often seen as the insert for someone who 'could have helped but didn't.' there are many valid reasons why someone would be more mad at the person who averted their gaze rather than their actual abuser, but that doesn't change the fact that qijiu's relationship in canon is so much more complicated.

(it's easier to hate enablers instead of abusers, because hating abusers and inviting confrontation is dangerous. most of the time, enablers won't hurt you directly. they are the safer person to hate.)

an author thinks they could have saved sj better, that qi-ge had more than enough time to fix things and his failure not to do so must be punished by taking away his sj-simp-card and throwing him into the villain bin. this is similar to the phenomenon where an author hates the wife of canon anime couples b/c the author could clearly wife him better. and then writes a fic bashing said wife.

an author sees a messy relationship and equates messy with abusive. in reality many relationships can be messy but not abusive, messy but still fixable, but due to their personal experiences they see any attempt to do so as toxic. in this scenario yqy is often the abuser-insert and his ooc characterization takes after the author's own abuser.

specifically in fics where lqg has the personality of a cardboard cut-out: using liujiu to tell others they are still pro-ship, when in reality they dislike qijiu for their own reasons (and can't help but write it in their fic). it really reminds me of middle school lol like kids trying to find their identity by hating another identity. the whole 'ew pink is overrated, i hate preps which means i must be a nerdy rebel' and then two years later you realize you're not a nerdy rebel after all, you just based your entire identity on what you thought was the opposite of what you hated.

why i try not to read anti-qijiu liujiu fics:

aka write whatever you want, but sometimes i have to choose not to read

authors can write whatever they want. we're all doing this for free, so it's expected that a lot of fanfic have venting and some self-imposing onto a fictional character. i don't expect authors to NOT put themselves in their fic in some way. at the same time, however, i hope authors are self-aware enough to not bash another character just because that character reminds them of someone irl.

aka i get uncomfortable when i read a fic that has an author's obvious real-person insert. i'm not reading svsss fic anymore, i'm reading the author's version of punishing their abuser using fiction. i love transformative media that adds onto the canon! i love different interpretations even! but i'm here to read svsss? where are the svsss characters??

i'm not into character-bashing in general. i think the point of svsss and all of bingqiu's misunderstandings is the fact that good/evil is not a binary. sy spent the whole series fearing the 'evil' binghe despite the fact that post-abyss binghe was a complex person, causing a chain reaction of disaster. hell, shen jiu is the king of gray characters! he is a scum villain, evil and misunderstood, to be a sj-fan means to understand that no one is entirely good or evil. so it's even more cognitively dissonant when a pro-sj fic is so categorically anti-qijiu, as this often paints sj as good/misunderstood and yqy as bad.

(the only character-bashing i don't care about is the old palace master mxtx clearly wrote him to be bashed so throw him in a fire)

i don't mind liujiu actually, i think the dynamic has potential (see all the sj harem fic i've read lol) but qi-ge is such a big part of sj's character that vilifying/getting rid of him does sj a disservice too? sj has a shit ton of bad coping mechanisms, these aren't going to be magically fixed if yqy gets his limbs chopped off as 'just punishment' (??) for not stopping sj from abusing his own students (????)

in conclusion

there is no point to this rambling, and you don't need to agree with me on anything. these are just thoughts i had when trying to figure out why anti-ship adjacent ships even exist. the moral outrage is giving me war flashbacks of anti-sheith klance fans using their age gap as justification for their own ship, rather than liking klance for... being klance.

(I briefly considered going over all liujiu vs qijiu morality arguments, but if you're an sj fan i feel like morality arguments are pointless. he is an angry feral scum kitten who hits kids, no sj-fan has the moral high ground here.)

it's always unfortunate to see so much anti-shipping spilling into fandom, since by default most of us are living in the fringe minority anyway. further dividing us is just going to sink the whole ocean ala the death of livejournal and chinese ban on ao3. there's no point in ships if there ain't an ocean to sail in! aren't we all here because we are fans of these stories???

bonus

to make up for what must feel like a huge anti liujiu wall of text, here are some of my general thoughts on how their relationship would work. i'm more familiar with sj so most of these are from his pov.

while sj often has schemes upon schemes upon schemes, when it comes to anger/criticism/negativity, he's scathingly honest. lqg, a fellow honest asshole, is often on the same wavelength. once misunderstandings are cleared up and lqg realizes sj will do whatever it takes to protect big bro yqy (and thus the sect), they're able to work together as a ruthless team against cang qiong's enemies.

let's also assume fixing sj's emotional issues stops him from the worst of his scumminess aka whipping his disciples half to death.

teamwork -> enemies to lovers -> only one bed trope???

sj needs someone who will overtly believe in his goodness, and lqg, once he realizes the mistakes in his assumptions, is a loyal wall of support. unlike qi-ge who must always play diplomat, lqg blazes over all social cues. who cares if this looks bad on cang qiong, he'll throw down with anyone if his boo is insulted.

lqg is upfront and honest. there are no hidden plots for sj to be paranoid about in lqg, he's a Good Man through-and-through. if lqg has problems, he'll tell him. if he needs to apologize and sj tells him why, he'll do so. and if sj asks him a question, he'll always do his best to answer.

