Soft tagging @blockcat-safari, @jackdraw-spwrite, @cityofangeisislying, @audioeidolon, @venusplantt, @bardicc-inspo and @voidindite in case they would like to play along :)
(Feel free to jump in if this looks fun and I forgot to tag you!)
okay lowkey funny because I rarely read slowburnβ¦
@spadeztwst, @lapincard, @marmarmars1009, @itssmesukii, @cat-has-arrived, @therandomkebab, @inside-floyds-walls, @rip-macabre-ghost, @oya-oya-okay, anyone else who wants to join BECAUSE I CANT REMEMBER ALL MY MOOTS ITS INSANE WHAT I HAVE LIKE 20 NOW
β Summery: Yingxing hates the Luofu. Being dragged into the ship by his mentor isn't the best feeling. Especially when he's forced wander around the Divination Commission by himself. Surprisingly, on this ship where people spit nothing but venom to him, he meets you, kind and unlike others. He can feel his heart raceβ you two are just friends, right...?
β Tags: Fluff, themes of Xianzhou racism, both Yingxing and Reader are children here, Diviner!Reader, Huaiyan is also here, gift-giving, childhood crush, strangers to friends to lovers, Yingxing is dramatic and Reader is silly
β Word count: 2k
β Art credits: εηͺηͺ on Weibo
β A/N: TGIS IS A SELF INDULGENT FIC DONT STONE ME ππ it's 3 in the morning and im writing this, look at me dawg im not passing my finals ππ
The Xianzhou Luofu is loudβnot with the bustle of markets, but with the weight of its gazes and words.
Yingxing hates it. If not for General Huaiyan, he doubts he would have ever set foot on this ship. All his works remain in the Zhuming, the creations of his devotion. And now, he is forced to endure venom-laced whispers. To long-life species, such words are fleeting, insignificantβbut to someone like him, they carve deep, lingering wounds.
For the first few days, Yingxing isolates himself in the small forge Huaiyan rented for him. No visitors. Only metal scraps and himself, confined within a cramped space. The sight pains the General. Yingxing is his beloved apprenticeβseeing him so alone does not suit him. A child his age should explore, see the world, make companions.
So Huaiyan decides to help him do exactly that.
The first time he suggests accompanying him on a business trip, Yingxing refuses outrightβhe will not step outside to face those hateful people. He has everything he needs here.
But the Flaming Heart is not one to yield easily. Night after night, he persists, hoping the boy will allow himself something beyond the forge. And one night, at last, Yingxing relentsβa small, reluctant nod.
The next morning, they set off for the Divination Commission.
It pains Yingxing to leave the familiar warmth of the forge, but disappointing his teacher would hurt more. So he follows, gazing out from the starskiff, taking in the Luofuβs golden glow. Still, the whispers reach him wherever he goesβcold water dousing every attempt at warmth.
All because of their difference in lifespan. How ridiculous.
By the time they arrive, Huaiyan is already gone. His only words linger: βGo on, wander a little. Perhaps youβll find something you like.β
Nonsense. The forge is where Yingxing belongs. He is an artisan, not a divinerβwhat could the Commission possibly offer him? Nothing. The thought only fuels his irritation.
Yet, with no better option, he wanders.
The Commission is sparse in its distractions. With the Matrix of Prescience looming overhead, it is difficult to notice anything else. His footsteps echo softly against the wooden floors until he finds a quiet balconyβa place to be alone.
He sits at the edge, gazing outβuntil something catches his eye.
Someone his age, seated beside a lotus-filled pond. Cards scattered around them. They hum softly, kicking their feet in a rhythm that feels⦠carefree.
Everything he is not.
The sight holds him captive. There must be something wrong with himβhe doesnβt even know this person. So why does he feel drawn to them?
As if sensing him, you turn your head to look in the direction of the noise.
He ducks immediately, scrambling to hide. He does not want to hear it againβthose familiar words about his lifespan, the dismissal of his dreams. Children are crueler than elders. You would be no different.
But instead, you rise, gathering your cards, and approach. When you finally spot him, you speak rather gently; βGeneral Huaiyanβs apprentice?β
The words startle him. Great. Wonderful. Announce it louder, why don't you? He thinks in an irritated mind.
