that-student-that-has-homework

[that-student-that-has-homework]

oh my gosh this is adorable!

I am Jiaoqiu with the has medicine. I keep medicine handy in ACNH because I have been stung...then I became a master at catching them, and now I've forgotten how...

oh and the bit about catching scorpions at night! I didn't realize they came out at night! how do you catch a scorpion? I'm not sure if I've caught one or not.

weeds can be used to craft things so they're handy to have! Phainon and Mydei chasing each other and forgetting about the tourney is just 😂 the casual chaotic Phainon, lovely

I was confused about the sweat stains on the recipe thing, then realized it's probably in the dialogue and not on the actual sprite LOL

oh on that topic: ANAXA TAKING OFFENSE TO THE NICKNAME PFFFFFFT 😂

As for Sunday being nervous and overthinking (and you too) OMG Hiiiiii! What's it like turning what was supposed to be a relaxing experience into something stressful? (hiya, I overthink things too...and do nothing in the end)

Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons with HSR Men pt 2

A/N: modern!au, established relationship (can be platonic or romantic), err I don't think anyone plays this game anymore oops :(, part 1 here!

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

Anaxa: He is busy but for you he will indulge in these simple pleasures. Your island will probably be fairly simple, maximizing convenience, but still organized. He speaks to the villagers as if they were his students. HOWEVER- he cannot stand when villagers suggest a nickname for him. "He wants to call me A-beans? How absurd- what do you mean I can't say no." He got so ticked off that he was waiting with bated breath, hitting that villager with a net so he could gtfo of his island move out. Sorry kids, I think Anaxa might be the one to counter the OG mean villagers in the older games because of this.

Jiaoqiu: He is very resourceful, a little too resourceful. He is the cooking features number one supporter. Though, he complains why ACNH doesn't have any restaurants. He made so many dishes and no one to appreciate them :(. At one point, he gets so invested that he researches on wiki fandom what the villagers' favourite food was. (Sadly ACNH code does not go to that complexity). Who's gonna break it to him? Not me. Always has medicine ready, which makes you wonder how many times he got stung by wasps? Other than that, he enjoys creating memorable moments with you. Fireworks photo op? He is down, and will always do the cutest reaction for a nice picture.

Moze: Super skeptical when first starting... and also now. He was very wary of Tom Nook. He tells you how he had a bad gut feeling about him (he's not wrong, but we want him to play). At first he used to follow you around all the time, unfamiliar with your island. He'd panic a little if he accidentally lost you or strayed too far. Later on, he gets better but is still guarded. "Fang says he had an argument with Gabi... do we kick him...?" You giggle with how he seems dead serious that your villagers could have issues, and insists on having a strike system. He just wants your island to be nice and civil. Also, becomes the resident savior from scorpions when you play late at night.

Mydei: Mydei sighs when you ask him to play, asking what were you thinking when you asked a guy like him to play a cutesy game like Animal Crossing? He won't admit it but he does end up enjoying it. He acts nonchalant, but you knew he'd have the best reactions. "...he says the DIY recipe has sweat stains... what the fuck I'm not taking it am I...?" He is secretly competitive, especially in catching bugs and fish- somehow your museum is filled before you know it? And the best part, he loves your villagers. Previously had zero intentions on decorating his home or the island, but sees how cute the villagers are, and decided to create a home-y space to make them feel welcome.

Phainon: He is always down to try new things, so at least you don't need to beg him to play. A cross between casual and chaotic gamer. I'm sorry but I have a feeling your island will be atrocious. He wants weeds to grow and he collects them like infinity stones, so have fun with your weed island (Leif is making billions). I'm picturing very much a hard line between "your side" and "his side" of the island. Also a villager drama enthusiast. Doesn't actually provoke them but like... he's definitely pulling their legs. Never invite Mydei to your island when you have bug/fishing tourneys... it becomes competitive and chaotic too fast, and you'll probably end up with those two chasing each other with nets instead.