while lqg knows sj has trauma and a dark past, he will never truly understand what it was like. and that's exactly what sj wants. he likes how lqg knows him more as he is now in the present vs. someone who has lived through the same past. being with him is a reminder that he is now a powerful peak lord, not the starving street rat he once was.

for lqg, sj is like a complex puzzle box. an enigma so outside of his understanding of how the world works, he can't help but be drawn to it. he used to equate scheming with evil, but once he realizes much of sj's scheming was for the good of the sect, he lets himself be impressed by sj's intelligence. the fact that sj became a peak lord from nothing shows a certain type of strength-- and lqg has always appreciated strength.

a big roadblock in their relationship was sj's antagonism towards yqy (their sect leader whom lqg respects.) once qijiu reconcile (or sj stops being so disrespectful to yqy in public) lqg is better able to see him as an ally vs. an enemy.

sj rewards this loyalty by taking care of lqg's hidden enemies, because straightforward brutes are especially susceptible to devious snakes like that. sj would know. whether or not he tells lqg can go either way. he tells lqg if only to stop lqg from hearing it elsewhere and assuming the worst; or he doesn't tell lqg because he knows lqg trusts him and confusing his mind with schemes would just make him grumpy for not understanding.

...even if he's cute when he's grumpy.

[angeldeas]

Yandere Zhongli. The destruction of 4 walls

Warning: yandere topics, unhealthy love, obsession with a person, mention of mental disorders, eating disorder, unwanted pregnancy is implied. People with weak nervous systems, please do not read, if you have read my post, then I am not responsible for your actions.

Lately, he has been plagued by the feeling that someone is watching him, he did not attach much importance to this, but was always ready to fight back. One day, Zhong Li began to hear a voice in his head that spoke of love for the world of Teiwat and Li Yue. The Archon understood that this was not the influence of erosion and the machinations of enemies, but the destruction of borders between worlds for one person. This is quite an entertaining process, it can even be accelerated if you do a summoning ceremony after learning his name.

Two weeks have passed since the voice appeared, and the vision has already joined it. It was a flying translucent girl who almost always followed Lumin. This ethereal being was so happy, an alien beauty emanated from him, giving a special charm... Brilliant eyes, saturated with a thirst for life and a gentle smile, giving warmth to every piece of this world ... There was a feeling of carelessness and ignorance of the danger of the world of Teivat. It awakened an instinctive desire to protect. The ethereal creature was beautiful in any of its manifestations: cute gestures, and exclamations when the dragon helped Lumin defeat an entire settlement of hilichurls, clever remarks and highly intelligent dialogues with someone whom Zhong Li had not heard or seen.

Long restrained and carefully hidden from prying eyes, the primordial dragon personality began to break out ... Dragons by nature are greedy for beautiful and expensive things. They are also known for their possessive tendencies when they find a suitable mate. Therefore, the desire to protect and appropriate something dear to the eye is so strong that they literally monopolize and do everything to appropriate it completely.

This also applies to Zhong Li, the pent-up side of his personality began to break out, whispering terrible things from the depths, hearing which an ordinary person would be horrified.

"Conquer... make it your own... you like this creature, so bring it to your house, what's so difficult about that? You used to enslave entire nations, and this is only one person..."

Zhong Li has never denied his identity, although he has left it in the past. Even though he grew up wise and reasonable, the real personality did not go away, the archon simply did not show it and carefully hid it for a quiet life among people.

***

The girl was really relaxing while playing a video game. She works very hard to give herself nothing. Among the work, it is an outlet that gives happiness to her heart.

While playing Genshin Impact, Tiara jokingly posed Zhong Li with a view of the harbor and turned his face in her direction.

— Hi, my name is Tiara, nice to meet you, Mr. Jun Lee. Your eyes are as beautiful as a jewel. — The intangible creature flew a little away from Lumin to the archon, introduced himself and said a compliment with a mischievous smile, laughed loudly and flew back.

The golden eyes flashed.

Tonight, one leisurely life will change dramatically.

***

Tiara shuddered at the tingling sensation. The cold air pierced to the bones, teeth gritted from unpleasant sensations. The girl barely opened her eyes when someone easily lifted her into her arms. Tiara was suddenly drenched in cold sweat, the sensations were too real, unpleasant thoughts crept into her head. Her body twisted in fright, and a cry of fear began to escape from her mouth.

— Save me! They're kidnapping me!!! The tiara twisted all over, but the stranger's hands were strong and unshakable as a stone. — Let me go!

—Oh... smart Tiara, don't be afraid, you're in good hands. - A pleasant male voice sounded near the terrified girl's ear.

- What kind of nonsense are you talking about? The shocked voice, mixed with hysteria, broke off on the last words.

Zhong Li decided to remain silent and silently carried his beloved out of the dungeon . "Walking on the floor with bare feet can have a bad effect on health." The Archon felt a little guilty, but the animal side said that everything was done correctly.

The girl stopped struggling out of her hands, realizing the futility of this action. She was afraid of the pitch darkness and the inhuman strength of the kidnapper. She didn't know what to do... All the lessons "About the safety of life" flew out of my head and only the animal fear of the unknown remained.