He steps out, scowling. βHis most prized apprentice,β he corrects, forcing confidence and arrogance into his voice.
But you only smileβsoft, warmβand nod. βThat, I know. Yingxing, right?β you ask, and before he can respond, continue, βYou arrived recently, the diviners said. How about thisβIβll give you a tour of the Commission.β You gesture toward the empty pond area. βIn return, you stay quiet and donβt tell anyone I skipped my lessons.β
Begrudgingly, he agrees. What choice does he have? His reputation is already poorβsnitching would only worsen it. Staying silent wonβt hurt.
While doubt churns in his mind, you guide him through the Commission, pointing out the smallest details. He follows quietly, fingers unconsciously clutching your sleeve as you pull him along.
Sometimes, you show off small divination tricks, unable to hide your pride.
βDivination is basically mathematics, you know?β you say, stopping at a bulletin board. βSo naturally, Iβm intelligent.β
Yingxing huffs, unimpressed. βThat wonβt help you win a fight.β
You gasp, offended, crossing your arms. βAnd craftsmanship wonβt stop you from falling into a pit tomorrow.β
He stares at you as if youβve declared the sky green. Your bluff is painfully obvious, so much so that it almost puzzles him.
You ignore your own embarrassment and continue to roam around. And somehow, he finds himself enjoying it. You are kind, gentle, a little troublesome. And not once have you spoken badly of him.
He wants thisβmore than a fleeting acquaintance. To have someone, not just his mentor to believe in him, look at him as more than someone destined to wither tomorrow.
But nothing good lasts long.
Huaiyanβs voice echoes from afar, and the moment shatters. Yingxing pretends not to care as you both approach. The small world you built together dissolves.
You wave before disappearing into the crowd of diviners. He watches as you leave and yet, he doesnβt wave back.
βOh? Has my Yingxing made a friend?β he teases, followed by a chuckle. After all, no apprentice of his can survive such revelation without being rubbed in the face.
Yingxing flushes bright red, his speech deteriorating as he attempts to find words to answer. βN-no! We just met!β
However, Huaiyan seems to be the opposite, still holding onto the idea of his apprentice finally making a friend. "A diviner? What a brilliant friend you've made, Yingxing!"
Yingxing only huffs and puffs, unable to talk back because no matter what he says, his master will still hold onto that concept. Oh, how glad he is that you're not here.
That night, Yingxing returns to the forge. Sleep remains a distant concept. To the neighborsβ dismay, he prefers working at nightβwhen thoughts sharpen and resentment fuels creation.
Tonight, though, something is different. His hands donβt reach for weapons. They hesitateβyearning for something softer.
Something like you.
He frowns instantly at the thought. Why is he thinking of you? Youβre a stranger.
He shakes his head and tries to focus, but instead of blades, he envisions a hairpieceβ delicate and beautiful, so unlike a blade.
Yingxing returns by the furnace, his soot covered hands grabbing a parchment to draw the vision swarming his eyes. If his heart craves it so much, then so be it. You had shown off your skills and now he will too. And perhaps then you will see him as a friendβ
What is he thinking again?!
The next morning, Huaiyan finds the forge empty. With no sign of Yingxing in the house or nearby, a note rests on the stone by the furnace. He smiles faintly, knowing the contents of it would definitely be about his little friend.
The Divination Commission is crowded with hopeless people lost in the path of fate. Yingxing hadnβt realized it was peak season. Alongside the mentors, apprentices are busyβso are you.
For an hour, he waits by the pond, clutching a silk-wrapped hairpiece. The diviners nearby whisperβtheyβve already drawn their conclusion that he has a crush on you. Puppy love, they say. Yingxing can hear them loud and clear, yet he ignores them for his peace and composure. You're just a friend...right?
Waiting by the pond seems futileβ an hour has passed and there's still nothing. Then, he begins to roam around the Commission to find the room you are in. He swears that he'll just give the gift to you and leave.
In a moment of ignorance, Yingxing's bumps into a taller figure. The man before him is unfamiliar, a strangerβ an agitated stranger.
"Watch where you're going, kid!" The man shouts aggressively, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Yingxing, however, doesn't react to his short temper. He's seen it all before and he knows what is coming. Even so, he still apologises, albeit a bit quietly. The man scowls at him before walking past him, mumbling something about 'filthy short-lifers.'