Sunday: I'm gonna be honest, I think he plays exactly like me. He approaches the game with caution, though you've reassured him many times it's a very casual and creative simulation game. He still tends to overanalyze his decisions- which island layout to start with, where to place bridges and inclines... He is very good at decorating and terraforming so your island will be gorgeous, at the cost of him overthinking the placement a million times. Secretly learns to love the villagers, especially when they give him things or start singing. "Look at Marina... she's singing by the river I just made. Do you think she likes it?" I think Sunday is the best at giving villager's gifts- a cross between wanting to match their styles plus making them happy, which makes him happy. :)

[that-student-that-has-homework]

The Lucky Cat

Jing Yuan x Fem!Reader- a shy former imperial concubine

Summary: Jing Yuan, a famed general and childhood friend of the emperor, has yet to take a wife. The emperor decides to solve this by giving one of his least favorite concubines to his best friend. Even though Jing Yuan is against this practice, he cannot help but fall head over heels in love once he meets you.

Tags: Selfship-coded, arranged marriage, budding romance, pet names (JY calls Reader my dear, my love), Reader is referred to as ‘my lady’

Word count: 4K

Note: This is based on The Apothecary Diaries ep. 3. 

I originally posted this on my old blog under the name ‘The Luck-Bringing Cat���. Since I plan on writing additional parts it makes sense to me to bring the fic with me. However! I added a few things here and there, plus another scene which I had originally meant to include as a bonus chapter.

@a11eya beta-read the original, so I want to thank them again! @that-student-that-has-homework I know you've been looking forward to this 🤭

Only one man has managed to stay at the emperor’s side throughout his royal life. 

Jing Yuan, the son of imperial scholars, made friends with the then-Heir Apparent early in their lives, and the two quickly became inseparable. As they grew, Jing Yuan became -and continues to be- an asset to the newly crowned emperor; a seasoned warrior, an accomplished general, a brilliant strategist. And one of the few people who dares oppose His Imperial Majesty when needed. 

The emperor loves him like a brother. And it worries him greatly that Jing Yuan has never seemed interested in taking a wife. The general is far from blind to the longing gazes of courtesans; he accepts their offers on occasion but he never seems to yearn for more than one night or two with any woman. The emperor sees nothing wrong with this, of course, as he himself splits his time more or less equally between his favorite concubines. But any man who is less fortunate than the emperor should surely want something more stable, especially a man who is slowly getting through his best age.

When the emperor presses Jing Yuan about why he does not want to marry, he states with a lazy smile that he has neither the time nor the energy for that sort of courtship. But the emperor notices the slight downturn of the corners of the general’s lips. He sees through the facade of his best and oldest friend. 

I have neither the time nor the energy for that kind of courtship. But I desperately wish I did.

The emperor thinks deeply about this issue. Then he remembers someone in the inner court; a concubine who fell from his favor at their first meeting. He has never spent time with her after that. Why, he has barely thought about her in years. Still, she is a beautiful woman, well-educated, and, from what he has been told, quite quick-witted. She will make a good gift for his best friend.

Now he just needs to convince Jing Yuan that he will not take no for an answer.

Jing Yuan is still unable to fully understand how everything has come to this. He cannot fathom why the emperor suddenly wants to give him one of the imperial concubines as a wife. Giving an unfavored concubine to a newly appointed officer as a reward is far from an uncommon practice, Jing Yuan is well aware of that. But he has never expected it to happen to him, after so many years in service of the emperor, he thought himself safe from the machinations of the emperor. He is lucky to have managed to arrange even just a single meeting with you before the wedding. 

This practice seems so wholly unfair in his mind. Unfair to the concubines affected by the custom; they have already been given as a gift to one man, now they are being given to another, neither of whom they have chosen for themselves, solely because the Emperor has found them unfavorable for whatever reason. Jing Yuan knows there is little he can do about the current situation, but he does not feel right accepting another human being as a gift. 

And unfair as it is to the concubines, so too is it unfair to the officers who are being forced into a marriage they may not want. While Jing Yuan is aware that love blossoming between two people in such a situation is a possibility, he has seen the opposite far too often. At best the marriage is carried out for the sake of duty, the participants tolerating each other, but nothing more. At worst, resentment grows and turns the marriage toxic. 

Jing Yuan can only pray that his impending marriage will fall into the tolerance category; he dares not hope for love.

He continues towards the palace gardens -the very public spot chosen as your meeting place- still in deep speculation about whether he has any chance of changing the emperor’s mind. 