When Zhong Li carried the girl to the room, he gently lowered her onto the bed. Tiara was numb with shock that her favorite character, with whom she had gone through fire and water, turned out to be a kidnapper. It was too unrealistic.

- How can such a good person be so bad? - Words that she didn't want to voice came out of her mouth and quickly closed her mouth.

- I am not a human being, but first of all a dragon who is learning to be a human being. - The golden eyes flashed.

-Ah... - "He is a strong character and the ruler of Li Yue... I cannot escape, because he is an Archon, and I am a simple man. But I can die, then my suffering will end. But still, what prompted him to do it? " - So you were affected by erosion? - Tiara tried to remain calm so as not to show her weakness.

Zhong Li read it like an open book. So naive, but smart, it's impressive... I would like to find out more about her world later.

- Not at all, I did it for personal reasons. You don't have to worry about security.

The dragon inside was rejoicing and celebrating. This creature is now in his hands. "Tiara is not to be afraid, because you have become the most precious thing I have now."

***

The girl couldn't escape because she was deep in a mountain or a hill? All exits from captivity were closed. It is impossible to escape from this huge house... And if it turns out, then punishment will surely follow, although it has never been used yet, but in recent days the atmosphere around the Archon has been strange... It seems that a little more and he will be furious.

Tiara understood that the dragon knew everything and was just observing the behavior. If she stumbles, something terrible is bound to happen. Zhong Li's constant worries and fear had a bad effect on his health. Insomnia and refusal to eat, the result, after several months.Tears were coming out of my eyes again... The girl wanted to go home.

- Bring me back, please, I can't do this anymore... please. - The girl's words were rarely repeated, but they made Zhong Li very nervous.

- No, this is the final decision. - Tiara did not hope for more, the God of Contracts is always faithful to the words spoken, and always fulfills all promises. Whatever he says always comes true. But a tiny hope still glowed in his heart, like a coal in the merciless frost.

The Archon sincerely did not understand why she missed her home. After all, then she could not have a good rest, because all the time the vacation was disrupted. And one could only dream of a multi-day vacation. Here she can do almost anything she wants... True, there are rules, but she abides by them perfectly. A smart girl... However, the refusal to eat is unnerving, it can't go on like this.

When food was forcibly stuffed into Tiara's mouth, the dragon felt no remorse. After all, in this way he prolongs her life, and in order to bear children, you need a healthy body. According to tradition, the family must have children and a good wife...

Tiara was kicking and wanted to tear those hateful hands off her face. Some long fingers unclenched their jaws, others held a spoon and poured soup into their mouths.

-You're mine. Your life doesn't belong to you anymore. - After such a feeding, Zhong Li wiped his face with his beloved's napkin and smiled. - Let's make a contract. - The archon's eyes resembled molten lava.

- No. - It wasn't a firm answer.

- Reneging on the contract, I wonder how long you can stand it? - Tiara's eyes twitched, this snake is planning something terrible and if she does not agree, then he will use various measures to get what he wants from her not only with words.

- Okay, well, I'll sign it, just add my own rules. - Tiara decided not to torment herself with resistance. In any case, Stockholm syndrome will appear.

"Eh... The dove will not be able to die, although it will wish very much.

Don't worry, honey, you're going to have little lives soon.,

They will be a ray of light for you in this little world. "

[nian-7]

hii hii, uhh I'm kinda new here so feeling a little shy...but I want to try when I saw your emoji prompts! Hopefully I'm not too late? Can I ask for 💐 ,🌧️ & ❤️ prompts with wriothesley, alhaitham, furina and hu tao?

Feel free to ignore this if not but still thank you for taking your time with my silly ask in advance!! <33

~ yue | modmizuki

hi! no need to be shy, i was actually looking at your angst & yandere alphabet not too long ago! hope you enjoy!

Alhaitham, Furina, Hu Tao x gn!reader

✧❤️, 💐, 🌧️

✧fluff, havent played genshin in a while so possible ooc furina left wrio out because i haven't played so idk anything about him..

❤️ - how do they subtly say 'i love you’?

-Does it through showing you attention because he usually seems very aloof and so by showing you specifically some attention, Alhaitham is subtly telling you that he cares about you.

-Even though this attention might just be him listening to you ramble about something for longer than 10 minutes, it means a lot. His actions are louder than his words will ever be in the relationship.

-Also moving you to the other side of him when something possibly dangerous is happening on the side of the street that you're on. He just wants to be able to protect you from it if it becomes a problem.

💐 - what romantic acts will they do for their s/o?

-He loves to cuddle up to you in a dim room lit by candle light and read a good book. It's romantic enough to him and he doesn't mind if you read along with him or just fall asleep.

-Alhaitham will also get you flowers randomly and put them in a vase in your room. He doesn't leave a note or anything but you always know they're from him.

🌧️ - how do they spend rainy/snowy days with you?

-Inside with a good book (if you like to read that is). Or just napping if that's what you'd prefer. If you specifically wanted to spend time with him on a rainy day then he might just set aside his work.