The moment he steps into a room occupied by a diviner, Yingxing catches a glimpse of your hair. Perhaps finding you is the best thing that has happened to him today. Even so, he does not intrudeβlingering just outside, quietly eavesdropping on your divination. Children are curious by nature, after all.
The man seated before you on the floor wastes no time before breaking down. βPlease, Diviner, tell me the future has something good in store for me. My wife left me two weeks ago, and my motherββ
βThe future holds nothing but darkness for you, Iβm afraid.β
You cut him off without hesitation, drawing a card from the deck. Your gaze remains fixed upon it; were you to look up, he would surely notice the anger hidden beneath your calm.
The man shudders at your cold words, as though theyβve carved straight into his heart. He inches closer in desperation, only for you to shift away and keep your distance.
βPleaseβplease, just tell me how I can change it!β he begs, his voice trembling with raw anguish.
Inwardly, you pat yourself on the back for your convincing act. Just one more push.
βIf you want your wife back,β you say, tone steady, βyou must steal Lord Dan Fengβs jade bracelet and give it to her. That is the only way.β
The answer is utterly ridiculousβafter all, a childβs mind can only conjure so much malice. A slap on the wrist is all that man can get, perhaps a week in the Shackling Prison. Still, the situation works in your favor.
The man looks at you as though youβve rescued him from drowning. To someone so desperate, any solution becomes hope, no matter how reckless or absurd. He nods fervently before scrambling to his feet and rushing out the door.
Perhaps he has truly lost his mind.
Just as the man steps outside, you catch sight of Yingxing peeking over the doorframe. When your eyes meet, he quickly motions for you to come out. Without a second thought, you abandon your cards and slip outside, letting him lead you further away without question.
The two of you come to a stop at the familiar balcony, the lotus pond just within view. Yingxing clutches the silk-wrapped accessory in his hands, your earlier conversation with the man lingering heavily in his mind.
βWhy did you tell him thatβ¦?β he asks quietlyβso soft it nearly goes unheard. βThat was a false divinationβ¦β
Your eyes narrow at him, a flicker of irritation surfacing. You scoff, rolling your eyes. βMaybe he shouldnβt have spoken badly about a child just because of their lifespan.β
The words hit him harder than expected.
You did thatβfor him. And you did it without hesitation.
He stares at you, a faint flush dusting his cheeks, admiration quietly filling his gaze. Before he can second-guess himself, he nearly shoves the silk-wrapped gift into your handsβthankfully, you catch it.
Curious, you unwrap the fabric, revealing a beautifully crafted hairpiece.
A warm, genuine smile blooms across your face, joy lighting up your entire expression. βThis is gorgeous!β you exclaim, already moving to place it in your hair.
That smileβ Yingxing swears his heart stops for a moment. Flustered as he is, he still steps closer, hands lifting to help you adjust it properly.
βReallyβ¦?β he murmurs, disbelief threading through his voice.
You nod as his nimble fingers carefully weave the ribbons through your hair. Once he finishes, you hurry toward the pond, leaning over slightly to admire your reflection. The sight nearly makes you squeal with delight. The Divination Commission rarely grants you the luxury of friendshipβlet alone gifts like this. Yet here you are, holding something made just for you.
When you catch Yingxingβs reflection beside yours, you turn without warning and throw your arms around him, hugging him tight enough to make him squeak.
βThank you, Yingxingβthank you, thank you so much!β you gush, your voice brimming with unfiltered joy.
That soundβthat warmthβ Yingxing wants to hold onto it forever.
For the rest of the day, you never return to your divination duties. Yingxing has already stolen you away from work, and together, you wander across the Xianzhou Luofu. You watch the stars from a Starskiff, sample street foods, and even craft a pair of matching bracelets for each other.
It becomes, without question, the most joyous day of Yingxingβs life.
By midnight, Huaiyan returns to their temporary residence. His first stop is the small forge nearby, and when he pushes the door open, the sight that greets him is nothing short of heartwarming.
You and Yingxing have both fallen asleep, leaning gently against one another. Resting in your hair is the hairpiece, delicately carved with Yingxingβs signatureβone he is still in the process of refining.
The Flaming Heart smiles softly at the scene. This is the moment he has been waiting forβto see his apprentice no longer alone.