Turning a corner, he is torn from his contemplation as he comes upon a small gathering of women, all of them wearing identical robes. One holds a folded-up parasol. They are all calling out in voices too hushed for Jing Yuan to discern any words. 

Ladies-in-waiting, he thinks, paying them little mind. Then, his eyes fall on you.

The emperor showed him a painting of you while revealing his scheme - a portrait commissioned shortly before you began your initial journey to the palace. Even if some years have passed since the painting was finished, Jing Yuan still instantly recognizes you.

You stand at the apex of a small bridge crossing one of the many canals in the garden, your face tilted up towards a nearby tree. The setting autumn sun falls upon you at an angle that makes your skin and hair glow, contoured in gold. Tearing his gaze away from you, Jing Yuan looks towards the tree as well, trained ears picking up the song of finches. For a moment he wonders if it might be the same flock that visits the small garden of his own residence. Turning his gaze back to you, he watches, mesmerized, as you lift a hand, holding it up towards the tree. A finch takes off from a branch and lands on one of your outstretched fingers.

Until now your face has been mostly devoid of emotion, eyes fixated on the tree. But when the finch lands on your hand, looking calmly at you with one black eye, your features soften, a fond smile gracing your face like a flower springing into bloom. 

Jing Yuan watches breathlessly as you lift the bird closer to your face, whispering to it, your other hand coming up to gently scratch the top of its head. He unconsciously raises a hand to his lips in an attempt to hide the smile blossoming there. If this is how you behave with one of his beloved finches (and he is certain at this point that the bird is indeed from the flock he possessively thinks of as his), if you act so kind and loving towards the smallest of creatures with no prompting, then marrying you can quite possibly be one of the best things to ever happen to him. The thought of having you gifted to him still feels oh so wrong, but… perhaps he does not need to dread it as much as he has thus far.

Stepping forward, he clears his throat, trying his best to school his features into a pleasant, if slightly detached, expression. 

You gasp, raising your arm to hide your face behind your long sleeve. The finch takes off, frightened by your sudden movement, and the rest of the flock follows it. The flapping of their wings fills the air, drowning out your greeting as you and your ladies-in-waiting bow to him.

Jing Yuan feels another smile tug at his lips. He manages to hide it as he dips his head, returning your bow.

Your ladies-in-waiting quickly cluster to one side of the walkway, letting him pass. He ignores their whispers, eyes never leaving you as he ascends the bridge. The way you peek shyly at him over your still-raised sleeve makes his heart skip a beat. He sends you what he hopes is a pleasant smile and nods towards the path on the opposite side of the bridge.

“Shall we, my lady?”

The two of you stroll through the garden for a while, Jing Yuan filling the air with what idle conversation he can think of, and you giving brief, demure answers.

Then, he hears the flap of wings and feels the touch of tiny claws digging into his hair, brushing against his scalp. Soon, he notices a small tug on a lock of hair as the finch begins to preen him. He can barely help but chuckle when another finch lands on his shoulder. He feels your curious gaze on him, then your eyes move to the bird on his far shoulder.

“Oh!” you exhale in surprise.

Raising his hand, he gently encourages the bird to hop onto one of his fingers, then moves the hand -with bird- closer to you.

“I have worked quite hard on taming them over the years,” he says. “The most recent brood is the tamest yet; they are the only ones so far to actively seek my presence. Though I suspect they only come to me in hopes of food. Would you like to hold it again?”

You look away, your sleeve rising once more to hide your face. “Again…” you say, sounding very put on the spot.

Jing Yuan tries to quell his laughter. “I must admit that I was watching you for a spell before making my presence known. What I saw was very… endearing.” 

You stay silent for a moment, then you peek at him over the top of your sleeve. “May I be frank with you, General?”

“Please.”

Staying quiet for a few seconds longer, gathering your thoughts, you then draw in a deep breath. “I have been rather nervous about this meeting. I have heard quite a few rumors about you, about your excellence at anything you do. I was worried that I would not be able to live up to the expectations of the august general. And yet… These small birds, you handle them with such tenderness and care. They trust you. Maybe they can come to trust me too, in time.”

Jing Yuan easily notes your unspoken words: maybe I can come to trust you as well.