-You both finish at least one book or, maybe just he does if you end up falling asleep. He doesn't really know too many activities you both can do so it'd be up to you to think up some.

❤️ - how do they subtly say 'i love you’?

-By giving you special sort of treatment. She gives you special or well, different treatment than anyone else. She loves to have you all to herself and it's obvious.

-She isn't as dramatic around you as she is with many others and will only do so when she feels you're not giving her enough attention. It's not subtle that she does want you to look only her way sometimes.

💐 - what romantic acts will they do for their s/o?

-Furina isn't particularly a romantic person and so it'll be very rare to have any sort of romantic act happen that's coming from her. She's not really sure how to 'do' romance.

-Closest thing you'll get is likely her taking your hand and kissing your knuckles with a loving look in her eyes. She'll deny anything you say about it afterwards, not wanting to feel flustered.

🌧️ - how do they spend rainy/snowy days with you?

-She stays inside and clings onto you the whole day. There's no reason to go outside while it's pouring rain so you should just stay inside with her!

-Maybe you'll go somewhere to watch a play or something similar but she'd really rather stay inside. It gives her an excuse to stay and cling onto you and so that you give her attention!

❤️ - how do they subtly say 'i love you’?

-Through her actions, it'll be easy to tell that she loves you. She's always brushing up against you and touching you in whatever way she likes.

-With this, it's how she shows that she cares about you and how she gets her point across with it. She likes to dance around saying it straight up so this works better for her.

-Wrapping an arm around your should or hugging you from behind when she sees you on the streets of Liyue just shows that she loves you a lot and always wants to be right up against you!

💐 - what romantic acts will they do for their s/o?

-Romantic acts from Hu Tao will be out of the blue and when you least expect one. She thinks it's more fun this way, keeping you on your toes!

-It's partly an excuse for her because she's actually bad at thinking of something romantic to do with you...

-But, she still tries her hardest! Maybe getting a few silk flowers and giving them to you to put in your home to remind you of her. It's probably the most romantic thing she could think of and even then it's pretty light hearted.

🌧️ - how do they spend rainy/snowy days with you?

-It likely doesn't snow in Liyue but, when it rains you both usually stay inside as to not get soaked. Hu Tao prefers to play games with you if she's able to!

-Board games, card games, etc etc. Whatever you both can think of, you'll play it. She thinks it's a good way to pass the time and it's fun! Maybe even inviting Zhongli if you both feel like explaining the rules to him.

-If you do decide to go out in the rain, it'd only be for a little bit and when it's not raining too hard. She'll splash in some puddles, getting you even more wet when she does. You both will be going back inside shivering...

please do not repost any of my work without my permission, thank you for reading.

[funficwriter]

A Wolf and A Snake (Wriothesley x Reader)

Chapter 2: Will the Chaperone Approve?

A/N: WHO'S READY FOR C2?! I hope you guys enjoy this :D

Taglist: @yue-caelum, @reyy-chanx, @mis-disaster

Synopsis: Being a noble meant that marriage was a chess game, not an affair of love. Unfortunately for the pristine Balthazar family of Fontaine, Y/N has long been enamored with love and sought it out before their priorities. After her grey, boring time of courtesy, she meets Duke Wriothesley, who makes her yearn for the first time in her life, and it's the same for him. Threatened by the idea of losing this first, it seems they'll stop at very little to be together...

Warnings: Controlling/abusive parents, discrimination (towards Wrio), sexism, reader has a breakdown, yandere themes.

Your parents loved the idea of you taking a vacation not to rest, but because 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. They were clearly referring to the nobles, who would only pine more if you were unavailable for a while.

Last night, you all returned from Belleau, warmly welcomed by the main manor's staff. Your favorite among them was your governess, Agatha; Though she generally listened to your parents' instructions, she occasionally broke some rules for you. That night, she waited until everyone else was asleep to bring you some cake, in exchange for you telling her about the nobles.

"And what about Duke Arya? I know you looooove braggarts!

"No way! All he does is talk about himself like he's Focalors!".

And you'd both laugh. You loved how Agatha has evolved to be a mother figure to you. It was unfortunate when she had to go and let you sleep, but oh well.

You knew this time would come; It was the morning, and you saw a servant bring tea to the room where your parents read the declarations of courting that were received over the vacation.

"Pierre, please call my daughter here. We must discuss something of the utmost importance.".

The servant would nod, your status as a young maiden really hammering home the point. You walked in, a little unnerved by the warm smile your parents sported, but better that than scowling.

Your mother was the first to talk: "Ah, good morning Y/N. You look as beautiful as you ever did.".

Your father, always thinking ahead, had to add on: "Indeed, so beautiful to make half the Court's dukes turn their heads!".

He let out a loud, victorious laugh. Maybe it would take you a while to get used to this pride for you. You sat down, looking over the small stack of papers. It was truly fascinating, in a weird sense: All these crests and emblems, clearly signaling many different gentlemen... And they all shared the same recipient sitting right in front of them.

"So as per custom, your mother and I have looked over most of them. We've already scrapped the ones from barons, since you can clearly marry up with your amount of choice!".