Carefully, he drapes a blanket over the two of you, making sure not to stir either from your sleep. He knows that come morning, Yingxing will stubbornly insist that the two of you are merely friends. Yet even so, Huaiyan can see it clearlyβthe way the boyβs heart stirs in your presence, the quiet comfort that settles around him.
And little Yingxing will never know that the one sleeping beside him now will be wearing a shared ring with him sixteen years from today.
β Summery: Once upon a time, you had given your heart to the Forge Master of Zhuming. Three decades together, he had forged you thirty rings and now a blade. The love in his eyes now feel like a distant memory, yet given to you at all time by your now beloved, Blade. Be the man he once was, he can never truly give up the concept of leaving a piece of himself with you.
β Tags: Mainly fluff, themes of angst, fem!Reader, long life specie!Reader, domesticity, Blade is a little touchy, gift-giving, Blade tried to be nonchalant but it didn't work
β Word count: 1k
β A/N: ok i can't write summary, lowk going thru a writer's block so this is all I have ππ and my finals start in two days, anyways everybody go slime @biancak1m
The sound of metal clashing against itself echoes through the workshop. Each strike of the hammer molds molten iron into the weapon he envisions. Yingxing, in particular, holds a very specific design in mind.
After all, this is a blade heβs forging for his wifeβcrafted from a blend of leftover scraps and the expensive metals he painstakingly saved up for. The thought alone has him practically beaming as he shapes it into form.
The stars, however, remain silent. In the dead of night, no sign of life stirsβsave for Yingxing himself. The relentless ringing of metal is enough to irritate anyone.
And oh, does it bother you.
βYingxing, come to bed. Itβs two in the morning,β you call out, voice thick with sleep. Aeons know what heβs thrown himself into this timeβa commission? A personal project? A gift for a friend? If only he devoted himself to rest with the same fervor.
The Forge Masterβs focus finally drifts from the glowing metal at the sound of your voice. Thereβs a glimmer in his eyes when he looks at youβhair disheveled from sleep, expression pinched with irritation, clearly dragged from yet another failed attempt at rest. You lean against the workshop doorway like you belong there.
Perhaps you do. Anything he owns is yours.
He flashes you a grinβone you know well, one that hides more than it reveals. βThirty more minutes. This one isnβt finished yet,β he says, words punctuated by the steady rhythm of his hammer.
A sigh slips past your lips, resignation settling in. You already know how the next thirty minutes will goβspent by the fireplace, waiting for him to return.
Retreating to the living room, you settle by the fire, watching it crackle as it slowly devours the wood. At some point, without realizing it, sleep claims you.
Until a hand brushes your cheek.
A quiet murmur of your name follows.
It doesnβt take long to recognize the voiceβyouβve been married to this man for over thirty years. You know him in every form.
βLovely, look what Iβve made for you.β
Your eyes flutter open, vision still hazy. The sight before you is familiarβYingxing kneeling before you, gazing up with quiet anticipation, waiting for you to ask about his latest creation.
Your mind barely processes his words, but you recognize that look. Youβve seen it countless times. Before you can respond, something heavy settles onto your lap.
A blade.
Forged from the remains of Glamothβs Empress, mixed with fragments of her Iron Cavalry. Its intricate designs weave together like a storyβthirty years of memories etched into steel.
Your fingers trace the surface as though it were something fragile. The blade itself may not be delicate, but the intention behind it certainly is.
And the way he looks at youβhopeful, expectant, yearning for even the smallest praiseβsays everything.
What a lovesick man Yingxing is.
For someone driven by vengeance, his heart beats for something far softer.
A gentle smile graces your lips as you lean forward, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
βItβs beautiful, my darling.β Your praise makes his heart stutterβyouβre certain of it.
The grin that spreads across his face is full of pride, bordering on arroganceβnot just in the blade, but in the fact that heβs made you happy.
You watch as his hand slips into the pocket of his tailcoat.
βI have something else for you,β he says, pulling something outβonly to immediately hide it in his fist.
Like a familiar ritual, the motion repeats itself. His calloused hand takes yours, gently placing the object into your palm.
A ring.
Gold, with a delicately carved crane. Your heart aches at the sight.
Another one.
βAnother?β you ask softly, the question echoing through thirty anniversariesβthirty rings heβs forged just for you.