Looking off to the side, you finally lower your sleeve, clasping your hands in front of you. “I am very fond of small animals. My family owned a couple of tame nightingales when I was a child; I used to love falling asleep while listening to their song.”

Jing Yuan feels another smile tug at his lips. He too has pleasant memories of falling asleep to the sound of bird song as a child. Though in his case it had been the wild birds outside his windows lulling him to sleep. Sharing such a similar memory with you only makes him feel delighted.

Briefly peeking at him, as if to judge his reaction to your words, you then continue, “I have always yearned for a cat too, but my parents would not allow it due to our birds. And I never mustered up the courage to request permission to keep a cat after I arrived at the inner court. Though I doubt the emperor would have indulged me.” You sigh ruefully. “I suppose even now, since birds are favored once again, a pet cat will be impossible. I don’t mean to be impudent; the birds will be enough.”

Jing Yuan looks at you for a moment, stroking his chin. “A cat is a pleasant idea. As the saying goes, ‘a cat well cared for may bring luck to its owner.’ Though if I had my way I should like a lion instead!” When he sees your eyes widen, your hand rising again to hide your surprise, he cannot stop himself from laughing once more. “I jest, I merely jest! A housecat will suffice! Perhaps we can teach it to leave the birds in peace, or keep it indoors at all times.”

The thought of keeping a cat locked inside -though he doubts it is truly achievable, what with needing all windows and doors opened wide in the summer months in the hope of a cooling breeze- brings his thoughts back to the manner in which you have been hidden away in the inner court for years. His smile falters. Will it be right for him to mention his hesitation? Will it assuage your worries to know that he is far from satisfied with how the situation has been handled? Or will you think that he is unsatisfied with you and would rather have a different concubine?

“If I may be so brazen, my lady… You were not the only one who had a certain level of apprehension about this meeting.”

You shrink back a little, shoulders slumping. “I… see.”

Jing Yuan sees you raise your hand again - he can only assume to hide your face once more. Without fully realizing his actions, he reaches out to take your hand in his.

“Please, do not misunderstand me, my dear! It is not because of you, it is the entire situation. I do not much like being given another person as a gift. And I find it wholly unfair to you to be given away once again.” 

He has so much more to say on this subject, so many points to make about how the former concubines nearly always shoulder the disadvantages in these circumstances. And yet he feels his mind go blank, the words dying in his throat. He brushes his thumb over the back of your hand in an attempt to gather his thoughts. It has the opposite effect; your hand is softer and more delicate than he would ever have been able to imagine, so different from his own strong, calloused hands. It takes every last shred of self-control to not raise it to his lips. 

Releasing your hand with great reluctance, he forces himself to finish his thoughts. “I am loath to receive a wife under such circumstances, even if she is one I should have quite liked to court of my own volition, had I been allowed to. But in the end this is the decision of His Imperial Majesty. Even so, I can promise you this, my dear: No matter what may come, I will always do my utmost to ensure that we are both happy with this union.”

You grasp the hand he had held with your free hand, rubbing the skin, your head bowed enough that he cannot see your expression.

“I-I…” you stutter.

Then you raise your head again, a small smile blooming on your lips. “I must admit, I am quite relieved that you feel this way. That you understand the situation from my point of view as well.”

Jing Yuan returns your smile. “As much as I am against this entire circumstance, I must admit… the more I get to know you, my dear, the more I am looking forward to you becoming my wife.”

The two of you talk for a while longer, then Jing Yuan escorts you and your ladies-in-waiting back to the inner court. Seeing the gate separating the inner and outer courts leaves him with a sense of melancholy he is unable to place. Perhaps he has already grown so accustomed to your presence that the thought of being without you leaves him feeling like an empty shell. It makes him anticipate your wedding day even more.

Following Jing Yuan, now your wedded husband of only a couple of hours, through the gate leading to his residence, you cast a quick glance around the courtyard; there is little to see, everything covered in a light dusting of snow. Then your gaze returns to the mop of blonde hair peeking up over your husband’s shoulder. 

It came as quite a surprise when you found the rumors of the famed general adopting a foundling to be true. But as Jing Yuan explained to you, adopting Yanqing had solved several issues for him; the most pressing -at least in the opinion of other people- being the lack of an heir. And an heir being present in the general’s life solves a worry of your own, as well. You are under no pressure to provide the general with a child, at least from the point of view of your husband; he has told you as much himself. 