Was there choice? While it was true that you had a smidge of a say, it was just that. Furthermore, that smidge had to be based on standing, finances and the criteria deemed 'important' for your marriage. Love was not on the list. Maybe a word tossed around or an act indulged in, but nowhere near the other criteria.

How would they react if you told them who you truly wanted to marry? How would they like their daughter throwing away business owners, legacy holders and other 'fancier' nobles for the one who dealt with the backdoor business of Fontaine? No matter, you decided to use that 'smidge' to the best of your ability.

"I'm glad to see I can marry up.".

"Yes, yes. Now look here, my dear. Your mother likes Count Evermore, since he seemed sweet with you...".

And off your parents went off, comparing this Lord and that important person to the other. There was whose business would last longer, which last name had more history, which was cleaner... After the third new name, your mind fazed out to Wriothesley. You wanted to be courted by Wriothesley. You wanted to say yes to Wriothesley. Screw the Evermores, Archadelles, Demauris... Being a queen itself did not compare to being his Duchess of Meropide.

"There are still a couple of unread letters, though...".

"Eh, I don't know. My heart's already set on Archandelle or Evermore... But we'll see these too. There's Dukes and Viscounts, which is good...".

It was as if timing synced up. Your mother grabbed an envelope featuring a wolf crest. No, the wolf he wears right under his shoulder.

It seemed relatively short, but the text must be good. Your mother looked pleased for a minute.

"Oh, my! Gentlemen who are this sentimental about their potential wives are quite rare! Oh...".

When she got to the sender's signature, the dreamlike effect waned off of her. It was as if she was hoping someone else had sent this one. Your father took one look at the crest and understood it all. Nevertheless, he still read it. For now, playing a little dumb (as any good girl should be, in their opinion) sounded like the best option to prod.

"Who is that, father?".

He took a deep breath and looked at it as he answered: "Duke Wriothesley of Meropide. (he chortled) I wonder if he took writing classes while we were away?".

You didn't know how to feel anymore. At first, your despair was replaced by the sheer joy his name brought you. Yes, that was the one you loved best! And you saw some of his past written inquiries, he was always well-spoken and eloquent. Why was your father insinuating that the opposite was normal? You wanted to see it and compare it to what he wrote to your grandfather.

"By the way, Y/N, there's something we must ask you. During our last party, you were seen chatting in a rather... Animated fashion with him. What were you talking about?".

Crap. You should have expected gossip to fly around and narrow your parents' eyes at you. You went with the safe answer: "Mostly books and music. He likes going to the opera whenever he can.".

"But we don't see him often, so I'm presuming he's not always free, is he dear? I was frankly shocked that he even came to the party.".

You knew they'd be nitpicky about even nobles who fit their bill, let alone someone considered 'atypical'. But did anyone see you two leaving? Heart thumping in fear, you prayed to Focalors that they just heard of you two talking and nothing else.

"I mean... Mother, father, while he may not be the most typical Duke, he's still an important component in Fontaine's justice and security. Haven't you noticed crime rates have plummeted ever since he took over? Just like Count Evermore, he holds justice close to his heart.".

Your mother nodded, seeing your point of view, before turning to your father: "I prefer other gentlemen, but she's not entirely wrong. We want her to be with someone who exemplifies Fontaine's core values, just as she embodies them.".

"Yes, yes. We might take that into consideration, but listen to me, Y/N...".

You were so sick of these lectures, but it seemed like your point might hold weight. Grin and bear it. Grin and bear it for him.

"We'll want to consider as many as we can, then narrow down the choice, which will happen after the next event. However, we've raised you to know the best options. You know there are many, many better options laid out to you right now. Unless something happens and they fall from grace, for example, keep the bulk of your attention on the Dukes we have discussed most.".

"...Yes, Father.".

He called out to his wife: "Aren't I right? Isn't what I'm saying the core of successful marriage?".

"Yes, yes, my dear. Though she'll entertain many conversations, she'll focus on our best options. And I must say, it's entertaining how we didn't have to do that much narrowing down, since she's got choice.".

He smiled fondly at you: "Indeed. I know we've raised a fine, young lady. Only at her social debut and she's already brought us so much praise.".

For years, you had yearned for this moment; Your parents smiling like the ones in the fairy tales, kindly praising you and reminding you that they loved you. Had you had this recognition a couple of years ago, you'd readily accept whatever husband they threw at you. But at this stage, it was too little, too late. Your heart has already been captured by Wriothesley, your thoughts invaded by him and no amount of love (Which, conveniently, only arrived after their 'investment' paid off) could change that. You focused on the bright side of seeing him again, and the chance he'll get of putting a good impression to your parents. A Duke was well-versed in that, especially if he liked the lady in question.

The servant knocked: "Forgive me for disturbing this important discussion, but young Lady Y/N's tutor has arrived and inquired as to whether she has lessons for today or not.".

"Oh heavens no! You should get going, my dear. Skipping lessons would be the last thing you need!".

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"That sounds like quite a feat of courage on your part, Duke Archandelle!".

"Indeed, Baron Balthazar. But it might not be courage so much as enjoying the hunting season.".