None of them fit. But that was never the point. Each one is proof. Tangible, unwavering proof of your love.
βAnother one,β he echoes, arms slipping around your waist. βAnd another next year. Iβll keep forging them until the very endβso weβll never forget the years we shared.β
His words are muffled against your clothes, but they carry the same warmth they always have. Three decades, and not once has that love wavered.
The end of you⦠may only be the end of him.
You will live onβlong enough to watch empires rise and fall, to witness the Borisin meet their end someday.
But his life, his fleeting eternity, all you can hope for is to spend it beside him.
Yingxing loves you.
Truly.
And he will love you until the very end.
A soft gasp escapes you before you fully awaken, eyes fluttering open to meet the pale gauze surrounding you. You shift slightly, pulling away from the fabric.
βAre you feeling alright?β The deep, slightly raspy voice is unmistakable.
After all, the man beside you is your belovedβBlade.
You hum softly, trying to steady yourself. Thereβs no reason to feel this wayβnot over a memory like that.
And yet⦠Something unfamiliar lingers in your chest.
βI had a sweet dream about youβ¦β you murmur, almost hoping he doesnβt catch it.
But he does. You know it by the way his hand finds yours.
Ever since Blade accepted Shuhuβs curse and turned his focus toward destroying the Abomination, his body has changedβhealing, stabilizing. Especially his hands.
And with that, youβve gained something unexpected. A Blade who reaches for you. Whether in public or private, his hand is always in yours now.
βA βsweetβ dream about me is enough to upset you?β he asks. Thereβs no irritation in his toneβonly concern.
For someone named Blade, he is unbearably gentle with you. And the thought that he might be the cause of your distress unsettles him more than anything.
A soft laugh escapes you as his free hand idly plays with your hair. βIt was bittersweet,β you reply, shifting closer before burying your face against his chest.
He huffs quietly, unconvinced, sensing the lingering weight in your voice. Another memory? He doesnβt know. So instead, he pulls you closerβtightens his hold, presses a quiet kiss to the crown of your head, mirroring what you once did for him when the Mara consumed him.
βGo back to sleep. We have things to do tomorrow,β he murmurs, masking his intentions beneath casual words.
ββ¦Silverwolf wants us to play with her.β The hesitation gives him away. Because thatβs not what matters, these events have been reoccurring for days now.
Your anniversary is only hours away. And you know he has something preparedβsomething he cannot put into words, but will try to forge into existence all the same.
Because he will love you for eternity. Whether as Yingxing or Blade, that cursed heart still carries something untainted, something pure at all its formsβ and that is you.
Rules: Make a poll with seven of your all time favorite characters from seven different fandoms, and then tag seven people to do the same. See which character is everyone's favorite.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAGGING ME @vinylbiohazard and @nobinary :)))
seven different fandoms might be a little difficult im afraid but iβll give it a shot hehe
πΌ
neil josten (aftg)
sieun (weak hero)
suna rintarou (hq)
zuko (atla)
takao kazunari (knb)
hange zoe (aot)
commander cody (star wars)
Voting ended onMay 27
tagging @reckless-rider @istillhaventpickedausername @funnythingsidk @coherent-thoughts-needed @hisuncontrollableanger uhh shoot im blanking itβs 2 am and i canβt think but WHOEVER IS INTERESTED CAN JOIN :))) yay
It wonβt let me fucking reblog the second I start a poll for some reason but I still wanna be reblog 69 so Iβll just give my favorites πππ
Bia....me and zeka need that bag of chips u see..../J
(YOUR BANK ACC IS FROZEN LMAOO, as a professional beggar in this world, i need stellar jdes pls/j, that divergent universe is PMO I CAN'T CLEAR TYE LAST ONE IM SO TIRED)
(currency wars is also pmo because why can't you just GIVE ME the three star swlv999 π‘π‘)
Bro in my country the Nameless Medal costs like 2000 here. π
I JUST SAID MY BANK'S FROZEN. I contacted them but I've heard NO response up till now.
CW fucking sucks I remember having a 2 star 5 cost SW LV.999 with TWO 5 STARS SW LV.999's and did not get the last copy. π
I hope they do reply quickly this time and can buy the Battle-Pass on time. ππ€