You cannot help but smile as you study what little you can see of Yanqing’s face. He is old enough that Jing Yuan has begun teaching him the art of the sword, but his cheeks still hold the chubbiness of childhood. He has one hand fisted in Jing Yuan’s coat, refusing to let go in his sleep. A trail of drool runs down his chin, staining the coat of his benefactor. And Jing Yuan seems to not care in the least. 

The sight of the two of them warms your heart. Even after your conversation in the palace gardens, you had still held some reservations towards the august general. Seeing him happily carrying a sleeping child makes him seem so much more human to you. And it brings even more reassurance that he will treat you just as kindly.

Once inside, Jing Yuan turns to you.

“Forgive me, my dear, but I fear I must leave you for a moment,” he says, then nods towards Yanqing. “This little one will not let go unless I am the one to put him to bed.”

You smile at him, at both of them, much more unreservedly than you have been able to so far. “Then go. I will wait for you.”

You are led to a private sitting room, and Jing Yuan returns to your side a while later, carrying a small wicker basket. 

“A wedding gift,” he says, a mirthful glint in golden eyes. 

Something rustles inside the basket, resulting in a soft jingling sound. You slowly lift the lid, peeking inside. A pair of bright blue eyes peer back at you, and the white kitten in the basket mewls.

“Oh!” is all you can think to say.

“I came across it at the market yesterday and thought it would make a… purrfect addition to our household,” Jing Yuan says, chuckling to himself at his pun. “I have thoughts of a name, but I must admit that I am quite horrible at naming.”

You look at him, waiting for him to share his thoughts.

He clears his throat. “‘Wave-Treading Snow Feline.’”

You cannot help yourself from frowning, the corners of your mouth turning downwards.

“I take it you do not favor that name,” Jing Yuan laughs. “Then, my dear, I suppose I will leave the naming to you. It is your kitten after all.”

You just look at him for a moment longer, before you look back down at the white kitten. Gently picking it up, you rise from your seat, carrying the kitten over to the windows overlooking the courtyard. The full moon casts a lambent glow over the snow-powdered ground. You hold up the kitten in front of you, looking between it, the snow, and the moon.

“Snowmoon,” you decide. “It sounds better, would you not agree?”

You feel Jing Yuan come up behind you, broad hands coming to rest on your waist.

“‘Snowmoon,’ he says, testing the name. “Much better than anything I will ever be able to devise.” Then presses a chaste kiss to your cheek.

One early morning, some three months later, Jing Yuan finds himself crouched over a rosebush in the small garden of his residence, pruning scissors in hand. This is something he has refused to give up, no matter how many people tell him it is below his rank to tend to his own garden. Gardening is one of the few things that truly clears his mind, one of the few quiet moments of the day that allows him to relax. And today, he needs it.

He had already spent several hours lying awake, tossing and turning, his mind a-whirr, until finally giving up on sleep once hearing the first birds singing outside. Rolling over, he pressed a kiss against your bare shoulder, then left the bed to start his day.

The air outside is cold enough that his breath creates little puffs of mist, the remnants of frost biting his cheeks. He pays it little mind; it only helps clear his head. And so, he crouches over the few bushes that need pruning this early in spring, settling into a calming rhythm as the world around him slowly grows from a milky gray to pink and orange.

His rhythm is disturbed as something brushes up against his knee. Looking down, he spots the white kitten he presented to you on your wedding day. You are both as smitten with the cat now as you were back then. 

The memory of that day still makes him smile.

Snowmoon raises herself on her hind legs, the little bell on her collar jingling. She props her front paws against his knee and chirps imploringly. Jing Yuan can only assume that he has been so engrossed in his gardening that the sound of the bell has gone unnoticed.

“How did you get out?” he wonders as he picks up the kitten, holding her up in front of him. 

The kitten returns his gaze evenly with her brilliantly blue eyes and begins to purr. Cradling her to his chest, he stands, intending to put her back inside. She has yet to learn that the birds of the garden are off-limits. And the birds have yet to learn what the sound of the bell signifies.