You did not like this arrangement; Your parents and yourself were with Duke Archandelle, the two men chatting away. Within its course, your father seemed happier and happier, which was bad for you. He's looking for any Duke to pick over Wriothesley, and if Archandelle is 'too good' per say, you know who you're getting paired off with and it's not the one you makes you swoon, laugh, or question the deeper nuances of life. Not the one you love.

"You remind me a bit of myself in my younger years. It's a rite of passage to go after the largest deer your group can find.".

"And the night that followed was equally as thrilling. (he gave you a slight glance) We watched a gorgeous ballet number at the Opera. The Lady of Cooler Waters, I believe.".

The mention made your parents more excited. Here was a kind, courteous gentleman who helped you watch your step, who enjoyed the hunting season and the arts in the same day. Manly, but not brutish. Basically, a perfectly adjusted and balanced gentleman.

A knockoff version of my Wriothesley. How thrilling.

Speak of the devil, tufts of black and silver hair appeared in the sea of blondes. They were twisting around, as if their head was turning around a lot to look for something. In the end, it was someone, and there he was, looking so broodingly handsome and making every other man in the room look average at best. His blue eyes scanned the room, and once they landed on you, it was over for the both of you.

You wanted to swim in those cold eyes until you got hypothermia. You wanted to be thrown into their cool pond and feel the temperature restart your system. But what a paradox took place; Once he found you, your heart felt ready to explode on the spot, and your temperature was rising rather quickly. The once-light dress now felt stuffy. If you fainted, how would you explain this to your parents? You saw his own pupils dilate and his stoic expression break out into an enchanted smile that meant a million more than your parents' or that stupid Archandelle's.

He's here. He looks so handsome. His smile is so cute and gorgeous. Why can't he just come in and join our conversation? Stupid high society social codes!

You could tell that he was trying to get close, already in conversation with a few others nearby. Though they were trying to focus on what he was saying, they were gazing - either in surprise or in prejudice - at his wolf ears.

So rude! So ignorant and incapable of realizing that he's far more handsome that he ever will be!

Once Archandelle left to catch up with a friend (not before obnoxiously letting you know that he wants to talk to you again), a bit of freeway opened up for Wriothesley. Ever the go-getter, you didn't doubt that he'd take it.

"Ah, Baron Balthazar, you picked quite the lovely night to plan this.".

Your father smiled, although it looked rather forced. You bet he wouldn't look like that if it was any other noble: "Duke Wriothesley! What a pleasant surprise, we were worried that you might not make it!".

"Oh? Well, I've always had a penchant for surprising people. How do you do, Madame Balthazar?".

Your mother exchanged pleasantries in the same tense way your father did, her eyes narrowing down on his ears. No wonder he was so happy when you expressed appreciation for lycanthrope culture; Everyone else was being such a jerk about it, and you wondered how he lived side by side with it. Maye you can ask that later.

Though he talked to your parents, you couldn't avoid his gaze. He didn't like a lot of the people here, them included (not that you could blame him). He didn't come here for them, but for you. Enough with the pleasantries, he decided.

"I think by now, you know of my feelings regarding the beautiful young Lady Balthazar. And so, I couldn't let myself show up without a present for her.".

He handed you a small, silver box; Sleek, minimalistic but with a beauty that didn't need the other nobles' gaudiness to shine. You opened it to find a silver bracelet (how did he guess your wrist size, anyway?!) adorned with the same wolf emblem he wore.

Deep breaths! Deep breaths! Don't faint or blush, act normal!

After one, you finally got to talk: "Oh, Your Grace! I-I... Forgive me for my lack of speech, it's splendid!".

Your original plan was to not be too excited by him, but could you really help it? A few other nobles got you presents, too, but you had to question your class' taste in what a lady would like. This was just perfect. If it weren't for your parents, you'd wear it right now, but you had to control yourself.

Your father coughed: "Hem! Er- Thank you for the thoughtful gift, though one would deem it a bit too confident to have their crest on it... Say, how are things at the Fortress?".

He had the urge to punch this annoying old man. Here you were, happy and frickin adorable over wearing his crest, already so eager to demonstrate who you belong to, then here comes the Baron to shut this moment down.

"Pretty stable for now. We aren't receiving many new inmates. Perhaps people are losing interest in crime, in which case, that's a victory for Fontaine.".

"Mhm. Yes, indeed. We have much to thank you for, especially your service. I can imagine it's a hard job.".

He chuckled a little, stealing whatever gaze he could at you (man, he felt like he was reverting to his young thief self): "Not necessarily. Most people behave, and you learn quite a bit. I'm still rather young for a Duke, but ever since I started, I've become much better at protecting what matters to me.".

As he talked, it was more obvious that by 'what matters', that included you. Now the image was stuck in your head: You, in danger for whatever reason, and him dashing in to save you and proclaim that you're his drive, his love, what matters to him the most. This sounded like your fairytale prince. Did anyone in your manor think that way of you? Did you even matter to the other nobles beyond potential unions with a historic and important name?

"I'll cut to the chase, Your Grace, since my daughter is the biggest reason behind the last two events. Say you two married; Would she always be what matters to you? Do keep in mind that that's a heavy proclamation.".

The beautiful thing about Wriothesley was that he was ready for such questions. Most nobles hired a conversation coach to 'deal with the maiden's father' so they could speak well in front of him, thus swaying his opinion in their favor. Wriothesley was genuine. Earnest. He only needed himself to back up his claims.

"I said it, and it will always apply. If you know me well, you'll notice, dear Baron, that I'm a man who finds principles that work and sticks to them. The same applies to deciding my priorities, even if other people may not see what I see.".

"What do you mean by that?".

"I myself was always interested in being married, but you know how the start of a career is; So hectic, you can barely think of anything else. I could see where the rumor of me losing interest in companionship came from. Now that I'm more established on several aspects, I can focus on my own personal goals, including being a good husband."

"Yes, indeed. It does take a gentleman a while before he gets married. And considering your important position, I can presume my daughter will be taken care of?".

Perhaps you should look into a Kamera, to always have a picture of that sweet smile: "Without a flicker of a doubt. And I know courtship should take a while. Please take all the time you need to decide. Should you want to know anything that you think might impact the process, please let me know.".

You wanted to declare victory; He could stand against Duke Archandelle and (at least) make the choice harder for your father.

"Do forgive me suspicion, dear Duke, but does what matters to you extend to... you know... People who aren't, of your ilk?".

Oh no. Oh no, no, no please...

As he said 'of your ilk', he pointed at his own head, referring to Wriothesley's wolf ears. You could feel your love tense up, but keep his cool for another reason besides you; Hybrids were held to such an unfair standard. One trace of annoyance or anger from them and everyone would talk about how 'they're too dangerous to live in human society!'.

"Pardon, my ilk? We're all noble Fontainians here.".

"Oh, I can tell you only come with chivalry and good intentions. But I must point out that even if I'm just a Baron, 'Balthazar' is among Fontaine's oldest and most noble names. People look up to us even more than the average noble family, including our unions and bonds. So marriage has always been a very tricky thing for us, even with close humans.".

Both of you tensed up, and you had to fight back tears. While there was still a chance, technically, you father was alluding to rejecting this pairing, possibly in favor of another Duke.

This is unfair. This is so unfair, and you never wished to not be a noble until tonight. No, you wished you had no parents, that way you could control your fate a bit more, even if people gave you the side eye. Even by noble standards, he was husband material! You wouldn't have to move a finger as his wife. You'd be touted as important, as 'a lady of justice' since that's what your husband is involved in. But no, your parents just have to shut their eyes and ears and call all the shots in relation to you-

Oh, Focalors, what did I do so wrong for you to let me be born as their daughter? Wouldn't it be better if I were just his prisoner? Even now, a prisoner is more his than me!

BOOM!

A loud sound resonated from one of the gardens. The music's abrupt stop further panicked many people, some leaving the ballroom to see what's going on, others peering over the balconies. Your parents belonged to the first camp. A hand immediately grabbed yours; It was Wriothesley's.

"Quick, we're on limited time!".

You both made a dash for a spare room nearby. He closed the door and finally caught his breath. Before you could ask what he was doing, he lunged to embrace you in his arms, the sheer strength making you gasp.

"Okay, listen. I need to tell you two things, okay? They're very important...".

He stopped to pant again.

"Wriothesley, what's going on?".

"A friend of mine made a diversion to buy us time. I can't say these things in front of your parents.".

You nodded.

"First of all, starting tonight and per usual courtship processes, your parents might be spying on what mail you get, so our communication will be halted if they find out... If they find out what we say to each other. But I have a way to keep it up. Can you stay up for a bit to see it, maybe around 12 or 1 AM?".

"Certainly, certainly! If it helps us keep talking, I will!".

Even with the stress rushing through him, your eagerness brought on a multitude of emotions. Gosh, you were so cute. It wasn't enough for you to be so adorable early on, and his own personal type, was it? Your reaction made it clear that he wasn't the only one feeling this way. He was glad that the first plan would work out.

"Thank you. It's vital if we wish to be together. It doesn't sound like I can hold up to the competition your Father has for me-".

The allusion to him not being enough was the last straw for tonight.

"Don't say that, don't say that again! He doesn't know anything about what makes a good man, alright? He demonstrated that enough tonight! You're worth a million more of these stupid other men, okay?!".

He knew ladies were capable of being angry, but something about seeing it in real life, for the first time, was astounding. And yet deep down, he saw the outburst coming. Between your shaking hands and teary eyes, and how much you had to hide them from your father... His heart broke a little at seeing the love of his life so anguished, her tears dripping down quicker than she could wipe them.

"It's so obvious he doesn't care! He'll gladly excuse poor table manners or slimy behavior in general, but when someone just happens to be a bit different, that's when he says 'no sale' and shuts me up! 'We care about good repute and you', my foot! It's all about his name and what he wants... Why does my say not matter? Why?".

You didn't want Wriothesley to see you in this state so early, but after tonight's tension, you just couldn't. You were so sick of living with your shots being called for you. For so long, life was horribly dull, depressing through the lens of a growing child. When you finally found someone who washed away that grey and exposed you to the color of life, you were told you were forbidden from having it ever again. You had to follow the life script your parents wrote, your happiness be damned.