But as he stands, he catches sight of another figure in the morning light. You are bundled up in several layers of clothing, seemingly ready to spend a while outside.

Jing Yuan frowns. “What are you doing out of bed, my love?” he asks. “It is still so early.”

You look away, trying to hide the shy smile forming on your lips. You are still not used to the terms of endearment which he favors.

“I will lend you a hand,” you state.

He appreciates the sentiment. But he finds it difficult to imagine you crouching in the dirt like he has been. 

“There is no need, my dear, I am almost finished.”

Your mouth sets in a stubborn line. “Then I will help with the last of it.”

The firmness in your voice makes his heart flutter. He has enjoyed all the work you put into getting to know him better. And he has made sure to return it tenfold.

“Very well, my love. Let me just put this little rascal back inside.”

As he comes outside once again, he finds you crouched over the rosebush he has been working on, the long sleeves of your overrobe almost trailing in the dirt.

That will not do.

Jing Yuan pulls out the long ribbon holding his hair as he moves closer. Crouching behind you, he deftly winds it first underneath one sleeve, across your back, then underneath the other sleeve, tying it at your shoulder. His actions leave your arms bare, sleeves far out of harm’s way. 

You shiver in the cold air, goosebumps forming on your newly exposed skin. 

Jing Yuan rubs your arms, trying to get some warmth into your body. “You are still free to go inside, my love.”

You huff stubbornly. “I will not.”

He chuckles, pressing a kiss to your temple.

Handing you the pruning scissors, he shows you where to cut, guiding your hands. The two of you chat idly about the roses for a while, when he expects them to bloom and what colors he has planted. Then the topic moves to the future as a whole.

“Tell me, my love,” Jing Yuan says, wrapping his arms around your waist, “I know you have only been with me for a few short months, but how do you like it so far?” 

You lean back against him, nestling further into his warm embrace.

“I enjoy it so very much. I appreciate the freedom given to me, compared to the inner court. And…” You turn enough to meet his gaze, raising a hand to caress his cheek. “I have grown quite fond of the master of this house.”

He feels a smile tug at his lips. “Oh? Need I be jealous of this man?”

“Perhaps,” you say, a smile lingering on your own mouth. “He has been very kind to me.”

“I suppose I shall have to be even kinder, then,” he says before leaning in to press a kiss to your lips.

Maybe there really is something to the saying of ‘a cat well cared for may bring luck to its owner.’ Jing Yuan is certainly feeling very fortunate at this moment.

Thank you so much for reading!! Comments and reblogs are always greatly appreciated! 💗

[that-student-that-has-homework]

u ever wonder if ur associated with a character forever to someone else. like. when ur scrolling ur dash and u see a url u don't recognize and after going to their blog ur like ohhh this is the Character person. yeah ok i remember now.

[that-student-that-has-homework]

I know you don't really like him but I would still love to see your take on Cyno 😔

I'll keep hoping for the impossible

Mem, I didn't mention this earlier, but I'm actually really happy you sent this in. Thank you! It made me smile and brought the happy hormones in.

This ended up being really long.

Opinion:

I don't speak about Cyno much, but I'm a fan of his jokes. I like puns, and I find them clever. Cyno's dry delivery is fantastic as well.

The challenge I run into when it comes to Cyno is that, if I remember correctly, coming into contact with him usually means you've done something wrong.

Though I guess you could meet him at a Genius Invocation TCG tournament too...

I did not like Cyno when I met him in the webcomic, but thinking back on it, he was just being as honest as possible and doing his job. Getting to see how much Collei changed for the better in the game though, Cyno made some really good choices for her. Knowing that he checks in on her is adorable too. So as of meeting him in the game, I do like him.

How I'd Go About Writing For Cyno

If (and this is speculation) if I did try to write for Cyno (as someone who mostly writes x reader) it would follow my usual formula: friendship first that progresses into love. I am a huge fan of friends to lovers and sure I do it a lot, but I love the notion that someone created a safe space where you could fully be yourself and then fell in love with what they saw after all the smoke faded and the mirrors were put away.