Your sobs racketed up and down, before quieting when you felt his weight on you; Slowly, warmly and lovingly.

"Star of my life... I'm so sorry for how tonight went. Believe me, I wanted to punch him. I hate how rigid this social code is, even more on you...".

You just realized that this was the first time he touched you beyond holding your hand. When you were young, you imagined your favorite chimney in the house to be the warmest place in the world. Oh how wrong you were, but to be fair, you couldn't have known before he took you in his arms; A fortress and a hearth all at once.

"I'm so sorry... You know, I was about to tell you the second thing, which I believe may help you...".

"What is the second thing?".

He slightly detached himself, though still holding you, to look deep into your eyes and silently swear upon those beautiful orbs: "By the name of Focalors and my own as the Duke of Meropide, you will be mine. We will end up together and you'll forget the names of the other men. Yes, we'll face some hiccups along the way. But in the end, all your other suitors will fall, one way or another. And once that happens, we'll be looming over them, with you in my arms for the rest of our lives.".

"Wriothesley... Forever?".

"Yes. We'll never have to face a dull day again. Forever. Forever, until Fontaine keels over and becomes dust.".

Your breath slowed down. He sounded so serious, and you wanted to believe in it. This man's caliber was an exceptional one, and something told you that once he made a promise, he kept it until he withered.

He leaned in a little and so did you. Your time was probably out, but you'll be damned if you can't enjoy it. You were closer, and closer, taking in his scent of cedar and myrrh until...

"That explosion was scary!"

"Shows you that commoners have no concept of watching over their kids.".

The nobles were slowly filing back into the ballroom. Wriothesley let out a quiet 'Goddamnit!", before looking through the door. Once the camp was clear, you left earlier, armed with the lie he gave you: "Oh, I lost my parents and I was so scared!". Perfect for a fragile, innocent maiden. The party went on, and you started questioning what the new way of communication would look like. The 'spying' aspect brought a bit of amusement to your mood, which you needed.

----------------------------------------------------------

12:49 AM

Wriothesley ended up being right about your parents controlling your mail. One letter from a male classmate ended up opened and half-torn on fear that he was a rival suitor, before they read the hasty message asking you about a homework assignment. You presumed he's seen many courting processes (perhaps wondering when did he get to be the groom?) and understood their workings well.

The letter you were writing was almost complete. You felt a little clearer in the head after venting out on paper, albeit still very sad. Your father really, really wanted to pair you with Duke Archandelle. But Wriothesley was so determined, even risking his friend - and himself, should they snitch him out - to tell you to not lose hope. For now, all you could do is wait for the 'new method of communication'.

In the meantime, you tried to play a little guessing game to keep your mind off of everything, but to no avail. You also wore the wolf bracelet, its sheen reminding you of his piercing eyes and silver tufts. Your thought of train was about to restart until you heard a small bark.

"Huh?".

Save for the security Dobermanns you often have, dogs were not allowed in the manor. Were you perhaps just thinking about your own dog-like lover too much?

"Arf!"

This one was much louder, and on the left side of the table. The source of the barks was an adorable husky puppy, smiling and approaching you. He wore a collar with the Duke's crest on it, and a sort of paper backpack which you presumed had Wriothesley's message for you.

"Awwwww, you're so cute!!".

You weren't often exposed to dogs, but nevertheless you took it in your arms to pet it. His color scheme reminded you so much of Wriothesley, you wondered whether it could be him in his animal form. The collar was double-sided: The back had 'Frosty' written on it in clumsy handwriting that you knew wasn't the Duke's.

"Frosty? Were you sent by Duke Wriothesley of Meropide?".

He barked again, as if confirming your questions. You took out the 'backpack' to find an actual letter, a whistle wrapped up in another note which read:

ABOUT FROSTY

Y/N, excuse my handwriting and format, I'm writing this in a hurry. Before you ask, Sigewinne named the pup. She wanted to name him 'Wriothesley The Second', originally, then settled with 'Frosty' since that was the closest compromise we found. I rescued him from drowning two weeks ago and planned to hand him over to a reputable shelter, until I noticed his smarts. He's delivered my mail efficiently, even if it was his first time going to a new place. He knows where we both live, and answers to the whistle enclosed with him. Use it if you need to send me anything, especially something urgent. You will be my wife soon, so we should get into the habit of good communication. Don't hesitate to tell me anything, especially if it terrifies or excites you. I always have an ear for you.

Wriothesley.

Archons, Wriothesley was so cute. He looked so tough but you could always count on him to decide on such a way. You attached your own letter and pet Frosty one more time before he disappeared into the night.

'You will be my wife soon...' Will I, Wriothesley? Will I really see a day where I'll wake up with you by my side, and not bemoaning my being alive, but thanking my stars for the arrangement?

You two will be together. You weren't sure how many more boring dates you had to go to with Archandelle, but as Agatha told you: All was in due time. It had be a matter of when, not if, the promise was fulfilled and you would no longer belong to your father. Oh, you could hardly wait for that day. For one you'll be wearing the bracelet he gave you. That day would also have sweets, love and definitely not him.