Cyno's self-awareness would likely get in the way at some point. I can see him purposely avoiding any romantic relationships for some very valid reasons:

he's the General Mahamatra. Having a lover could put a target on their back for his enemies. He could handle it, most likely, but he doesn't want to put anyone, least of all someone he loves, in danger though

he's the General Mahamatra. He has his fair share of dangerous missions. He's gone for extended periods of time. It's unfair to ask someone to live with his prolonged absence, and the potential that he may not return.

So...let's see, first I need to get them to meet, and there are multiple ways to go about this:

mutual acquaintance: Lisa (and I get to admire Lisa and sing her praises in a fic), Tighnari (for added sass), Collei (for something sugary and sweet), that professor that Lisa and Cyno studied under, even Kaveh and Al-Haitham could be contenders

a mistake that leads her to being hunted by Cyno, only for both of them to be confused. "What did I do?" "You plagiarized [something something]" "I did? Did I forget a citation?"

building off of two: she could be framed by someone trying to get out of their crimes and it turns into something like a buddy-cop situation

Cyno appearing to help her out of a dangerous situation because he was nearby

random, completely coincidental meeting

there's also childhood / they studied together too...

I will leave out shared love of TCG because...I...avoid "cardboard crack" (someone called Magic the Gathering this and I still remember)

regardless of which meeting occurs, it would lead to a series of shared conversations and exchanged puns and meeting one another's friends and acquaintances - which gives yet another channel for them to communicate.

best part is over the course of time I can slowly start to chip away the outer layers and smooth things out so that the interactions become more and more comfortable and organic, until they just radiate peace. Annnnnd because I deliberately did not make her a TCG player, she can pick it up just because her dear friend Cyno likes it.

(Ah yes, when you love someone so you take an interest in their interests so they have another person to share them with)

Cyno's gonna challenge me with the way he's going to do small things that speak volumes. Cyno's expression of love is so painfully obvious and yet so difficult to detect? He doesn't say anything, he just does things. He's observant and considerate and so he does go out of his way to help where he can. It isn't exactly subtle, but that's just how he is with everyone...only with you, or with the reader, it's just a little more, but still not enough for anyone to notice.

It's in the way he relaxes, completely. It's in the way when he's feeling a little listless he seeks out her company (it's just because Tighnari who he's known for longer is further away he tells himself) It's in how he asks to doublecheck she hasn't made any errors that will have matra after her. It's in how if she ever does find herself in a squabble where matra are involved, he personally oversees the matter, no matter how small. It's in how when she thanks him, but asks him not to involve himself for fear of favoritism, he does leave it alone.

His love is the type that is loud in its silence.

You don't worry about double-meanings. You feel like someone reliable has your back every step of the way. You can speak your mind freely, and even if he disagrees, he will never attack you and will only ever debate the idea. He's not debating to win, he's debating to understand and be understood.

I feel as though Cyno would be the one to recognize his attachment, but not fully understand the depth of it. I also don't think he's obvious about it, so I don't know how much I can rely on another character pointing it out to him. What I do know is that someone is likely going to need to explain to him that:

even if he's the General Mahamatra doesn't mean he isn't allowed to love

he's not allowed to make decisions for other people, so he ought to let her decide whether or not she is willing to overcome the "obstacles" (see the 2 reasons why Cyno would avoid romance above)

it's not that he isn't smart enough to figure it out on his own, but rather sometimes people need different perspectives and I can imagine some tunnel-vision when it comes to someone he cares for deeply.

Now I need to resolve the issue of him realizing his feelings. Gotta insert some kinda event to help with that. The "her family arranges for a suitor" event is one I have overused (in my drafts - if my drafts make it out I will keep them in because quite frankly its a logical occurrence in ALL of them) so...maybe instead someone they know is getting married and so he can open up a discussion and address his curiosity through the reader.

Then after he contemplates and comes to the conclusion that the nature of his feelings is not just platonic, he'll need to be told that it is okay for him to have relationships outside of formal / friendships and that the worst case scenarios he's concerned about may not even come to pass, especially with how Sumeru's changed.

Cyno is likely a man of action...and calculated risks. So he definitely scopes things out first, while simultaneously contemplating what he wants to do. When he comes to the decision to "strike," it will work out in his favor...initially.

I think his confession would be through a silly pun, and it would be so deeply endearing.

While the reader likely accepts, and they arrange for him to meet her family (this is Sumeru) he probably struggles to get their approval because (you guessed it) he's the General Mahamatra (stack on him being an orphan, and from the desert too - this depends on how I want to frame the family)

I love the notion of fathers who are protective of their daughters and willing to make it clear to potential suitors that their daughter is loved, valued, and that the guy ought to feel lucky she's accepting his proposal because she would not do so lightly. Which means...papa would probably have the same thoughts as Cyno (regarding potential danger and her being left alone for extended periods of time). Though I can see the mom being the harder one to win over.

The mom being a challenge is actually because women feel more aware of the potential social consequences that exist. So here I would probably borrow or allude to some of the mentalities that exist: we want him to be the same nationality / we want him to be from the same village/city we're from / his bloodline needs to be "legit". And there was some divide between the people of the forest and those in the desert in Sumeru right? Cyno is originally a desert dweller. So even if her family doesn't really have that racist mentality, the mom is aware of how the rest of society has yet to catch up and is concerned of the repercussions for her daughter.

(why do I have to bring social politics into everything? it's fun.)

by the way the dad is like: "oh no, he's like her," when Cyno makes puns. We annoy papa with puns and realizing Cyno shares in her humor is a point for Cyno with the dad here.

He does win them over. Cyno is incredibly honest, and he's sincere, so while they do give him some trouble initially, he is in the end successful and they adopt him as one of their own after the courting process results in a proposal.

The mom essentially remembers that it's all about character, and Cyno's is lovely (Mama becomes his number one advocate)

and we get our happy ending!

this story would be as full of punny dialogue as I could make it. Puns are awesome.

BONUS:

this is actually from a draft of chapter 3 for The Rationality of Emotion.

Reader is Al-Haitham's wife and Cyno attended her wedding incognito 2 nights prior. Now they're all stuck in the Aaru village head's house per the 3.0 archon quest.

the Mahaha joke belongs to whoever made it first, I saw a clip of CyYu's stream and took it.

Oh and Al-Haitham comes over and ruins their fun.

The bread puns worked out well because I made a bunch of them trying to make a bakery website.

star dividers from here @/inklore

[that-student-that-has-homework]

do you guys ever follow a writer and go: man I wish they'd write for [insert character name here]?

writers are you ever curious what kind of writing your readers would want to see more of from you?

Readers: Go on anonymous (or don't) and let writers know what characters / genres

"Hey! I thought it would be really cool if you wrote for [insert character / genre name here]"

Writers: reblog if you've ever been curious!

[that-student-that-has-homework]

I want constructive criticism on my fics please

Go ahead. Tell me my punctuation is messing with the flow Tell me the pacing is off Tell me you felt this behavior was OOC.

I can take it

just leave me one positive too while you're at it so I know you didn't hate it.

[that-student-that-has-homework]

reblog if you love getting asks

[that-student-that-has-homework]

alrighty! I've decided I'm signing off until I actually have something to post!

see you all in August!

[that-student-that-has-homework]

[that-student-that-has-homework]

[that-student-that-has-homework]

this is awesome?

if it’s difficult to do alone, ask for help!

[that-student-that-has-homework]

Describe you in one word? Considerate.

Thank you 🥹💚

describe me in a word ask game thing

[that-student-that-has-homework]

Sweet (or Quackers 🦆)

😂💚 thank you! This brought a smile to my face! 💚

love the duck mentioned

From the: describe me in a word event

[that-student-that-has-homework]

Supportive!

[that-student-that-has-homework]

"you don't owe anyone anything" You are a tar pit. Speak for yourself. I personally owe the cafe employees my dishes put away and my friends a listening ear and small scared insects a cup and a gentle trip outside. Hyperindividualism is a rancid infection borne of capitalism and willfully misinterpreted therapyspeak and I will defy it by continuing to be kind regardless of whether or not it benefits me personally

[that-student-that-has-homework]

Man I just saw some ducks walking along in some sort of crazy low effort duck attempt to make an orderly procession, and you know what I just felt like there should be a small confirmation sound play for each duck I counted and I am vaguely offended that the only noise to be heard was the occasional half-hearted quack when there could have been some real 8-bit NES shit going on there.

[that-student-that-has-homework]

Describe me in one word anonymously.